And the whole of the world was one : a defense of W.B. Yeats's early poetry

And the whole of the world was one : a defense of W.B. Yeats's early poetry

Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), 1865-1939 -- Criticism and interpretation

MacDonald, Amber Melissa

2005

Addison, Elizabeth Hodnett, 1946-

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This thesis explores some important and interesting aspects of W. B. Yeats's early poetry and, in doing so, ultimately defend it against the harsh criticism it has endured over the past century. This journey into the so-called ""escapist"" and ""superficial"" work yields evidence of a much deeper complexity and meaning than initially appears on the surface. A mature and philosophical theme weaves throughout this unique catalogue of poetry: Yeats's search for inner unity and harmony, or, as he came to call it, Unity of Being. According to Yeats, when human beings choose to embrace both the physical and spiritual aspects of the universe, they achieve a more elevated state of contentment and wisdom. He believed that the modem world, in all of its progress and materialism, caused a rift between the physical and spiritual worlds; therefore, humanity itself is left imbalanced and longing for reconciliation. This study also examines the provoking similarities between early Yeatsian poetics and Jungian psychology. C. G. Jung also placed great value on the ideas of balance and totality, theorizing that the human psyche requires the union of the unconscious and conscious to form a healthy human being. However, failure to access and acknowledge the unconscious will often result in negative, even dangerous, consequences. Yeats purposely chose to utilize the ancient Irish landscape, its people, culture, and countryside, as a tool for reuniting the two worlds. For Yeats, ancient Ireland emerges as a concrete metaphor for Unity of Being: it acknowledged the importance of balancing both the physical and spiritual in order to find wisdom and wholeness. The dream, a recurring symbol throughout the early poetry, becomes a vehicle for breaking through the barriers of the spiritual realm; similarly, the dream for Jung allows human beings to confront the unconscious. The supernatural world of the fairy, or the unconscious, when approached with balance acts as a positive spiritual force, while the lack of balance clearly demonstrates the dangers of choosing one world over the other. The archetypal hero figure, described in depth by Jung and Joseph Campbell, also plays a role in Yeats's early poetry as the Celtic king, Oisin, journeys into the spiritual world to find the wisdom and enlightenment of Unity of Being. Finally, this thesis discusses Yeats's ultimate realization during his final years of the need to reconcile the contrasting elements of his early and late poetry to truly experience Unity of Being.

2014-04-28

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