'He Mourns For The Change That Has Come Upon Him And His Beloved, And Longs For The End Of The World' by William Butler Yeats
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DO you not hear me calling, white deer with no horns?
I have been changed to a hound with one red ear;
I have been in the Path of Stones and the Wood of Thorns,
For somebody hid hatred and hope and desire and fear
Under my feet that they follow you night and day.
A man with a hazel wand came without sound;
He changed me suddenly; I was looking another way;
And now my calling is but the calling of a hound;
And Time and Birth and Change are hurrying by.
I would that the Boar without bristles had come from the West
And had rooted the sun and moon and stars out of the sky
And lay in the darkness, grunting, and turning to his rest.
Editor 1 Interpretation
He Mourns For The Change That Has Come Upon Him And His Beloved, And Longs For The End Of The World: A Critical Interpretation
William Butler Yeats is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated poets of the twentieth century. His poetic works distinguish themselves with their metaphysical themes, intricate symbolism, and powerful imagination. In this literary analysis, I will explore Yeats’ poem, “He Mourns for the Change that Has Come upon Him and His Beloved, and Longs for the End of the World,” and provide an interpretation of its meaning.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem consists of five stanzas, each comprising four lines. It is written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythm that is both smooth and steady. The poem’s speaker is mourning the loss of his youth and the changes that have come upon him and his beloved. The speaker also longs for the end of the world, which he sees as a release from the pain and suffering that accompanies the human condition.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the work. The speaker states that his heart is heavy with sorrow and that he is mourning for the loss of his youth. He is also mourning for his beloved, who has changed just as he has. The phrase, “Change that has come upon me and upon my dear” suggests that the speaker feels that the change is something that has happened to them, rather than something that they have caused.
The second stanza introduces the theme of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker describes how he and his beloved were once young and carefree, but now they are burdened with the weight of time. The phrase, “The years had given us kindness in their eyes” implies that time has been kind to the speaker and his beloved, but it has also taken its toll.
The third stanza is the most significant in the poem. The speaker expresses his desire for the world to end, so that he and his beloved can be released from their pain and suffering. The phrase, “O that the world might end, or else that I” suggests that the speaker sees death as a release from the pain of life. He feels that the end of the world would be a welcome relief from the burden of existence.
The fourth stanza reiterates the theme of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker describes how the world has changed around him and how he has been left behind. The phrase, “And the world’s ways invert the cups of wine” suggests that the speaker sees the world as an unpredictable and unstable place, where good can suddenly turn to bad.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker’s mortality. The phrase, “The light of youth is wasting” suggests that the speaker is aware of his own mortality and that he feels that time is running out. The final line of the poem, “And I would leave the world and time behind” suggests that the speaker has accepted his mortality and that he is ready to move on from this life.
Interpretation of the Poem
“He Mourns for the Change that Has Come upon Him and His Beloved, and Longs for the End of the World” is a deeply personal poem that explores the human condition. The speaker is mourning the loss of his youth and the changes that have come upon him and his beloved. He also longs for the end of the world, which he sees as a release from the pain and suffering that accompanies the human condition.
The theme of time and the inevitability of change is central to the poem. The speaker describes how he and his beloved were once young and carefree, but now they are burdened with the weight of time. The world has changed around them, and they have been left behind. The poem suggests that change is an inevitable part of the human experience, and that time is a burden that we all must bear.
The speaker’s desire for the end of the world is a reflection of his acceptance of mortality. The phrase, “O that the world might end, or else that I” suggests that the speaker sees death as a release from the pain of life. The speaker feels that the end of the world would be a welcome relief from the burden of existence. The poem suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that should be accepted as a natural part of the human experience.
The poem’s use of symbolism is also significant. The phrase, “And the world’s ways invert the cups of wine” suggests that the speaker sees the world as an unpredictable and unstable place, where good can suddenly turn to bad. The cups of wine represent the fragility of life and the unpredictability of the world. They can be turned over at any moment, and the wine can spill out, leaving us with nothing.
The poem’s use of iambic pentameter also contributes to its meaning. The rhythm of the poem is smooth and steady, suggesting that the speaker has come to accept the inevitability of change and the burden of time. The poem’s structure also reflects the theme of time, with each stanza comprising four lines, representing the four seasons of the year, and the five iambic feet in each line representing the five senses.
Conclusion
“He Mourns for the Change that Has Come upon Him and His Beloved, and Longs for the End of the World” is a powerful reflection on the human condition. The poem explores the themes of time, change, and mortality, and suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that should be accepted as a natural part of the human experience. The poem’s use of symbolism and iambic pentameter also contribute to its meaning, reflecting the fragility of life, the unpredictability of the world, and the inevitability of change. Overall, this poem is a powerful reflection on the human experience and a testament to Yeats’ poetic genius.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his works have inspired countless readers and writers alike. Among his many masterpieces, "He Mourns For The Change That Has Come Upon Him And His Beloved, And Longs For The End Of The World" stands out as a hauntingly beautiful and deeply moving poem that captures the essence of human longing and despair.
At its core, "He Mourns For The Change That Has Come Upon Him And His Beloved, And Longs For The End Of The World" is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The speaker of the poem is a man who has seen his world crumble around him, and who now longs for the end of all things so that he and his beloved may be reunited in death. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's grief and longing.
In the first stanza, the speaker mourns the loss of his youth and the passing of time. He laments that he and his beloved are no longer the same as they once were, and that the world around them has changed beyond recognition. He describes how the "world's great age begins anew" and how "the old order changeth, yielding place to new." This sense of impermanence and flux is a recurring theme throughout the poem, and it serves to underscore the speaker's sense of loss and despair.
In the second stanza, the speaker longs for the end of the world and the release that death will bring. He describes how he and his beloved will be reunited in death, and how they will be free from the pain and suffering of life. He speaks of the "great night" that will come, and how it will "cover all" and "put out the stars." This apocalyptic vision of the end of the world is both terrifying and beautiful, and it speaks to the speaker's desire for an end to his suffering.
In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on the nature of love and the power of memory. He describes how his love for his beloved has endured despite the passage of time and the changes that have come upon them. He speaks of how he remembers her "young and beautiful" and how he longs to be reunited with her in death. This sense of longing and nostalgia is a powerful theme throughout the poem, and it serves to underscore the speaker's sense of loss and despair.
Overall, "He Mourns For The Change That Has Come Upon Him And His Beloved, And Longs For The End Of The World" is a deeply moving and hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of human longing and despair. Through its exploration of the transience of life, the inevitability of change, and the power of memory and love, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of loss and grief. It is a testament to Yeats' skill as a poet that he is able to convey such complex emotions with such clarity and beauty, and it is a testament to the enduring power of his work that it continues to resonate with readers today.
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