'The Gyres' by William Butler Yeats
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The gyres! the gyres! Old Rocky Face, look forth;
Things thought too long can be no longer thought,
For beauty dies of beauty, worth of worth,
And ancient lineaments are blotted out.
Irrational streams of blood are staining earth;
Empedocles has thrown all things about;
Hector is dead and there's a light in Troy;
We that look on but laugh in tragic joy.
What matter though numb nightmare ride on top,
And blood and mire the sensitive body stain?
What matter? Heave no sigh, let no tear drop,
A-greater, a more gracious time has gone;
For painted forms or boxes of make-up
In ancient tombs I sighed, but not again;
What matter? Out of cavern comes a voice,
And all it knows is that one word 'Rejoice!'
Conduct and work grow coarse, and coarse the soul,
What matter? Those that Rocky Face holds dear,
Lovers of horses and of women, shall,
From marble of a broken sepulchre,
Or dark betwixt the polecat and the owl,
Or any rich, dark nothing disinter
The workman, noble and saint, and all things run
On that unfashionable gyre again.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Gyres: An Exploration of Yeats' Vision of History and Time
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his poetry is renowned for its intricate symbolism, philosophical complexity, and vivid imagery. Among his most iconic works is the poem "The Gyres," which is a profound meditation on the nature of history, time, and human consciousness. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various layers of meaning in this enigmatic poem, and argue that it reveals Yeats' vision of the cyclical nature of history, the tension between spirit and matter, and the quest for transcendence.
The Gyres: An Overview
"The Gyres" is a poem composed of four stanzas, each consisting of eight lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no regular rhyme or meter. The first stanza opens with the lines:
The gyres! the gyres! Old Rocky Face, look forth;
Things thought too long can be no longer thought,
For beauty dies of beauty, worth of worth,
And ancient lineaments are blotted out.
These lines introduce us to the central motif of the poem, the gyres, which are spirals or circles that represent the cycles of history and time. The speaker calls upon "Old Rocky Face," which is likely a reference to the ancient Greek god of time, Chronos, to bear witness to the unfolding of these cycles. The lines suggest that as time passes, beauty and worth are lost, and the "ancient lineaments," or the distinctive features of the past, are erased.
The second stanza continues this theme:
Wander, oh wandering thoughts, and when
Truth is faded out of sight,
Look that you go on wandering,
Wander away into the light.
Here, the speaker addresses his own thoughts, urging them to continue wandering even when truth is no longer discernible. The lines suggest that truth is not a fixed and stable entity, but rather a fleeting and elusive one that must be pursued through constant inquiry and exploration. The speaker urges his thoughts to "wander away into the light," suggesting that the pursuit of truth is a quest for enlightenment or spiritual transcendence.
The third stanza introduces a new element to the poem:
Sing the wild song of circling flight,
The whirling dance of the circling stars.
Dance on till the stars fall from the night.
And the world is all forgotten and far.
Here, the speaker calls upon the reader to "sing the wild song of circling flight," and invokes the image of the "whirling dance of the circling stars." The lines suggest a sense of cosmic motion and circularity, and the idea that the stars themselves are caught up in the cycles of history and time. The final line, "And the world is all forgotten and far," suggests a sense of detachment or transcendence from the material world, and a longing for a higher spiritual realm.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close:
Mournful for all that, yet to and fro,
We wander and question and lie,
Awake from the wheel and the world, for we know
All shall be gay when the world's at an end.
Here, the speaker acknowledges the sorrowful nature of the cycles of history and time, but suggests that there is still hope for transcendence. He urges us to "awake from the wheel and the world," suggesting that we can break free from the cycles of history and attain a higher spiritual realm. The final line, "All shall be gay when the world's at an end," is a paradoxical statement that suggests that the ultimate goal of human existence is not to cling to the material world, but to transcend it and find joy in the destruction of the old order.
The Symbolism of The Gyres
To fully understand the meaning of "The Gyres," we must examine its rich symbolism and imagery. The central motif of the poem is the gyre, which represents the cycles of history and time. The gyre is a powerful symbol of movement and change, as well as of cyclical patterns that repeat themselves over time. The gyre is also a symbol of tension between spirit and matter, as it represents the movement of the soul towards enlightenment and transcendence, while at the same time, it is caught up in the cycles of the material world.
The speaker's references to "Old Rocky Face" and Chronos suggest a connection to ancient Greek mythology, which had a profound influence on Yeats' work. Chronos was the god of time and represented the cyclical nature of history, while Rocky Face may be a reference to the Greek god Atlas, who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. These references suggest that the cycles of history and time are not just abstract concepts, but are embodied in powerful mythological figures that exert a profound influence on human consciousness.
