'The Statues' by William Butler Yeats
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PYTHAGORAS planned it.Why did the people stare?
His numbers, though they moved or seemed to move
In marble or in bronze, lacked character.
But boys and girls, pale from the imagined love
Of solitary beds, knew what they were,
That passion could bring character enough,
And pressed at midnight in some public place
Live lips upon a plummet-measured face.
No! Greater than Pythagoras, for the men
That with a mallet or a chisel" modelled these
Calculations that look but casual flesh, put down
All Asiatic vague immensities,
And not the banks of oars that swam upon
The many-headed foam at Salamis.
Europe put off that foam when Phidias
Gave women dreams and dreams their looking-glass.
One image crossed the many-headed, sat
Under the tropic shade, grew round and slow,
No Hamlet thin from eating flies, a fat
Dreamer of the Middle Ages.Empty eyeballs knew
That knowledge increases unreality, that
Mirror on mirror mirrored is all the show.
When gong and conch declare the hour to bless
Grimalkin crawls to Buddha's emptiness.
When Pearse summoned Cuchulain to his side.
What stalked through the post Office? What intellect,
What calculation, number, measurement, replied?
We Irish, born into that ancient sect
But thrown upon this filthy modern tide
And by its formless spawning fury wrecked,
Climb to our proper dark, that we may trace
The lineaments of a plummet-measured face.
April 9,
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Statues by William Butler Yeats: A Study of the Human Psyche
Introduction
The Statues by William Butler Yeats is a thought-provoking poem that delves deep into the human psyche. The poem explores the human need for immortality and the struggle to achieve it through the creation of art. Yeats uses statues as a metaphor for the human desire to leave a lasting legacy and examines the futility of such a pursuit.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a closer look at The Statues and analyze the themes, imagery, language, and structure of the poem. We will also explore the historical and cultural context in which the poem was written and its relevance in today's society.
Historical and Cultural Context
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright who lived from 1865 to 1939. He was deeply influenced by the Irish nationalist movement and the Celtic Revival, which sought to revive Irish culture and traditions. Yeats was also a member of the Irish Literary Revival, a movement that aimed to create a distinct Irish literature.
The Statues was written in 1919, a time of great political and social upheaval in Ireland. The country was in the midst of a struggle for independence from British rule, and Yeats was actively involved in the nationalist movement. The poem was published in The Wild Swans at Coole, a collection of Yeats's poetry that reflected his fascination with mystical, esoteric, and mythological themes.
Themes
The Statues explores several themes, including the desire for immortality, the creation of art, and the futility of human endeavors. The poem raises questions about the purpose of art and the role it plays in human life. It also reflects on the human desire to leave a lasting legacy and the impossibility of achieving such a goal.
One of the central themes of the poem is the quest for immortality. Yeats suggests that humans have an inherent need to leave a lasting legacy, to be remembered long after they are gone. This desire is reflected in the creation of art, particularly in the form of statues. However, Yeats argues that this quest for immortality is ultimately futile, as all things, including art, will eventually decay and disappear.
Another important theme in the poem is the creation of art. Yeats suggests that art is a way of achieving immortality, as it allows artists to leave a lasting legacy. However, he also suggests that the act of creation is often fraught with difficulty and pain. The poem reflects on the struggle of the artist to capture the essence of the subject and the frustration that comes with the realization that art can never fully capture the beauty of life.
The poem also explores the futility of human endeavors. Yeats suggests that all human efforts are ultimately doomed to fail, as everything, including art, will eventually decay and disappear. The poem suggests that the human quest for immortality is a fundamental part of the human psyche, but that it is ultimately futile.
Imagery
The imagery in The Statues is rich and evocative, creating a vivid picture of the world Yeats is describing. The poem is set in a park filled with statues, which are described in great detail. The statues are depicted as being old and worn, with moss and lichen growing on them. This imagery creates a sense of decay and the passage of time, emphasizing the futility of human endeavors.
Yeats also uses animal imagery to contrast the immortality of nature with the mortality of humans. He describes the birds and animals in the park as being full of life and vitality, in contrast to the statues, which are lifeless and inert. This imagery creates a sense of contrast between the permanence of nature and the transience of human life.
The poem also contains powerful religious imagery, particularly in the final stanza. Yeats uses the image of the crucifixion to suggest that the creation of art is a form of sacrifice, requiring the artist to suffer in order to capture the essence of the subject. This imagery creates a sense of reverence for the act of creation, while also emphasizing its difficulty and pain.
