'The Heart Of The Woman' by William Butler Yeats


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O what to me the little room
That was brimmed up with prayer and rest;
He bade me out into the gloom,
And my breast lies upon his breast.

O what to me my mother's care,
The house where I was safe and warm;
The shadowy blossom of my hair
Will hide us from the bitter storm.

O hiding hair and dewy eyes,
I am no more with life and death,
My heart upon his warm heart lies,
My breath is mixed into his breath.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Heart Of The Woman: A Masterpiece of William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats, an Irish poet and playwright, is known for his exceptional poems that delve into the complexities of human emotions and nature. One of his most celebrated works is "The Heart Of The Woman," a poem that captures the essence of love, passion, and longing. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and symbols in the poem, and understand how Yeats masterfully weaves them together to create a hauntingly beautiful piece of art.

The Poem

Before we dive into the interpretation, let's take a quick look at the poem.

O what to me the little room
That was brimmed up with prayer and rest;
He bade me out into the gloom,
And my breast lies upon his breast.

O what to me my mother's care,
The house where I was safe and warm;
The shadowy blossom of my hair
Will hide us from the bitter storm.

O hiding hair and dewy eyes,
I am no more with life and death,
My heart upon his warm heart lies,
My breath is mixed into his breath.

"The Heart Of The Woman" is a short poem consisting of four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in a simple and straightforward language, but the depth of its meaning is profound. It tells the story of a woman who leaves behind the safety and comfort of her home to be with her lover in the darkness. The theme of love and passion is evident in every line of the poem, and the use of symbols adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is love, which is depicted as a force that drives the woman to leave everything behind and be with her beloved. Yeats portrays love as a powerful emotion that can conquer all obstacles and bring two people together. The woman's decision to leave her mother's care and the safety of her home is a testament to the strength of her love. The poem also touches upon the theme of sacrifice, as the woman gives up everything she has known to be with her lover.

The poem also explores the theme of nature, as seen in the imagery of the storm and the shadowy blossom of the woman's hair. The storm symbolizes the obstacles that the couple will face in their journey together, while the shadowy blossom represents the fleeting nature of life and love.

Symbols

Yeats masterfully uses symbols in the poem to deepen its meaning and convey the emotions of the characters. The little room that the woman leaves behind represents the safety and comfort of her home. It is a place where she feels secure and protected, but it is also a place that confines her. The gloom outside represents the unknown, the darkness that lies ahead in the woman's journey. It is a place of uncertainty and danger, but it is also where she can be with her lover.

The woman's mother's care and the house where she was safe and warm represent the love and protection that she has received from her family. It is a place that has been her refuge, and leaving it behind is a difficult decision. The shadowy blossom of her hair represents the fragility of life and love. It is a symbol of the fleeting nature of things, and how they can be easily lost or destroyed.

The storm represents the obstacles that the couple will face in their journey. It is a symbol of the challenges that they will have to overcome to be together. The storm is also a symbol of the passion and intensity of their love, which is as fierce and powerful as the storm.

Interpretation

"The Heart Of The Woman" is a poem that captures the essence of love and passion in a simple yet profound manner. The woman's decision to leave behind everything she has known to be with her lover is a testament to the strength of her love. Yeats uses symbols to convey the emotions of the characters and add depth to the narrative. The storm, the little room, and the shadowy blossom of the woman's hair all represent different aspects of the woman's journey.

The poem also touches upon the theme of sacrifice, as the woman gives up everything she has known to be with her lover. This sacrifice is a testament to the power of love and how it can conquer all obstacles. The poem also explores the theme of nature, as seen in the imagery of the storm and the shadowy blossom of the woman's hair. The storm symbolizes the obstacles that the couple will face in their journey together, while the shadowy blossom represents the fleeting nature of life and love.

In conclusion, "The Heart Of The Woman" is a masterpiece of William Butler Yeats. It is a beautiful and hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of love and passion in a simple yet profound manner. The use of symbols adds depth and complexity to the narrative, and the themes of love, sacrifice, and nature resonate with the reader long after the poem is over. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every reader and remains relevant even today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Heart of the Woman: A Poem of Love and Loss

William Butler Yeats, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a number of poems that explored the complexities of love and relationships. One of his most famous works in this vein is "The Heart of the Woman," a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of love and loss.

At its core, "The Heart of the Woman" is a meditation on the nature of love and the pain that often accompanies it. The poem begins with a description of a woman who is deeply in love with a man, but who is also aware of the fragility of their relationship. She knows that love can be fleeting, and that the man she loves may one day leave her. Despite this knowledge, however, she cannot help but give herself over completely to her feelings.

The first stanza of the poem sets the stage for this exploration of love and loss:

O what to me the little room That was brimmed up with prayer and rest; He bade me out into the gloom, And my breast lies upon his breast.

Here, Yeats describes the woman's sense of loss as she leaves behind the safety and comfort of her "little room" and ventures out into the unknown. The man she loves has called her forth, and she cannot resist his call. The image of her breast lying upon his breast is a powerful one, suggesting both intimacy and vulnerability.

In the second stanza, Yeats delves deeper into the woman's emotions:

O what to me my mother's care, The house where I was safe and warm; The shadowy blossom of my hair Will hide us from the bitter storm.

Here, the woman reflects on the safety and security of her childhood home, and the care that her mother provided. But even these memories are overshadowed by her love for the man who has called her forth. The image of the "shadowy blossom" of her hair suggests both beauty and fragility, and hints at the transience of love.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful:

O hiding hair and dewy eyes, I am no more with life and death, My heart upon his warm heart lies, My breath is mixed into his breath.

Here, Yeats captures the essence of the woman's love for the man. She is no longer separate from him, but has given herself over completely to him. Her heart lies upon his warm heart, and her breath is mixed into his breath. The image of the two lovers becoming one is a powerful one, and speaks to the intensity of their connection.

The final stanza of the poem brings the theme of loss to the forefront:

O what to me the priestly voice That bids me whether joy or mourn? What to me from day to day With Love's first fevered flame gone by, Is Careless Happiness, or gay Forgotten things, a month gone by?

Here, Yeats reflects on the transience of love, and the pain that often accompanies its passing. The woman is no longer in the grip of Love's "first fevered flame," and the things that once brought her joy and happiness now seem trivial and forgotten. The priestly voice that once guided her now seems distant and irrelevant.

In the end, "The Heart of the Woman" is a powerful meditation on the nature of love and loss. Yeats captures the intensity of the woman's emotions, and the pain that comes with the passing of love. But even in the face of this pain, there is a sense of beauty and transcendence in the poem. The image of the two lovers becoming one is a powerful one, and speaks to the transformative power of love.

Overall, "The Heart of the Woman" is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its exploration of love and loss is timeless, and its language and imagery are hauntingly beautiful. For anyone who has ever loved and lost, this poem is a powerful reminder of the beauty and pain of the human heart.

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