In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Constance Markiewicz – W.B Yeats.

‘In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Constance Markiewicz’ is a poem written by W.B Yeats in 1927 and was later published in 1933. This poem discusses the theme of disillusionment through the ideas that are drawn up for an independent Ireland which has not happened and has a result left the people of Ireland feeling melancholic and left with a dream that they are still hoping to one day become a reality. He writes of his two childhood friends who have fallen victims of time; however, both women as well as many others will of course be left with the dream of a lost Ireland and lost youth which was caught up in the Easter Rising which is described in Yeats’ other poem ‘Easter 1916’.

Constance Markievicz (left) was the very first woman to be elected to the house of commons in the election after world war one. However, she refused to take her seat in parliament. Eva and Constance are both remembered in Yeats’ writing for their beauty and principles and how they are victims of time. Yeats creates a sense of time with the title of the poem “In Memory” in which the past is greater, more noble than Yeats’ present. Constance helped organise the Easter rising and was sentenced to death, but reprieved and was sent to Holloway prison.

When the poem begins it alliterates a dreamy evening “The light of evening, Lissadell”. This alliteration helps show the beauty. Also, throughout the poem there is the tone of memory. Yeats seems to enjoy recalling “pictures of the mind” of the past. Yeats shows that he is constantly thinking of the past, “talk of youth”. Yeats contrasts the ideal past with the women and how they are today – which could link to the way he compares ‘Romantic Ireland’ with current Ireland in ‘September 1913’.

Yeats describes both the women as “beautiful” and we can see that Yeats had great respect for both. Yeats describes a lot of grandure which seems to be associated with them: “silk komonos”, “Great windows”, “gazebo” which highlights that they could have built this new world. The comparison of a ‘gazebo’ attached to a house shows the way that Ireland is attached to Great Britain. He reflects on the old days of the Easter Rising: “Conspiring amongst the ignorant”. This highlights the womens’ political beauty.

Yeats suggests that he believes in some sort of afterlife or supernatural when he says “Dear shadows”, and furthermore once again shows the ignorance of the thoughts of youthful people by saying “now you know it all.” This highlights that they didn’t know or understand much before they died, however, now in death they can have the ultimate knowledge of all.

In the poem, Yeats laments the loss, not only of their physical beauty, but of their spiritual beauty –”Two girls in silk kimonos, both // Beautiful, one a gazelle.” Yeats relates the sisters to Asian/African themes to show how they did not ‘fit in’ to their aristocratic lives: ‘silk kimonos’ and ‘one a gazelle’ illustrate this point, and also shows the elegance of Eva Gore-Booth.

The final line of the poem shows how he played a part in what happened: ‘Bid me strike a match and blow.’ This could either mean: that he should have let them run their course and face the consequences; that it’s a metaphor for violent change; a metaphor for the revolutionary action; that it is a sign to God that man will not accept fate etc . This depends upon whether he is giving the metaphorical match oxygen to burn, or blowing it out. Instead of Yeats leaving us with a physical question, this last phrase still leaves us with a question as to whether he regrets it, and if so what does he regret? Although a match is temporary, it can lead to bigger things that have the potential to destroy.

Throughout this poem overall he includes the themes of time; innocence and beauty, which will be found out and disapproved by time and political fanaticism. It describes Yeats’ frustration at what time has done to beauty and idealism and that it spurs him into defiance and not acceptance. Yeats describes how they are stripped of their beauty by age by writing “autumn shears blossom from the summer’s wreath.” He uses this example of his childhood friends – which gives the effect of it being easier to understand and relate to your very own personal experiences as everyone grows old in time, and unfortunately nobody can prevent this from happening.

The Man and The Echo – W.B Yeats.

‘The Man and the Echo’ was written in 1938, which was just before Yeats’ death. The poem is made up of rhyming couplets to highlight the irony of how different both ‘The Man’ and ‘The Echo’ are.  Throughout this poem Yeats is speaking with a dialogue of his own echo in a mystical place, he is also asking many questions on both life and death. The echo seems to suggest that he gives up, however Yeats disregards negativity in a passionate life of the mind.

The poem is very atmospheric due to the setting. In Yeats’ imagination, he visits “Alt”, a mystical place in Sligo, Ireland. Alt, is a secret place that is never touched by light. However, the poet is seemingly completely alone with his thoughts (hence the echo which is normally brought about when alone) quite cut off from the world. He is experiencing a final reckoning with his soul. Bitter intensity and a simple rhyme conjures an extreme powerful atmosphere.

Yeats uses the symbol of the echo to take his words out of context, to change their meaning and represent the lack of control one has over their words once they have been spoken. Yeats (who is the man) argues against the echo mirroring his frustration at the misinterpretation and  manipulation of his works/poems by others – this links to ‘The Fisherman’ where the great art is beaten down. Also, the difference between both Yeats and the echo highlights the conflict of thoughts he has within himself in the later stages of his life. Lastly, the echo is also a symbol of a gyre and rebirth as it is ultimately a sound created from the previous sound.

