'He Reproves The Curlew' by William Butler Yeats
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O curlew, cry no more in the air,
Or only to the water in the West;
Because your crying brings to my mind
passion-dimmed eyes and long heavy hair
That was shaken out over my breast:
There is enough evil in the crying of wind.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"He Reproves The Curlew" by William Butler Yeats: A Critique and Interpretation
When one thinks of William Butler Yeats, one might immediately envision his poetry about fairies and mystical beings, but "He Reproves The Curlew" is a departure from that familiar realm. This poem is a piece of Yeats' early work, written in 1889 when he was just 24 years old. It is a sonnet that, on the surface, appears to be a simple observation of nature, but upon closer examination, reveals a deeper exploration of themes such as mortality, the passing of time, and the transience of life.
The Poem
Before we delve into the analysis, let us first examine the poem itself:
O, curlew, cry no more in the air,
Or only to the waters in the West;
Because your crying brings to my mind
Passion-dimmed eyes and long heavy hair
That was shaken out over my breast:
There is enough evil in the crying of wind.
At first glance, the poem seems like a straightforward conversation between the speaker and a curlew. The speaker tells the bird to stop crying because it reminds him of someone or something that has caused him pain. The last line of the poem seems like a non sequitur, but it adds another layer to the poem, which we will explore in depth.
The Theme of Mortality
The key to unlocking the deeper meaning of the poem lies in the second line: "Or only to the waters in the West." Scholars have interpreted this line as a reference to the afterlife, with the "waters in the West" representing the mythical River Styx that separates the living from the dead. The speaker is essentially telling the curlew that its crying should only be heard by the dead, as it reminds him of mortality.
Yeats was no stranger to the theme of mortality, as it appears frequently in his work. In "He Reproves The Curlew," he is exploring the idea that everything is fleeting and impermanent, including life itself. The curlew's crying, which is often associated with mourning, serves as a reminder of this transience.
The Transience of Life
The speaker's mention of "Passion-dimmed eyes and long heavy hair / That was shaken out over my breast" suggests that the pain he associates with the curlew's crying is related to a past love or relationship. The fact that he can no longer remember the person's face or name, only their physical attributes, further emphasizes the idea that everything is fleeting and impermanent.
The curlew, with its mournful cry, serves as a symbol of the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker's plea for the curlew to stop crying is ultimately futile, as time marches on and everything must eventually come to an end.
The Crying of Wind
The final line of the poem, "There is enough evil in the crying of wind," initially seems disconnected from the rest of the poem. However, it serves as a commentary on the nature of suffering. The "crying of wind" is a metaphor for the inevitable pain and suffering that comes with life. The speaker is essentially saying that the curlew's crying is unnecessary, as there is already enough suffering in the world.
Conclusion
In "He Reproves The Curlew," Yeats explores the themes of mortality, the transience of life, and the nature of suffering. The curlew's mournful cry serves as a reminder of these universal truths, and the speaker's plea for it to stop crying illustrates the futility of trying to escape or ignore them.
Although this poem may not contain the mystical and fantastical elements that Yeats is often associated with, it showcases his skill as a poet and his ability to explore complex and universal themes in a concise and powerful manner.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
He Reproves The Curlew: An Analysis of Yeats' Classic Poem
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his works continue to inspire and captivate readers today. One of his most famous poems is "He Reproves The Curlew," a powerful and evocative piece that explores themes of mortality, nature, and the human condition. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem, analyzing its structure, language, and meaning to gain a deeper understanding of Yeats' message.
Structure and Form
"He Reproves The Curlew" is a sonnet, a traditional form of poetry that consists of 14 lines and a strict rhyme scheme. Yeats' sonnet follows the Shakespearean form, which means that it is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with each line written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern that consists of five iambs (a metrical foot that consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable).
The sonnet form is often associated with love poetry, but Yeats uses it here to explore a different kind of emotion: anger. The poem's structure allows him to build up his argument gradually, using each quatrain to develop his ideas before delivering a final, forceful conclusion in the couplet.
Language and Imagery
Yeats' language in "He Reproves The Curlew" is rich and evocative, using vivid imagery to create a sense of the natural world and its beauty. The poem is set on a beach, where the speaker encounters a curlew, a type of bird that is often associated with melancholy and mourning. The curlew's cry is described as "wild and shrill," and it echoes across the beach, creating a haunting and eerie atmosphere.
The speaker is angered by the curlew's cry, which he sees as a reminder of mortality and the transience of life. He reproaches the bird, telling it to "cease that mourning cry" and to "sing instead a song of joy." The contrast between the curlew's mournful cry and the speaker's call for joy creates a sense of tension and conflict, highlighting the poem's central theme of the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that is often cruel and indifferent.
Meaning and Interpretation
At its core, "He Reproves The Curlew" is a meditation on the human condition and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that is often indifferent to our desires and aspirations. The curlew's cry represents the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life, while the speaker's call for joy represents the human desire to find happiness and fulfillment in the face of this reality.
The poem can be read as a critique of the Romantic idea of nature as a source of solace and inspiration. Yeats suggests that nature can be both beautiful and cruel, and that the human desire to find meaning in it can lead to disappointment and frustration. The speaker's anger at the curlew's cry represents a rejection of the Romantic idealization of nature, and a call for a more pragmatic and realistic approach to life.
Conclusion
In "He Reproves The Curlew," William Butler Yeats uses the sonnet form to explore themes of mortality, nature, and the human condition. His language is rich and evocative, using vivid imagery to create a sense of the natural world and its beauty. The poem can be read as a critique of the Romantic idealization of nature, and a call for a more pragmatic and realistic approach to life. Ultimately, "He Reproves The Curlew" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.
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