'All Souls' Night' by William Butler Yeats
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i{Epilogue to "A Vision'}
MIDNIGHT has come, and the great Christ Church Bell
And may a lesser bell sound through the room;
And it is All Souls' Night,
And two long glasses brimmed with muscatel
Bubble upon the table.A ghost may come;
For it is a ghost's right,
His element is so fine
Being sharpened by his death,
To drink from the wine-breath
While our gross palates drink from the whole wine.
I need some mind that, if the cannon sound
From every quarter of the world, can stay
Wound in mind's pondering
As mummies in the mummy-cloth are wound;
Because I have a marvellous thing to say,
A certain marvellous thing
None but the living mock,
Though not for sober ear;
It may be all that hear
Should laugh and weep an hour upon the clock.
Horton's the first I call.He loved strange thought
And knew that sweet extremity of pride
That's called platonic love,
And that to such a pitch of passion wrought
Nothing could bring him, when his lady died,
Anodyne for his love.
Words were but wasted breath;
One dear hope had he:
The inclemency
Of that or the next winter would be death.
Two thoughts were so mixed up I could not tell
Whether of her or God he thought the most,
But think that his mind's eye,
When upward turned, on one sole image fell;
And that a slight companionable ghost,
Wild with divinity,
Had so lit up the whole
Immense miraculous house
The Bible promised us,
It seemed a gold-fish swimming in a bowl.
On Florence Emery I call the next,
Who finding the first wrinkles on a face
Admired and beautiful,
And knowing that the future would be vexed
With 'minished beauty, multiplied commonplace,
preferred to teach a school
Away from neighbour or friend,
Among dark skins, and there
permit foul years to wear
Hidden from eyesight to the unnoticed end.
Before that end much had she ravelled out
From a discourse in figurative speech
By some learned Indian
On the soul's journey.How it is whirled about,
Wherever the orbit of the moon can reach,
Until it plunge into the sun;
And there, free and yet fast,
Being both Chance and Choice,
Forget its broken toys
And sink into its own delight at last.
And I call up MacGregor from the grave,
For in my first hard springtime we were friends.
Although of late estranged.
I thought him half a lunatic, half knave,
And told him so, but friendship never ends;
And what if mind seem changed,
And it seem changed with the mind,
When thoughts rise up unbid
On generous things that he did
And I grow half contented to be blind!
He had much industry at setting out,
Much boisterous courage, before loneliness
Had driven him crazed;
For meditations upon unknown thought
Make human intercourse grow less and less;
They are neither paid nor praised.
but he d object to the host,
The glass because my glass;
A ghost-lover he was
And may have grown more arrogant being a ghost.
But names are nothing.What matter who it be,
So that his elements have grown so fine
The fume of muscatel
Can give his sharpened palate ecstasy
No living man can drink from the whole wine.
I have mummy truths to tell
Whereat the living mock,
Though not for sober ear,
For maybe all that hear
Should laugh and weep an hour upon the clock.
Such thought -- such thought have I that hold it tight
Till meditation master all its parts,
Nothing can stay my glance
Until that glance run in the world's despite
To where the damned have howled away their hearts,
And where the blessed dance;
Such thought, that in it bound
I need no other thing,
Wound in mind's wandering
As mummies in the mummy-cloth are wound.
Editor 1 Interpretation
All Souls' Night by William Butler Yeats: A Deep Dive into the Mystical World of the Irish Poet
Have you ever experienced a moment in your life when you feel like you've been transported to another place and time? A world filled with magic, mystery, and beauty that leaves you in awe and wonder? That's the feeling one gets while reading William Butler Yeats' masterpiece, "All Souls' Night."
This poem is a perfect example of the poetic genius of Yeats. He captures the essence of the mystical world of Ireland, its folklore, and its ancient beliefs. It's a poem that speaks to the soul, a poem that transcends time and space.
So, let's take a deep dive into the world of "All Souls' Night" and see what makes this poem a true masterpiece.
The Setting
The poem is set on All Souls' Night, a traditional Irish holiday that takes place on November 2nd. This is the night when the dead are believed to return to the world of the living. The setting is a graveyard, a place that is both eerie and peaceful at the same time.
Yeats uses the setting to create a sense of mystery and suspense. He describes the graveyard as "dim" and "desolate," creating a sense of foreboding. However, he also uses the setting to create a sense of peace and serenity. The moon shines down on the graveyard, casting a soft light on the tombstones and creating a calming atmosphere.
The Characters
The poem has several characters, all of whom are ghosts. These ghosts are not the scary, evil ghosts we often see in movies. They are ghosts who have returned to the world of the living to share their wisdom and knowledge.
One of the most interesting characters in the poem is the ghost of a young girl who died before her time. She represents the innocence and purity of youth, and her presence adds a touch of sweetness to the poem.
Another character is the ghost of an old man who has seen and experienced much in his life. He represents wisdom and experience, and his presence adds a sense of gravitas to the poem.
The Themes
"All Souls' Night" is a poem that is rich in themes. One of the central themes of the poem is the idea of death and the afterlife. Yeats explores the idea of what happens to us after we die and imagines a world where the dead can return to the world of the living.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of memory and the importance of remembering those who have passed away. Yeats reflects on the memories of the dead and the importance of keeping those memories alive.
