The Second Coming analysis arranged in a way that first comes introduction then main themes, poem’s description, Yeats’ vision of second coming, knowledge from vision, style analysis and word’s meaning.
Table of Contents
Introduction
“The second coming” was written in 1921. It is best known and significant poem of W.B.Yeats. It is also important that it is appropriate to the present age.
Main themes
The main themes are the second coming of The Christ, the revival of faith and revival of civilization in the poem The Second Coming.
The disorders after crucifixion of Christ
This line “Turning and turning in the winding gyre” means the cycle of life like Cycle of Christ ( birth – prophet – crucified – rebirth). Means frequent changes occurred.
“The falcon cannot hear the falconer” means civilization or Christianity is unable to understand the teaching of the Christ or god. They were divided in Catholic and Protestant.
“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold” means Christianity or church loose the control on people, and people disbelief and left traditions.
“Anarchy is loosed upon the world” means disintegration of belief brings anarchy.
“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere” means anarchy brings the bloodshed. Traditional killed the modern and modern killed the traditional.
This line “The ceremony of innocence is drowned” means poor/innocent peoples were killed and those who believe in Christ were killed.
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity means the real believer are not sure of themselves but worst are fully passionate.
The disorders after first world war
In the disorders of first world war prospective this line “Turning and turning in the winding gyre” means the cycle of life or cycle of civilization and barbarism occurred alternate.
“Anarchy is loosed upon the world” means disintegration of civilization brings anarchy.
This line “The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere” means disintegration of civilization brings anarchy and anarchy brings the bloodshed in the world.
“The ceremony of innocence is drowned” means poor/ innocent peoples were killed due to anarchy.
The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity means the best people are not sure of themselves but worst are fully passionate.
Disorders
There are three types of disorders discussed in this poem The Second Coming.
Disorder of thought
Due to anarchy in the world the disorders of thought occurred.
Disorder of society
Due to war the society or civilization is disintegrated. Society is divided in many groups instead of a nation.
Disorder of religion
Disbelief in traditions and Christianity divided the peoples in many groups like Catholic and Protestant.
Yeats belief and visions of second coming
In this poem W.B.Yeats shows his belief that surely some revelation is at hand and surely the second coming is at hand. He sees the visions that a vast image emerge out of racial unconsciousness of mankind and this vision troubles the sight of the poet. A vision of shape with lion body and a head of man It’s gaze blank and pitiless moving thighs slowly towards the Bethlem and desert birds were disturbed by this figure.
Knowledge from vision
The birth of Christ and the rebirth of the Christ are same the only difference is that Christ were born in Bethlem and now rough beast moving slowly towards Bethlem. Firstly Christ influence was all welcome but rough beast and its appearance is more terrifying than welcome.
In the prospective of world war, the second world war is very near and more terrifying than first world war.
Style of the poem The Second Coming
This poem is mystical/ religious written in free verse and the selection of words is appropriate to the theme. He used similes and allusions in this poem.
Words explanation
Falcon
-Civilization/ Christianity
Falconer
–The Christ
Blood-dimed tide
–Mythical event of flood which engulfed and destroyed all life in world
Conviction
–Faith/ belief
Bethlem
–The place of birth of Jesus Christ
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