The start of the poem describes the “Man”, Yeats, travelling to a very quiet, damp and cold place “broad noon had never lit”. As the poem can come across as haunting, he is haunted by a sense of uncertainty of life, his past and the future as he can initially “never get the answers right”. This also shows self doubt, which is a main theme throughout this poem. Also, the phrase “all that I have said and done” suggests making a confession which could be linked to the fact that Yeats wrote this poem just before he passed, so this could suggest that he is making a confession as he is aware his time left is short. He is noted to “lie awake night after night” up to the point where everything “seems evil until I/ Sleepless would lie down and die.” Which to define it would be either that he feels his death is the only thing that would actually set him free from either the regret and sin in the world or, that his death would end the evil coming of his writing as he is unsure his writing is influencing. The reader is however, unsure whether this is due to insomnia or guilt, our uncertainty mirrors Yeats’ uncertainty here.

Next “certain men the English shot” is referring to the leaders of the Easter Rising; Yeats confused whether or not he made them fight through the words of his play. Also the phrase “that woman’s reeling brain” refers to an actress  by the name of Margot Ruddock; Yeats had an affair with her – perhaps this is why ‘the man’ or Yeats is both making a confession before his death and is having trouble sleeping at night. Yeats yet again questions his influence through his poetry, play and politics and whether they have enabled him to stop the destruction of memories like Coole Park “Could my spoken words have checked/ That whereby a house lay wrecked?”. 

Next, Yeats always disapproved of the use of alcohol or any pain-relief to rid of the pains of life, “drug him to sleep”. This phrase is a reference to man in general as it was Yeats who believed man must bear the toils of life. He also believed that for one to end their life by suicide it is cowardly and will thus give that person no release – this is a complete contrast with An Irish Airman Foresees his Death where the Irishman is seeing his life as “wasted breath”.

Penultimately,  Yeats questions his echo with, “Shall we in this great night rejoice?” This could be questioning God’s existence and also the supernatural. He mentions that he has lost the theme of the subject matter and concludes by stating that everybody should live in the moment by talking about the “hawk” or even the “owl” that is attacking a “stricken rabbit”, which highlights the dramatic message of living life to the fullest. He lastly states that the rabbits “cry distracts [his] thought”.

Many of Yeats’ poems have two voices or two point of views for example ‘Easter 1916’ and ‘September 1913’ due to these poems highlighting both the view of the old revolutionaries  who are “dead and gone” and also those who are in modern Ireland who are not supporting Ireland.

Easter 1916 – W.B Yeats.

‘Easter 1916’ by William Butler Yeats (W.B Yeats) is along with ‘September 1913’ a political poem. Yeats describes an Irish immature revolutionary plan, which became unsuccessful to overthrow the British reign in Ireland. Yeats believed that these heroic figures who fought for the freedom should be remembered and thus decided to write about them to share his pride with the world.

Interestingly enough the structure of this poem is very exciting. There are sixteen lines in both the first and third stanza hence ‘1916’. In the second and fourth stanza there are twenty four hence ’24th April’ the date the rising began. Lastly there are four stanza’s as April is the fourth month.

The first verse reflects the point of view of a flâneur (French: Meaning – ”Stroller”). The very first observation that is made obvious is the “vivid faces” these vivid faces are those of the youthful idealists of whom have the ambition to change the future of Ireland.

He then moves on to state “polite meaningless words” this highlights his patronising attitude towards those normal day average people who are “from counter or desk”. He shows no interest in these “grey” people consequently he greets them with a meaningless “nod of the head” or words of formality without any significance.

In the second stanza Yeats describes the story of people who participated in the Irish Revolution. A specific person who he makes reference to is John MacBride who was with the love of his life, but also “had done most bitter wrong // To some who are near my heard.” which portrays that he was in fact very abusive to Maud Gonne. However he puts his own emotions to one side as “He, too, has resigned his part”. Moreover, just after he names a few revolutionists he writes “casual comedy”, which gives the message that human life is extremely unvalued and leaves the question: “All these people died for what?“ engraved in many minds.

Throughout the third verse his main point is nature. The repetition of “stone“ throughout this verse is very important as when thrown into a stream a stone displaces water and the natural order of things; the revolutionaries do the same thing, “a stone to trouble the living stream”. However the summary of this verse is that it gives the message that nature lives in the moment, but the natural order of things will soon be destroyed. Lastly in the third verse the last line is different and states “The stone’s in the midst of all” is the stone: disruption; strength or Ireland?

In the final verse Yeats does a final count of the revolutionaries of who fought in this battle. At first people were anonymous, but later identified by name so that they are remembered and are not easily forgotten.

Lastly throughout the entire poem three of four versus all end with “A terrible beauty is born”, which is an oxymoron as it fits all the different views in each stanza together, also it reminds the reader of the real issues of fighting.

In conclusion, these fighters will live forever inspiring future revolutionaries. Furthermore, the true terrible beauty is in fact the revolutionaries themselves as they are the true reason why so many deceased and will continue to decease; the reason why both the ‘Easter Rising’ began, and so many more will continue as Ireland still have not gained full independence.