The image of the "whirling dance of the circling stars" is another powerful symbol that represents the cyclical motion of the cosmos. The stars themselves are caught up in the cycles of history and time, suggesting that even the most powerful and transcendent elements of the universe are subject to the same cyclical patterns as human history.
The Philosophy of The Gyres
In addition to its rich symbolism and imagery, "The Gyres" is a profound philosophical meditation on the nature of history, time, and human consciousness. The poem suggests that history is not a linear and progressive march towards a better future, but rather a cyclical pattern of rise and fall, growth and decay. The cycles of history are driven by the tension between spirit and matter, as human consciousness seeks to transcend the material world and attain a higher spiritual realm.
The poem also suggests that truth is not a fixed and stable entity, but rather a fleeting and elusive one that must be pursued through constant inquiry and exploration. The speaker's urging of his own thoughts to "wander away into the light" suggests that the pursuit of truth is a quest for enlightenment or spiritual transcendence, rather than a mere accumulation of facts and knowledge.
Finally, the poem suggests that the ultimate goal of human existence is not to cling to the material world, but to transcend it and find joy in the destruction of the old order. The paradoxical statement that "All shall be gay when the world's at an end" suggests that the destruction of the old order is not a cause for despair, but rather a cause for celebration, as it represents the possibility of spiritual renewal and transcendence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Gyres" is a profound and enigmatic poem that reveals Yeats' vision of the cyclical nature of history, the tension between spirit and matter, and the quest for transcendence. Through its rich symbolism, vivid imagery, and philosophical depth, the poem invites us to explore the profound mysteries of human existence and to seek out the higher spiritual realms beyond the material world. As we contemplate the cycles of history and time, and the ultimate goal of human existence, we are reminded of the enduring power and beauty of Yeats' poetry, and of the timeless wisdom that it contains.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Gyres: An Analysis of William Butler Yeats' Classic Poem
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. His works are known for their complexity, symbolism, and depth of meaning. Among his many works, The Gyres stands out as a classic poem that has captivated readers for generations. In this article, we will take a closer look at The Gyres and explore its themes, symbolism, and meaning.
The Gyres is a poem that is steeped in symbolism. The poem is divided into two parts, each consisting of four stanzas. The first part of the poem describes the movement of the gyres, which are spirals that represent the cycles of history. The second part of the poem describes the coming of a new age, which is represented by the birth of a falcon.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It describes the movement of the gyres, which are spirals that represent the cycles of history. The gyres are described as "widening gyre" and "narrowing gyre." The widening gyre represents the movement away from the center, while the narrowing gyre represents the movement towards the center. This movement is a metaphor for the cycles of history, which move away from a central point and then move back towards it.
The second stanza of the poem describes the movement of the gyres in more detail. It describes how the widening gyre moves further away from the center, while the narrowing gyre moves closer to the center. This movement is a metaphor for the cycles of history, which move further away from a central point and then move back towards it.
The third stanza of the poem describes the consequences of the movement of the gyres. It describes how the widening gyre leads to chaos and anarchy, while the narrowing gyre leads to order and stability. This is a metaphor for the cycles of history, which move towards chaos and anarchy before moving back towards order and stability.
The fourth stanza of the poem describes the end of the cycle of history. It describes how the widening gyre reaches its limit and then begins to move back towards the center. This movement is a metaphor for the end of the cycle of history, which reaches its limit and then begins to move back towards a central point.
The second part of the poem describes the coming of a new age, which is represented by the birth of a falcon. The falcon is a symbol of power and freedom, and its birth represents the beginning of a new era.
The fifth stanza of the poem describes the birth of the falcon. It describes how the falcon is born "out of the blue" and how it "drops out of heaven." This is a metaphor for the suddenness and unpredictability of the birth of a new era.
The sixth stanza of the poem describes the power of the falcon. It describes how the falcon "turns and turns in a widening gyre" and how it "cannot hear the falconer." This is a metaphor for the power and freedom of the new era, which is beyond the control of the old order.
The seventh stanza of the poem describes the consequences of the birth of the falcon. It describes how the old order is "loosed upon the world" and how the new era is "anarchy." This is a metaphor for the chaos and confusion that accompany the birth of a new era.
The eighth stanza of the poem describes the end of the cycle of history and the beginning of a new era. It describes how the old order is "dying" and how the new era is "born." This is a metaphor for the end of the cycle of history and the beginning of a new era.
In conclusion, The Gyres is a classic poem that is steeped in symbolism. The poem describes the cycles of history and the birth of a new era. The gyres are a metaphor for the cycles of history, which move away from a central point and then move back towards it. The birth of the falcon represents the beginning of a new era, which is beyond the control of the old order. The poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of history and the inevitability of change. It is a testament to Yeats' genius as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in his work.
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