Joyce & Yeats on Irish Nationalism
Two of Ireland’s most respected writers, Joyce and Yeats, were one of the most influential voices to ever integrate into British literature. Though both were respected for their work, they had different ways of introducing Ireland and its culture. One congratulates her fighters, while the other dramatizes the corruption and other immoral behaviors that reside within her.
W.B Yeats’ shifting view of Irish Nationalism
W.B. Yeats loved his homeland. He often wrote poems about Ireland, but the poems that really stand out are his contemporary perspectives on Irish nationalism. In Easter 1916 Yeats is confronted with the reality of using violence to become a martyr. He uses imagery to mention some of the nationalist leaders he knew. The second stanza mentions the woman, Constance Gore-Booth, and various other leaders in various images of pride. A “winged horse” and “harriers” are both powerful images because they not only embody the person Yeats is speaking of, but these images also help refer to other actions of courage or bravery. Yeats strongly used imagery, according to Hutchinson, to continually nurture and support “the national spirit”. He wanted Ireland to become strong in social and political dealings with its neighbors, and he believed that it was his role, as a writer, to help spur this into action (Hutchinson 15). However, we can see, in the text of “Easter 1916”, that he abhors the use of violence to fulfill such actions. Stanza five remarks the futility of committing violent acts, since it breeds more violent behavior. “Too long a sacrifice/ Can make a stone of the heart./O when may it suffice?”. Then continues on with a final bout of pride mixed with some humility. “Wherever green is worn, are changed, changed utterly: a terrible beauty is born.” Yeats says, “a terrible beauty is born” many times at the ends of various stanzas, but the final one stands out more to me because it integrates beauty with martyrdom. To some, it may very well appear as beautiful, but to others (perhaps Yeats at times) it presents more futile behavior that is only notable because of his personal knowledge of those involved.
Analysis of W.B. Yeats view
According to Jonathan Allison, author of “The attack on Yeats”, Yeats compared his writing to blood sacrifices for Ireland. Though these “blood sacrifices” weren’t really bloody, they were described this way because of how they mimicked traditional Irish custom. Each generation, blood was spilled to “secure immortality for those who died for Ireland”. Comparatively, Yeats wrote many works on or supporting Irish nationalism, which further supports his non-violent approach to securing a strong Ireland (63). According to D.G. Boyce, Yeats wanted to use nationalism as “the stalking horse” in English literature. The stalking horse can be attributed to death, an inevitability, to describe how it is destined for Irish ways to fully integrate itself in modern literature. He did this by using Irish techniques, taken from strong Gaelic backgrounds, and fully incorporating them into his works. Yeats used Irish culture and political strife to help put his Ireland “on the map” so to speak, in the world of British literature. His views were not the only ones being expressed though.
Joyce’s view/ background
James Joyce was repulsed and embarrassed by Ireland. He scorned the idea of Irish nationalism, describing that Ireland was “dead” in some of his texts. His strong criticism of Ireland can be seen in Dubliners. Each story within Dubliners is reflecting some aspect of Irish life that he saw as unfit. For example, in “The Dead” the main character is confronted with the fact that his wife is mourning the loss of a young love, which makes him question his own mortality. The imagery used in the last bit of the story uses ambiguous language to help expand the emotions that other people may have about Ireland. Each story of Dubliners is filled with some sort of corruption, misleading, manipulative, and even perverse behavior. James Joyce felt so strongly about Ireland in this way that he exiled himself from it, wanting nothing to do with it, and explicated his thoughts in Dubliners.
Yeats and Joyce’s differences and similarities in Irish texts
Yeats focused on the nationalistic movement that was going on in Ireland. He often referred to his writings as “spilt blood” which help immortalize the heroes that have fought and died for Ireland. He looked down and questioned the use of violence to communicate a point, often referring to the deed as a “Terrible Beauty”. To further “immortalize” those heroes of Ireland, he uses Gaelic techniques and culture to successfully integrate Ireland into British literature. Joyce, however, did the very same thing but with a different perspective. Though he was not fond of Ireland, he wrote about it in more “realistic” terms. The characters he described were not glorified in any way but often depicted as pathetic or clueless. Though the two authors have their obvious differences about their homeland, they both used literature to communicate and immortalize certain aspects of her.
