'The Curse Of Cromwell' by William Butler Yeats
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You ask what - I have found, and far and wide I go:
Nothing but Cromwell's house and Cromwell's murderous crew,
The lovers and the dancers are beaten into the clay,
And the tall men and the swordsmen and the horsemen, where are they?
And there is an old beggar wandering in his pride - -
His fathers served their fathers before Christ was crucified.
O what of that, O what of that,
What is there left to say?
All neighbourly content and easy talk are gone,
But there's no good complaining, for money's rant is on.
He that's mounting up must on his neighbour mount,
And we and all the Muses are things of no account.
They have schooling of their own, but I pass their schooling by,
What can they know that we know that know the time to die?
O what of that, O what of that,
What is there left to say?
But there's another knowledge that my heart destroys,
As the fox in the old fable destroyed the Spartan boy's
Because it proves that things both can and cannot be;
That the swordsmen and the ladies can still keep company,
Can pay the poet for a verse and hear the fiddle sound,
That I am still their setvant though all are underground.
O what of that, O what of that,
What is there left to say?
I came on a great house in the middle of the night,
Its open lighted doorway and its windows all alight,
And all my friends were there and made me welcome too;
But I woke in an old ruin that the winds howled through;
And when I pay attention I must out and walk
Among the dogs and horses that understand my talk.
O what of that, O what of that,
What is there left to say?
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Curse of Cromwell by William Butler Yeats: Interpreting the Dark and Haunting Poem
When it comes to poetic mastery, William Butler Yeats undoubtedly reigns supreme. His ability to weave intricate images and emotions into every line is something that has left readers spellbound for generations. In his poem, "The Curse of Cromwell," Yeats presents us with a haunting and compelling perspective on the history of Ireland. The poem's dark and foreboding tone is a stark contrast to Yeats' more romantic pieces, and it is this contrast that makes it such a masterpiece.
The Context of the Poem
Before we delve into the poem itself, it's important to understand the historical context that Yeats was writing in. The Curse of Cromwell was written in the early 20th century, a time when Ireland was still feeling the effects of centuries of British rule. Cromwell himself was a controversial figure in Irish history, known for his brutal and oppressive tactics during his time as Lord Protector of England.
In the poem, Yeats uses Cromwell as a symbol of the British oppression that Ireland has endured for centuries. The poem is a meditation on the legacy of that oppression and the ways in which it has shaped Irish identity.
The Poem Itself
The Curse of Cromwell is a complex and multi-layered work, full of symbolism and powerful imagery. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of Ireland's history and identity.
Section One: The Curse
The poem opens with an invocation of the curse of Cromwell. Yeats uses the image of the moon to represent Ireland herself, and he imagines her as a wounded and vulnerable creature. The moon is described as "peering through [her] lacework of leaves" and "staring through [her] own cracked brain." Yeats uses this imagery to suggest that Ireland is a fragile and damaged entity, one that has been battered and bruised by centuries of British oppression.
The curse itself is described in haunting detail. Yeats imagines the spirits of the dead rising up from their graves to curse Cromwell and all those who had a hand in Ireland's suffering. The curse is a powerful symbol of the anger and resentment that the Irish people feel towards their oppressors. Yeats suggests that this anger is not something that can be easily forgotten or forgiven; instead, it is something that will continue to haunt Ireland for generations to come.
Section Two: The Vision
The second section of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, Yeats presents us with a vision of Ireland's past, present, and future. The poem is full of vivid and evocative imagery, from the "grey, dripping fog" that hangs over Ireland's past to the "burning stars" that light up her future.
One of the most striking images in this section is the image of the "darkly-glimmering tide" that represents Ireland's past. This image suggests that Ireland's history is shrouded in darkness and mystery, and that it is something that is difficult to fully understand or comprehend.
The present is described in equally haunting terms. Yeats suggests that Ireland is a place of "broken lights" and "crooked crosses." This imagery suggests that Ireland is a place of confusion and chaos, where nothing is quite as it seems.
Finally, the poem looks to the future, and here Yeats is more optimistic. He suggests that Ireland's future is one of light and hope, a place where "burning stars" will light up the sky. This image suggests that Ireland has the potential for greatness, and that it is a place of immense beauty and power.
