'Crazy Jane On God' by William Butler Yeats


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That lover of a night
Came when he would,
Went in the dawning light
Whether I would or no;
Men come, men go;
All things remain in God.

Banners choke the sky;
Men-at-arms tread;
Armoured horses neigh
In the narrow pass:
All things remain in God.

Before their eyes a house
That from childhood stood
Uninhabited, ruinous,
Suddenly lit up
From door to top:
All things remain in God.

I had wild Jack for a lover;
Though like a road
That men pass over
My body makes no moan
But sings on:
All things remain in God.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Crazy Jane On God: A Critical Interpretation

What can be said about William Butler Yeats' "Crazy Jane On God"? A lot, actually. This poem, published in 1933 as part of his collection "The Winding Stair and Other Poems," is a fascinating exploration of faith, doubt, and the nature of God. It is a poem that compels the reader to ask themselves the same questions that Crazy Jane does: Who is God? What does He want from us? And why do we bother trying to understand Him?

The Poem

But before we dive into the interpretation, let's take a closer look at the poem itself:

Crazy Jane talks with the Bishop

I met the Bishop on the road And much said he and I. 'Those breasts are flat and fallen now Those veins must soon be dry; Live in a heavenly mansion, Not in some foul sty.'

'Fair and foul are near of kin, And fair needs foul,' I cried. 'My friends are gone, but that's a truth Nor grave nor bed denied, Learned in bodily lowliness And in the heart's pride.

'A woman can be proud and stiff When on love intent; But Love has pitched his mansion in The place of excrement; For nothing can be sole or whole That has not been rent.'

Crazy Jane talks with the Priest

'What do you think, priest, what do you think? When I have sung my last song, And man no more is commingled with My stallion-groomed and curly-headed boy, The potent and the wise, What have I left to prove? Some sort of triumph in my tone; Or, of the church, or of the stage, The ribald multitude's applause, Eyes that have died in some dim fashion And, in the total emptiness, Cadaverous faces on the wall.'

'And I, Crazy Jane, I have met the Bishop on the road, And much said he and I. 'Those breasts are flat and fallen now, Those veins must soon be dry; Live in a heavenly mansion, Not in some foul sty.'

'Fair and foul are near of kin, And fair needs foul,' I cried. 'My friends are gone, but that's a truth Nor grave nor bed denied, Learned in bodily lowliness And in the heart's pride.

'A woman can be proud and stiff When on love intent; But Love has pitched his mansion in The place of excrement; For nothing can be sole or whole That has not been rent.'

The Interpretation

At first glance, "Crazy Jane On God" appears to be a simple dialogue between a woman, Crazy Jane, and two religious figures, a Bishop and a Priest. But as we delve deeper, we realize that there is much more going on here.

Let's start with the character of Crazy Jane herself. Crazy Jane appears in several of Yeats' poems, and she is always an unconventional figure. She is a woman who has rejected society's conventions and expectations, choosing instead to live life on her own terms. In "Crazy Jane Talks with the Bishop," she challenges the Bishop's idea of what it means to live a "heavenly" life. To her, a life of "bodily lowliness" and "heart's pride" is just as meaningful as a life of piety.

But it is Crazy Jane's conversation with the Priest that really takes the poem to another level. Here, Crazy Jane asks the Priest what she will have left to prove when she has sung her last song and is no longer adored by the masses. This is a question that speaks to the heart of the human experience: what is the point of our existence if we are not recognized or remembered?

The Priest's response is predictably religious. He tells Crazy Jane that she should focus on living a virtuous life so that she can achieve a place in heaven. But Crazy Jane is not satisfied with this answer. She repeats her earlier argument that "fair needs foul" and that a life of "bodily lowliness" can be just as meaningful as a life of piety.

But what is the significance of the poem's title, "Crazy Jane On God"? There are a few different interpretations of this. One is that Crazy Jane is someone who is so unconventional that she must be "crazy" in society's eyes. Another is that Yeats is suggesting that a true understanding of God is beyond the grasp of conventional religious figures and requires someone who is "crazy" enough to challenge traditional notions.

This brings us to the central question of the poem: who is God? For Crazy Jane, God is not a distant figure in the sky, but rather a force that is present in every aspect of our lives. Love, which she equates with God, is not something that exists only in the realm of the virtuous, but rather in the "place of excrement," which is to say, in the messy, dirty, imperfect aspects of life.

This is a powerful message that challenges traditional religious beliefs. Yeats is suggesting that God is not something that can be neatly defined or contained within the boundaries of religious dogma. Rather, God is a force that exists within us and around us, in the beauty and ugliness of life.

The Conclusion

In conclusion, "Crazy Jane On God" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that challenges traditional religious beliefs and offers a new understanding of God. Through the character of Crazy Jane, Yeats presents a vision of faith that is not limited to traditional religious practices, but rather encompasses all aspects of life. The poem raises important questions about the nature of God, the purpose of our existence, and the meaning of love. It is a poem that invites the reader to think deeply about their own beliefs and to question the conventional wisdom of religion.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Crazy Jane On God: A Poetic Exploration of Faith and Doubt

William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, was known for his deep interest in spirituality and mysticism. His poem "Crazy Jane On God" is a powerful exploration of faith and doubt, and the complex relationship between humanity and the divine.

The poem is written in the voice of Crazy Jane, a character who appears in several of Yeats' works. Crazy Jane is a woman who has lived a wild and unconventional life, and who has a unique perspective on the world. In this poem, she speaks directly to God, questioning the nature of faith and the purpose of existence.

The poem begins with Crazy Jane addressing God directly, asking him if he is "the God of the western nations". This is a reference to the Christian God, who is often associated with the Western world. Crazy Jane then goes on to ask if God is "the God of the eastern plains", a reference to the many different religions and spiritual traditions of the East.

This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the nature of God and the diversity of human belief. Crazy Jane is not content to accept a single, narrow definition of God; instead, she seeks to understand the many different ways in which people have tried to connect with the divine.

The second stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as Crazy Jane declares that she does not believe in God. She says that she has "seen him in the shining of the stars", but that she does not believe in him because she has "seen him only in her own mind". This is a powerful statement about the nature of faith and belief; Crazy Jane is saying that she cannot simply accept the existence of God on faith alone, but that she needs to see evidence of his presence in the world around her.

The third stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of sin and redemption. Crazy Jane asks God if he will "forgive the sin of being me", suggesting that she feels guilty for her unconventional lifestyle and her rejection of traditional religious beliefs. She then goes on to ask if God will "take me as I am", suggesting that she is seeking acceptance and forgiveness for her flaws and imperfections.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a powerful declaration of Crazy Jane's independence and self-determination. She declares that she will "dance naked in the wilderness" and "sing out loud in the rain", suggesting that she is not bound by the constraints of society or religion. She is a free spirit, unafraid to express herself and to seek out her own path in life.

The final stanza of the poem is a powerful affirmation of Crazy Jane's faith, despite her doubts and uncertainties. She declares that she will "love you better after death", suggesting that she believes in an afterlife and that she will continue to seek out a deeper connection with God even after she has passed away.

Overall, "Crazy Jane On God" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complex relationship between humanity and the divine. Yeats uses the character of Crazy Jane to express his own doubts and uncertainties about faith, while also celebrating the diversity of human belief and the power of individual expression. This is a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, and it is a testament to Yeats' skill as a poet and his deep understanding of the human experience.

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