W.B. Yeats's poem The Second Coming is widely regarded as one of the most profound and prophetic works of the 20th century. The phrase "analysis of the poem The Second Coming" encapsulates a deep exploration into Yeats's complex imagery, themes, and symbolism, revealing the poet's response to the chaos and upheaval of his time. Written in 1919 against the backdrop of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and a general sense of disillusionment, the poem projects a vision of impending chaos and transformation rooted in both historical and mystical contexts. This analysis aims to dissect the poem's structure, themes, symbolism, and historical relevance, offering a comprehensive understanding of its enduring power.
Introduction to The Second Coming
Historical Context and Yeats’s Perspective
Yeats composed The Second Coming during a period of profound upheaval. The early 20th century was marked by unprecedented violence, political revolutions, and societal fractures. The aftermath of WWI left many feeling that civilization was unraveling, and Yeats’s poem captures this sense of disorientation. The poem’s opening lines evoke a world in flux:
> "Turning and turning in the widening gyre
> The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
> Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
> Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world."
These lines immediately set a tone of chaos, suggesting that the old order is disintegrating and that a new, perhaps unsettling, era is approaching.
Yeats’s Mystical and Symbolic Framework
Yeats was deeply interested in mysticism, the occult, and cyclical theories of history. His concept of the "gyre" — a spiraling, expanding circle representing historical and spiritual cycles — is central to understanding the poem. He believed history is driven by these cyclical patterns, with periods of order followed by chaos, culminating in a transformative event.
Structural Analysis
Form and Composition
The Second Coming is a roughly structured poem comprising 22 lines of free verse, blending rhythmic patterns and vivid imagery. Its lack of strict rhyme scheme and meter enhances its chaotic and prophetic tone. The poem’s structure reflects the tumultuous themes it explores, with an opening depicting chaos and a closing hinting at a new, perhaps terrifying, reality.
Key Structural Elements:
- Opening chaos and disintegration
- The prophetic vision of the "second coming"
- The symbolic figure of the "rough beast"
- A sense of impending transformation
Stanza Breakdown
While the poem flows as a single unit, several segments can be identified:
1. The Gyre and Chaos: Lines 1-4 establish the idea of a spiraling universe descending into disorder.
2. The Vision of the Widening Gyre: Lines 5-9 describe the disintegration of societal and spiritual order.
3. The Second Coming and the Sphinx-like Figure: Lines 10-14 introduce the prophecy and imagery of a new entity arising.
4. The Beast and Its Implications: Lines 15-22 depict a terrifying creature symbolizing chaos and destruction.
Themes and Motifs
1. Chaos and Disorder
The opening lines set the tone with imagery of disintegration:
> "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
> Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world."
This suggests that the foundations of civilization are collapsing, and traditional structures—religious, political, social—are no longer stable. The chaos is not just external but also internal, reflecting a loss of moral and spiritual order.
2. Cyclical History and the Gyre
Yeats believed history moves in cycles, each lasting roughly 2,000 years, represented by the gyre. The widening gyre signifies that these cycles are expanding, and the current chaos indicates a transition into a new phase.
3. The Second Coming and the Prophetic Imagery
The phrase "the second coming" traditionally refers to Christ’s return; however, Yeats reinterprets it as a disruptive, perhaps apocalyptic event. Instead of a peaceful return, the poem hints at a monstrous new era symbolized by the "rough beast."
4. The Rise of the Beast
The closing lines:
> "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
> Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"
are among the most famous in modern poetry. The "rough beast" symbolizes a destructive force emerging from chaos—possibly fascism, barbarism, or a new form of spiritual decay—destined to reshape the world.
5. Spiritual Decline and Loss of Faith
Throughout the poem, there's a sense of spiritual decay. The imagery suggests that the spiritual and moral centers of society are weakening, giving way to primal, destructive forces.
Symbolism and Imagery
1. The Gyre
The gyre symbolizes cyclical history and spiritual evolution. Its widening indicates increasing disorder, with the spiral representing the inevitable decay and renewal.
2. The Falcon and the Falconer
The opening image of the falcon "turning" beyond the falconer symbolizes the breakdown of control and order. In traditional symbolism, the falconer represents divine or moral authority, which is losing grip on the chaos it once governed.
3. The Sphinx and the Lion
References to mythological creatures evoke mystery, power, and the unknown. The "lion body and the head of a man" suggest the blending of animalistic instinct with human consciousness, hinting at a new, possibly monstrous, entity.