Section Three: The Reflection
The final section of the poem is a reflection on the themes that have been explored in the first two sections. Yeats returns to the image of the moon, suggesting that Ireland is a place of "broken dreams" and "tattered veils." This image suggests that Ireland's history is one of pain and suffering, and that it is a place where hope and dreams have been shattered.
However, Yeats also suggests that there is hope for Ireland's future. He suggests that the curse of Cromwell can be overcome, and that Ireland can rise up from the ashes of her past to become a great and powerful nation.
Interpretation
The Curse of Cromwell is a complex and multi-layered work, full of symbolism and powerful imagery. At its heart, the poem is a meditation on the themes of oppression, identity, and hope.
In the poem, Yeats suggests that Ireland's history is one of pain and suffering, but he also suggests that there is hope for the future. He suggests that the curse of Cromwell can be overcome, and that Ireland can rise up from the ashes of her past to become a great and powerful nation.
Overall, The Curse of Cromwell is a haunting and powerful work that speaks to the heart of Irish identity. Yeats' use of imagery and symbolism is masterful, and the poem remains one of his greatest achievements.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Curse of Cromwell: A Poem of Irish History and Nationalism
William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, was also a passionate advocate for Irish nationalism and a keen observer of Irish history. In his poem "The Curse of Cromwell," Yeats explores the legacy of one of the most controversial figures in Irish history, Oliver Cromwell, and the impact of his actions on the Irish people.
The poem is set in the aftermath of the English Civil War, which ended in 1651 with the victory of Cromwell's parliamentary forces over the royalist army. Cromwell, who became Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, is remembered in Ireland as a brutal conqueror who waged a campaign of terror against the Irish people, particularly the Catholic population.
The poem begins with a description of the Irish landscape, which is depicted as a place of beauty and tranquility, with its "green fields" and "quiet waters." However, this idyllic scene is soon disrupted by the arrival of Cromwell and his army, who bring with them "fire and sword" and "death and shame."
Yeats portrays Cromwell as a ruthless and merciless leader who shows no mercy to the Irish people. He describes how Cromwell's soldiers "slaughtered the women and the children" and "burned the harvests and the homes." The poem is filled with vivid and graphic images of violence and destruction, such as the "smoke of ruined thatch" and the "blood of the slaughtered cattle."
However, the most powerful and memorable aspect of the poem is its use of the curse as a literary device. Yeats imagines the Irish people cursing Cromwell and his descendants for their crimes against Ireland. The curse is repeated throughout the poem, like a refrain, and it becomes a symbol of the enduring anger and resentment felt by the Irish people towards Cromwell and his legacy.
The curse is also a reminder of the power of language and the importance of storytelling in Irish culture. In Irish folklore, the curse is a potent weapon that can bring about great harm to those who are targeted by it. By using the curse in his poem, Yeats is tapping into this tradition and using it to express the anger and frustration of the Irish people towards Cromwell and his actions.
The poem also has a political dimension, as it can be read as a critique of British imperialism and colonialism. Cromwell's invasion of Ireland was part of a larger project of English expansionism, which sought to extend English control over Ireland and other parts of the world. Yeats, who was a committed nationalist and anti-colonialist, saw Cromwell's actions as a symbol of this larger project and used the poem to express his opposition to it.
The Curse of Cromwell is also a poem about memory and the importance of remembering the past. Yeats wrote the poem in the early 20th century, at a time when Ireland was still struggling for independence from British rule. The poem can be seen as a call to remember the injustices of the past and to use that memory as a source of inspiration and motivation for the struggle for independence.
In this sense, the poem is not just a historical document, but also a political manifesto. It is a reminder that the struggle for Irish independence is not just about political power, but also about cultural identity and the right to tell one's own story. By using the curse as a literary device, Yeats is asserting the power of Irish language and culture and challenging the dominance of English language and culture.
In conclusion, The Curse of Cromwell is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the legacy of one of the most controversial figures in Irish history. It is a poem about violence and destruction, but also about memory and the power of language. It is a reminder of the enduring anger and resentment felt by the Irish people towards Cromwell and his actions, but also a call to remember the past and to use that memory as a source of inspiration and motivation for the struggle for independence. Above all, it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of history and to express the hopes and fears of a people.
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