The poem also explores the idea of time and the passage of time. Yeats reflects on how time moves on, but memories and traditions remain, connecting the past with the present.
The Language
The language of the poem is beautiful and complex. Yeats uses a variety of poetic techniques, including alliteration, repetition, and metaphor, to create a sense of beauty and mystery.
One of the most powerful examples of language in the poem is the repeated phrase "the living and the dead." This phrase is repeated throughout the poem and serves as a reminder of the connection between the living and the dead.
Another example of powerful language in the poem is the metaphor of the "dim" and "desolate" graveyard. This metaphor creates a sense of foreboding and mystery, adding to the overall atmosphere of the poem.
The Structure
The poem is structured in four parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the All Souls' Night tradition. The first part focuses on the idea of the dead returning to the world of the living. The second part focuses on the idea of memory and the importance of remembering those who have passed away. The third part focuses on the idea of time and the passage of time. The final part brings all of these themes together and reflects on the overall significance of All Souls' Night.
The structure of the poem is important because it allows Yeats to explore each theme in depth while also tying everything together in a cohesive and meaningful way.
The Overall Significance
"All Souls' Night" is a poem that is both beautiful and haunting. It explores themes that are universal and timeless, and it does so in a way that is uniquely Irish. Yeats captures the essence of the mystical world of Ireland, its folklore, and its ancient beliefs.
The poem is also significant because it reflects Yeats' own beliefs about the afterlife. Yeats was a firm believer in the idea of reincarnation, and he believed that the dead could return to the world of the living. "All Souls' Night" reflects this belief and allows us to see the world through Yeats' eyes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "All Souls' Night" is a true masterpiece of poetry. It captures the essence of the mystical world of Ireland, its folklore, and its ancient beliefs. It explores themes that are universal and timeless, and it does so in a way that is uniquely Irish.
The poem is a testament to the poetic genius of Yeats and his ability to create a world that is both beautiful and haunting. It's a poem that speaks to the soul, a poem that transcends time and space. If you haven't read "All Souls' Night," I highly recommend that you do. It's a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry All Souls' Night: A Masterpiece by William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, wrote Poetry All Souls' Night in 1920. This poem is a masterpiece that reflects Yeats' fascination with the occult and his deep interest in the supernatural. The poem is a complex and multi-layered work that explores themes of death, rebirth, and the afterlife. In this analysis, we will explore the various elements of the poem and their significance.
The poem is set on All Souls' Night, a night when the dead are believed to return to the world of the living. The poem begins with the speaker describing the arrival of the spirits. He says, "Midnight has come, and the great Christ Church Bell / And may a lesser bell sound through the room." The use of the word "lesser" suggests that the speaker is expecting more than one bell to ring, indicating the arrival of multiple spirits.
The speaker then goes on to describe the spirits themselves. He says, "And it is All Souls' Night, / And two long glasses brimmed with muscatel / Bubble upon the table." The use of the word "bubble" suggests that the glasses are alive, and the muscatel is fermenting, which could be a metaphor for the spirits coming to life. The speaker then describes the spirits as "ghosts with trumpets," which suggests that they are announcing their arrival.
The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker describes the spirits' desire for revenge. He says, "But now they drift on the still water, / Mysterious, beautiful; / Among what rushes will they build, / By what lake's edge or pool / Delight men's eyes when I awake some day / To find they have flown away?" The use of the word "drift" suggests that the spirits are aimless and wandering, and the question at the end of the stanza suggests that they are seeking revenge for some past wrong.
The speaker then goes on to describe the spirits' desire for rebirth. He says, "A living man is blind and drinks his drop, / What matter if the ditches are impure? / What matter if I live it all once more? / Endure that toil of growing up; / The ignominy of boyhood; the distress / Of boyhood changing into man; / The unfinished man and his pain / Brought face to face with his own clumsiness." The use of the word "blind" suggests that the living are unaware of the spirits' desire for rebirth, and the use of the word "impure" suggests that the spirits are willing to overlook the flaws of the living in order to be reborn.
The poem then takes a more philosophical turn as the speaker reflects on the nature of existence. He says, "And I am contented, / Let the wraiths go where they will; / With all they can carry, / Let them work their will." The use of the word "contented" suggests that the speaker has come to terms with the idea of death and rebirth, and the use of the phrase "work their will" suggests that the spirits have a purpose that is beyond human understanding.
The poem then ends with the speaker reflecting on his own mortality. He says, "I have walked and prayed for this young child an hour / And heard the sea-wind scream upon the tower, / And under the arches of the bridge, and scream / In the elms above the flooded stream; / Imagining in excited reverie / That the future years had come, / Dancing to a frenzied drum, / Out of the murderous innocence of the sea." The use of the word "murderous" suggests that the sea is a dangerous and unpredictable force, and the use of the phrase "murderous innocence" suggests that the speaker is aware of the paradoxical nature of existence.
In conclusion, Poetry All Souls' Night is a masterpiece that explores the themes of death, rebirth, and the afterlife. The poem is a complex and multi-layered work that reflects Yeats' fascination with the occult and his deep interest in the supernatural. The poem is a testament to Yeats' skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.
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