"The Second Coming" was composed by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats in 1919, in the aftermath of the First World War and was first published in November 1920. The present paper examines what enables the speaker to envision the Second Coming and how his vision is linked to the Biblical model. How is the breakdown of the world depicted and what are revealed to be its possible causes.
The poem's title “The Second Coming” makes reference to the Biblical reappearance of Christ, as prophesied in Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation of St. John in the New Testament. According to Christian belief, Christ will return to conquer Satan and the forces of evil, before presiding over a thousand-year reign of peace on Earth.
True to the Biblical pattern, the speaker of the poem envisions the breakdown of the present state of the world and the dawn of a new age. He adds, however, a sinister twist to the idea of the Second Coming, suggesting that the return of Christ might just as well become the arrival of the Antichrist.
I will consequently go on to conclude that the poem presents the world as a perfectly balanced system of two opposing forces or principles such as: centrifugal vs. centripetal force in physics, democracy vs. aristocracy in politics, Christ vs. Antichrist in religion etc..
Whenever this opposition is completely cancelled, chaos will be its consequence. All this is, however not to say that chaos sounds for the final phase of existence. On the contrary, it denotes but a phase of transition, as the world is subject to constant change and history moves in a cyclic pattern. Chaos can hence be described as being part of a greater system.
I will proceed in a more or less chronological order starting with the 1st stanza where the speaker describes the present state of the world. The focus will be put here on the omnipresence of chaos and its relation with the laws of physics, political systems and the divine judgement.
The second main part of the paper will deal with the 2nd stanza which presents the speaker’s future vision of the Second Coming. The detailed description of the “Antichrist” in the poem will be compared to the depiction of Christ in the Bible.
In the last stanza the speaker looks back in history, as if to back up his prophetic vision of the breakdown of the Christian era.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1 The First Stanza - The present state of the world
- 1.1 Chaos and the laws of physics
- 1.2 Chaos as a political system
- 1.3 Chaos and the divine judgement
- 2 Second Stanza – The prophetic vision
- 3 Third stanza a look back into the past
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes W.B. Yeats' poem "The Second Coming," exploring how the poet depicts the breakdown of the world and the emergence of a new age. It examines the poem's use of imagery and symbolism to portray chaos and its relationship to physics, politics, and religion. The analysis focuses on the poem's structure and the significance of the "Second Coming" as a potential arrival of the Antichrist rather than Christ.
- The depiction of chaos in the poem and its relation to physical laws.
- The portrayal of societal and political breakdown as a consequence of the imbalance of opposing forces.
- The poem's interpretation of the "Second Coming" as a potentially sinister event.
- The cyclical view of history and its implications for the poem's themes.
- The use of symbolism and imagery, particularly the falcon and the gyre, to express the themes of chaos and change.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage for the analysis of Yeats' "The Second Coming," written in the aftermath of World War I. It establishes the poem's reference to the biblical Second Coming and introduces the central question of whether the poem depicts the arrival of Christ or the Antichrist. The paper outlines the analysis's approach, focusing on how the speaker envisions the Second Coming and its link to the biblical model, the depiction of the world's breakdown, and its potential causes. It previews the chronological approach to analyzing the stanzas, highlighting the role of chaos in relation to physics, political systems, and divine judgment.
1 The First Stanza - The present state of the world: This section delves into the first stanza's portrayal of a world in complete confusion and disorder. The analysis emphasizes the poem's avoidance of specific historical references, instead focusing on the omnipresence and pervasive nature of chaos. The repeated use of "turning" is examined, with interpretations connecting it to both circular movement (anticipating the "centre") and a change in direction, aligning with Yeats' concept of history as intersecting gyres. The discussion explores Ransom's interpretation of the stanza as representing the shift from centripetal to centrifugal forces, linking chaos to the laws of physics. Alternative interpretations are considered, such as "gyre" as a vortex, further highlighting the contrast between opposing forces and the ambiguous nature of the "centre." The "centre's" potential interpretations in physics and politics are explored, connecting the disintegration of the centre to atomic structure and governmental control, reinforcing the idea of chaos as a systematic, if destructive, process.
1.2 Chaos as a political system: This section interprets the "centre" politically, equating it with a central governing body. The concept of "anarchy" is explored as a negation of political control and a state of transition between political eras. The image of falconry is analyzed, highlighting the disrupted relationship between the falcon and falconer, symbolic of a breakdown in control and order, potentially reflecting Yeats' preference for feudal society and the implications of a loss of control in societal hierarchy.
Keywords
W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, chaos, symbolism, imagery, gyre, Second Coming, Antichrist, Christ, physics, politics, religion, cyclical history, centripetal force, centrifugal force, falconry, modernism.
Frequently Asked Questions: W.B. Yeats' "The Second Coming" Analysis
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic paper analyzing W.B. Yeats' poem "The Second Coming." It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The analysis focuses on the poem's depiction of societal breakdown and the ambiguous nature of the "Second Coming," exploring its connections to physics, politics, and religion.
What are the main themes explored in the analysis of "The Second Coming"?
The analysis explores several key themes: the depiction of chaos and its relation to physical laws; the portrayal of societal and political breakdown; the interpretation of the "Second Coming" as potentially sinister; the cyclical view of history; and the use of symbolism and imagery (falcon, gyre) to express chaos and change.
How is the poem's structure approached in the analysis?
The analysis takes a chronological approach, examining each stanza of the poem separately. The first stanza's portrayal of chaos is analyzed in relation to physics, political systems, and divine judgment. The subsequent stanzas are examined in the context of prophetic vision and historical reflection.
How does the analysis interpret the "Second Coming"?
The analysis examines the ambiguity surrounding the "Second Coming," considering whether it represents the arrival of Christ or the Antichrist. It explores the poem's depiction of a world in disarray and the potential causes leading to this breakdown of order.
What is the significance of the imagery used in the poem, particularly the falcon and the gyre?
The analysis delves into the symbolic meaning of the falcon and the gyre. The falcon and falconer relationship is interpreted as a breakdown in control and order, possibly reflecting societal hierarchy. The gyre is analyzed in terms of circular movement and change in direction, linking it to Yeats' concept of history and the interplay of opposing forces (centripetal and centrifugal).
How does the analysis relate the poem to physics and politics?
The analysis connects the poem's depiction of chaos to both physical laws (centripetal and centrifugal forces) and political systems. The "centre," as depicted in the poem, is interpreted both in terms of atomic structure and governmental control, highlighting the systemic nature of chaos.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, chaos, symbolism, imagery, gyre, Antichrist, Christ, physics, politics, religion, cyclical history, centripetal force, centrifugal force, falconry, and modernism.
What is covered in the introduction of the analysis?
The introduction sets the context by mentioning the poem's creation in the aftermath of World War I and establishes the central question of whether the poem depicts Christ or the Antichrist's arrival. It outlines the analytical approach, focusing on the speaker's vision of the Second Coming, the breakdown of the world, and its potential causes. It also previews the stanza-by-stanza analysis and the role of chaos.
What are the chapter summaries included in the document?
The document provides summaries for the introduction and the first stanza's analysis. The introduction summary details the poem's background and the central research question. The first stanza summary analyzes the depiction of chaos and its relation to physics, politics, and the concept of "turning" and the "centre". A further summary covers the interpretation of "chaos as a political system," focusing on the loss of control and the breakdown of societal order.
- Quote paper
- Francesca Cavaliere (Author), 2011, The System of Chaos in "The Second Coming" by William Butler Yeats. How is the Breakdown of the World Depicted?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/318219
