Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Written in 1919 in the aftermath of World War I and amidst the Irish War of Independence, William Butler Yeats’ “The Second Coming” is a seminal poem of the 20th century. It grapples with a sense of profound disillusionment and foreboding, reflecting the widespread anxieties about the collapse of established order and the emergence of a new, potentially terrifying era. The poem’s power lies in its evocative imagery and its articulation of a cyclical view of history, suggesting that periods of stability are inevitably followed by chaos and rebirth. This essay will explore the prophetic overtones within the poem, analyzing how Yeats utilizes symbolism and allusion to convey a sense of impending doom and the birth of a new, unsettling age.
Historical and Political Context
The poem was conceived during a period of immense upheaval. World War I (1914-1918) had shattered the foundations of European civilization, leading to widespread social, political, and economic instability. The Russian Revolution of 1917 further fueled anxieties about the rise of radical ideologies and the potential for global conflict. Yeats, deeply concerned with Irish nationalism and the political turmoil in his homeland, saw these events as signs of a larger, more ominous pattern unfolding.
Analysis of Prophetic Imagery
The Falcon and the Centre Cannot Hold
The opening lines, “Turning and turning in the widening gyre / The falcon cannot hear the falconer,” establish a central metaphor of disintegration. The “gyre” represents a cyclical pattern of history, and the falcon’s inability to hear the falconer symbolizes the breakdown of control and the loss of traditional authority. This imagery immediately evokes a sense of impending chaos and the inability to maintain order. The falcon, traditionally a symbol of nobility and control, is now adrift, foreshadowing the collapse of established hierarchies.
The “Rough Beast” and the Second Coming
The most striking prophetic element is the vision of the “rough beast” slouching towards Bethlehem to be born. This creature, described with unsettling ambiguity – “a shape with lion body and the head of a man, / A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun” – represents a terrifying new force emerging to replace the old order. The allusion to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, is deliberately ironic, suggesting that this “second coming” will be not of a savior, but of a destructive power. This imagery taps into ancient myths and apocalyptic prophecies, lending the poem a sense of timeless dread.
Symbolism of Darkness and Anarchy
Yeats employs powerful imagery of darkness, chaos, and anarchy throughout the poem. Phrases like “blood-dimmed tide,” “ceremony of innocence is drowned,” and “the best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity” paint a bleak picture of a society descending into barbarism. These images are not merely descriptive; they are prophetic warnings about the consequences of moral and spiritual decay. The poem suggests that when traditional values are abandoned, the path is cleared for the rise of extremism and violence.
The Cyclical View of History
Central to the poem’s prophetic power is Yeats’ belief in a cyclical view of history, influenced by his study of Eastern philosophy and the writings of Giambattista Vico. Vico’s theory of historical cycles – the age of gods, the age of heroes, and the age of men – posits that civilizations inevitably pass through periods of growth, maturity, and decline. Yeats adapts this framework to suggest that the modern world was entering a new, dark age, marked by the emergence of a new, monstrous force. The poem isn’t predicting a specific event, but rather recognizing a pattern of historical recurrence.
| Symbol | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Gyre | Cyclical pattern of history, disintegration of order |
| Falcon | Nobility, control, traditional authority |
| Rough Beast | Destructive new force, the antithesis of Christ |
| Bethlehem | Ironic allusion to the birthplace of Christ, signifying a false messiah |
Conclusion
“The Second Coming” remains a profoundly resonant poem because of its ability to capture the anxieties of a world in crisis. Yeats’ masterful use of symbolism, allusion, and a cyclical view of history creates a powerful and unsettling vision of societal collapse and the emergence of a new, terrifying age. While rooted in the specific historical context of post-World War I Europe, the poem’s themes of disillusionment, moral decay, and the loss of control continue to resonate with contemporary audiences facing their own periods of uncertainty and upheaval. Its prophetic power lies not in predicting the future, but in illuminating the enduring patterns of human history and the potential for darkness within the human spirit.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.