Language
The language in The Statues is rich and evocative, creating a sense of depth and complexity. The poem is written in a formal, structured style, reflecting Yeats's interest in traditional poetic forms. The language is also highly symbolic, using metaphors and imagery to convey complex ideas and emotions.
One of the most powerful aspects of the language in the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "their ancient glittering eyes" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of continuity and emphasizing the enduring nature of the statues. This repetition also creates a sense of rhythm and musicality, enhancing the poem's overall impact.
The language in the poem is also highly emotive, creating a sense of depth and complexity. Yeats uses powerful metaphors to convey complex emotions, such as the image of the dying swan in the final stanza, which suggests the pain and suffering of the artist.
Structure
The structure of The Statues is highly structured and formal, reflecting Yeats's interest in traditional poetic forms. The poem is composed of four stanzas, each containing four lines, and follows a strict ABAB rhyme scheme. The use of formal structure creates a sense of order and balance, emphasizing the poem's themes of permanence and order.
The poem is also highly symbolic, using metaphors and imagery to convey complex ideas and emotions. The repetition of the phrase "their ancient glittering eyes" creates a sense of continuity throughout the poem, while also emphasizing the enduring nature of the statues. The use of animal imagery creates a sense of contrast between the permanence of nature and the transience of human life.
Conclusion
The Statues by William Butler Yeats is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the human desire for immortality and the creation of art. The poem reflects on the futility of human endeavors and suggests that all things, including art, will eventually decay and disappear.
The rich imagery, evocative language, and structured form of the poem create a sense of depth and complexity, emphasizing the poem's themes of permanence and order. The use of animal imagery, religious symbolism, and repetition create a sense of continuity and emphasize the enduring nature of the statues.
Overall, The Statues is a thought-provoking and powerful poem that reflects on the human condition and the struggle to achieve immortality through the creation of art. Its themes and imagery are still relevant today, highlighting the enduring nature of human desires and the futility of our endeavors.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Statues by William Butler Yeats is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is rich in symbolism and imagery, and it speaks to the human condition in a way that is both profound and moving. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and motifs that are present in the poem, and we will examine the ways in which Yeats uses language and imagery to convey his message.
The poem begins with a description of statues that are standing in a park. These statues are described as being "cold" and "lifeless", and they are said to be "watching" the people who pass by. This image of statues watching people is a powerful one, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that the statues are somehow connected to the people who pass by them, and that they are observing them in some way.
As the poem continues, we learn that the statues are not just any statues, but rather they are statues of ancient gods and goddesses. These gods and goddesses are described as being "passionate" and "wild", and they are said to have once ruled over the world. This contrast between the cold, lifeless statues and the passionate, wild gods and goddesses is a central theme of the poem. It suggests that there is a disconnect between the past and the present, and that the world has lost something important.
The poem then takes a turn, and we learn that the people who pass by the statues are not just any people, but rather they are poets. These poets are described as being "young" and "passionate", and they are said to be searching for something. This search is described as being a search for "truth" and "beauty", and it is suggested that the poets are somehow connected to the ancient gods and goddesses.
The connection between the poets and the ancient gods and goddesses is a powerful one, and it suggests that there is a continuity between the past and the present. It suggests that the poets are somehow carrying on the legacy of the gods and goddesses, and that they are searching for the same things that the gods and goddesses once searched for.
The poem then takes another turn, and we learn that the poets are not just searching for truth and beauty, but rather they are searching for something more profound. They are searching for a way to connect with the world in a way that is meaningful and profound. This search is described as being a search for "the secret of life", and it is suggested that the poets are somehow connected to the statues themselves.
The connection between the poets and the statues is a powerful one, and it suggests that the poets are somehow searching for a way to bring the statues to life. It suggests that the poets are somehow connected to the ancient gods and goddesses, and that they are searching for a way to bring their passion and vitality back to the world.
The poem then ends with a powerful image of the poets standing before the statues, and it suggests that the poets have somehow found what they were searching for. They are described as being "transfigured", and it is suggested that they have somehow become one with the statues themselves. This image of the poets becoming one with the statues is a powerful one, and it suggests that the poets have somehow found a way to connect with the world in a way that is profound and meaningful.
In conclusion, The Statues by William Butler Yeats is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both profound and moving. It is a poem that is rich in symbolism and imagery, and it suggests that there is a continuity between the past and the present. It suggests that the poets are somehow connected to the ancient gods and goddesses, and that they are searching for a way to bring their passion and vitality back to the world. It is a poem that speaks to the power of art and poetry, and it suggests that there is a way to connect with the world in a way that is meaningful and profound.
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