Yeats' purpose was to write out the heart of the Irish common people.” Comment on this statement with reference to some of the poems prescribed for your study.

Yeats and the Project of Irish Literary Nationalism

Yeats’ early poetry was heavily influenced by Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics and Romanticism. However, he consciously shifted towards a more distinctly Irish voice, recognizing the need to create a literature that reflected the spirit of the nation. This involved a deliberate engagement with Irish folklore, mythology, and the rhythms of Irish speech. He co-founded the Irish Literary Society in London (1891) and later played a key role in the establishment of the Abbey Theatre (1903), both platforms dedicated to promoting Irish literature and drama.

‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’: A Voice of Rural Ireland

‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ is a prime example of Yeats’ attempt to capture the heart of the Irish common people. The poem narrates the story of a rural priest who, exhausted and overwhelmed, momentarily neglects his duties. The language is deliberately simple and colloquial, mirroring the speech patterns of rural Ireland. The narrative focuses on a relatable human struggle – the conflict between duty and exhaustion – within a distinctly Irish setting. The use of ballad form itself, a traditional oral storytelling method, reinforces the poem’s connection to the folk tradition. The poem doesn’t romanticize poverty or hardship; it presents a realistic portrayal of a priest’s life and the anxieties he faces.

‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’: Yearning for a Simpler Life

While seemingly a personal expression of longing, ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ can also be interpreted as a reflection of the Irish desire for a return to a simpler, more authentic way of life, free from the complexities of modernity and political turmoil. Innisfree represents an idealized vision of rural Ireland, a place of peace and natural beauty. The poem’s evocative imagery – “nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee” – appeals to a fundamental human desire for self-sufficiency and connection to the land. The poem’s popularity suggests that this yearning resonated deeply with the Irish public.

‘September 1913’: Confronting Political Disillusionment

‘September 1913’ demonstrates a more complex engagement with the Irish common people. Written in response to the Dublin Lockout of 1913, the poem expresses Yeats’ disillusionment with the political and social unrest in Ireland. While he sympathizes with the plight of the working class, he also criticizes what he perceives as their narrow-mindedness and lack of vision. The poem’s famous lines – “Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone, / Is only a memory now” – suggest a lament for a lost ideal, a romanticized vision of Ireland that has been shattered by the realities of political conflict. However, the poem also hints at the possibility of a new, more pragmatic Ireland emerging from the ashes of the old. The poem’s direct engagement with a contemporary political event demonstrates Yeats’ willingness to confront difficult truths about Irish society.

Limitations and Complexities

Despite his sincere efforts, Yeats’ portrayal of the Irish common people was not without its limitations. He was, after all, a member of the Anglo-Irish Protestant Ascendancy, and his perspective was inevitably shaped by his social background. Some critics argue that his representations of rural life were often idealized or romanticized, and that he sometimes failed to fully grasp the complexities of Irish social and political realities. Furthermore, his later poetry, particularly after the Irish Civil War, became increasingly detached from the concerns of the common people, focusing instead on more esoteric themes and personal anxieties.