4. The "Rough Beast"
The central symbol of the poem, representing chaos incarnate—an ominous force that embodies destruction and renewal.
5. The Widening Gyre
Visualized as a spiral expanding beyond control, signifying the accelerating decline of civilization.
Literary Devices and Techniques
1. Imagery
Yeats employs vivid and often startling images—"blood-dimmed tide," "blood-dimmed" indicating violence and chaos, and "the darkness drops again" suggesting spiritual darkness.
2. Alliteration and Assonance
Examples include "turning and turning" and "slouches towards Bethlehem," creating rhythmic cohesion that emphasizes chaos and movement.
3. Symbolism
As previously discussed, symbols like the gyre, the falcon, the beast, and Bethlehem serve to deepen the poem’s meanings.
4. Irony
The phrase "second coming" traditionally signifies hope and renewal; Yeats’s use subverts this, implying a more destructive or unsettling event.
5. Tone and Mood
The tone is apocalyptic, urgent, and foreboding. The mood evokes anxiety and anticipation of upheaval.
Interpretations and Critical Perspectives
1. Political and Social Interpretation
Many see the poem as a reflection of the turmoil of Yeats’s era, with the "rough beast" symbolizing totalitarian regimes like fascism and communism that rose after WWI.
2. Mystical and Esoteric Interpretation
Yeats’s interest in mysticism suggests that the poem also speaks to spiritual transformations, indicating that chaos precedes a new spiritual awakening—albeit a potentially frightening one.
3. Psychological Reading
The poem can be viewed as an exploration of collective unconscious and societal psyche, revealing underlying fears of destruction and rebirth.
4. Literary Significance
The Second Coming is considered a seminal modernist poem, exemplifying fragmentation, symbolism, and a break from traditional poetic forms.
Conclusion
The analysis of the poem The Second Coming reveals it as a masterful meditation on chaos, transformation, and the cyclical nature of history. Yeats’s use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and innovative structure captures the turbulence of his time and offers a prophetic vision of a world on the brink of profound change. Its themes resonate beyond its historical context, speaking to universal fears of societal collapse and the uncertainty of renewal. As a work of modernist poetry, it challenges readers to confront the unsettling possibilities of chaos and the potential for rebirth amid destruction. Ultimately, Yeats’s The Second Coming remains a powerful testament to the enduring human anxieties about order, chaos, and the ever-present hope for renewal amidst darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of W.B. Yeats's poem 'The Second Coming'?
The central theme of the poem is the chaos and upheaval in the world, symbolized by the birth of a new, often destructive era, reflecting fears of societal collapse and the loss of spiritual order.
How does Yeats use imagery to depict the Second Coming in the poem?
Yeats employs vivid imagery such as 'the rough beast' slouching towards Bethlehem and the 'blood-dimmed tide' to evoke a sense of foreboding, chaos, and an ominous new era emerging from disorder.
What is the significance of the 'gyre' in Yeats's 'The Second Coming'?
The 'gyre' represents Yeats's idea of cyclical history and spiritual evolution, suggesting that history moves in spirals rather than linear progression, and that the current chaos signals a new phase in this cycle.
In what ways does 'The Second Coming' reflect Yeats's political and social concerns?
The poem reflects Yeats's anxiety about the collapse of traditional values and the rise of violence and disorder in the post-World War I era, symbolizing societal upheaval and the uncertain future.
How does Yeats's use of symbolism enhance the meaning of 'The Second Coming'?
Yeats employs symbols such as the falcon, the sphinx, and the beast to represent chaos, prophecy, and destructive forces, deepening the poem's exploration of impending change and spiritual upheaval.
What is the role of religious imagery in 'The Second Coming'?
Religious imagery, including references to Christ and Bethlehem, underscores themes of spiritual upheaval, suggesting a loss of divine order and the emergence of a new, possibly antithetical force.
How does the tone of 'The Second Coming' contribute to its overall impact?
The tone is ominous and foreboding, creating a sense of dread and anticipation that enhances the poem's message about chaos, transformation, and the unpredictable nature of history.
What interpretations have scholars offered regarding the 'blood-dimmed tide' in the poem?
Scholars interpret the 'blood-dimmed tide' as a metaphor for widespread violence, war, and bloodshed, reflecting the turbulent times during which Yeats wrote and symbolizing societal breakdown.
How does 'The Second Coming' exemplify modernist poetry?
The poem exemplifies modernist traits through its fragmented structure, symbolic complexity, and themes of chaos and uncertainty, reflecting the disillusionment and upheaval characteristic of modernist literature.