Works Cited
Allison, Jonathan. The Attack on Yeats 1990
Boyce, David G., NetLibrary, Inc. Nationalism in Ireland [electronic resource] 2003
Howes, Marjorie E., NetLibrary, Inc. Yeats's nations [computer file] : gender, class,
and Irishness 1996
Hutchinson, John. The Dynamics of Cultural Nationalism: The Gaelic Revival and the
Creation of the Irish Nation State. London: Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1987
Nolan, Emer, NetLibrary, Inc. James Joyce and nationalism [electronic resource]
1995
Potts, Willard, NetLibrary, Inc. Joyce and the two Irelands [electronic resource] 2000
Two of Ireland’s most respected writers, Joyce and Yeats, were one of the most influential voices to ever integrate into British literature. Though both were respected for their work, they had different ways of introducing Ireland and its culture. One congratulates her fighters, while the other dramatizes the corruption and other immoral behaviors that reside within her.
W.B Yeats’ shifting view of Irish Nationalism
W.B. Yeats loved his homeland. He often wrote poems about Ireland, but the poems that really stand out are his contemporary perspectives on Irish nationalism. In Easter 1916 Yeats is confronted with the reality of using violence to become a martyr. He uses imagery to mention some of the nationalist leaders he knew. The second stanza mentions the woman, Constance Gore-Booth, and various other leaders in various images of pride. A “winged horse” and “harriers” are both powerful images because they not only embody the person Yeats is speaking of, but these images also help refer to other actions of courage or bravery. Yeats strongly used imagery, according to Hutchinson, to continually nurture and support “the national spirit”. He wanted Ireland to become strong in social and political dealings with its neighbors, and he believed that it was his role, as a writer, to help spur this into action (Hutchinson 15). However, we can see, in the text of “Easter 1916”, that he abhors the use of violence to fulfill such actions. Stanza five remarks the futility of committing violent acts, since it breeds more violent behavior. “Too long a sacrifice/ Can make a stone of the heart./O when may it suffice?”. Then continues on with a final bout of pride mixed with some humility. “Wherever green is worn, are changed, changed utterly: a terrible beauty is born.” Yeats says, “a terrible beauty is born” many times at the ends of various stanzas, but the final one stands out more to me because it integrates beauty with martyrdom. To some, it may very well appear as beautiful, but to others (perhaps Yeats at times) it presents more futile behavior that is only notable because of his personal knowledge of those involved.
Analysis of W.B. Yeats view
According to Jonathan Allison, author of “The attack on Yeats”, Yeats compared his writing to blood sacrifices for Ireland. Though these “blood sacrifices” weren’t really bloody, they were described this way because of how they mimicked traditional Irish custom. Each generation, blood was spilled to “secure immortality for those who died for Ireland”. Comparatively, Yeats wrote many works on or supporting Irish nationalism, which further supports his non-violent approach to securing a strong Ireland (63). According to D.G. Boyce, Yeats wanted to use nationalism as “the stalking horse” in English literature. The stalking horse can be attributed to death, an inevitability, to describe how it is destined for Irish ways to fully integrate itself in modern literature. He did this by using Irish techniques, taken from strong Gaelic backgrounds, and fully incorporating them into his works. Yeats used Irish culture and political strife to help put his Ireland “on the map” so to speak, in the world of British literature. His views were not the only ones being expressed though.
Joyce’s view/ background
James Joyce was repulsed and embarrassed by Ireland. He scorned the idea of Irish nationalism, describing that Ireland was “dead” in some of his texts. His strong criticism of Ireland can be seen in Dubliners. Each story within Dubliners is reflecting some aspect of Irish life that he saw as unfit. For example, in “The Dead” the main character is confronted with the fact that his wife is mourning the loss of a young love, which makes him question his own mortality. The imagery used in the last bit of the story uses ambiguous language to help expand the emotions that other people may have about Ireland. Each story of Dubliners is filled with some sort of corruption, misleading, manipulative, and even perverse behavior. James Joyce felt so strongly about Ireland in this way that he exiled himself from it, wanting nothing to do with it, and explicated his thoughts in Dubliners.
Yeats and Joyce’s differences and similarities in Irish texts
Yeats focused on the nationalistic movement that was going on in Ireland. He often referred to his writings as “spilt blood” which help immortalize the heroes that have fought and died for Ireland. He looked down and questioned the use of violence to communicate a point, often referring to the deed as a “Terrible Beauty”. To further “immortalize” those heroes of Ireland, he uses Gaelic techniques and culture to successfully integrate Ireland into British literature. Joyce, however, did the very same thing but with a different perspective. Though he was not fond of Ireland, he wrote about it in more “realistic” terms. The characters he described were not glorified in any way but often depicted as pathetic or clueless. Though the two authors have their obvious differences about their homeland, they both used literature to communicate and immortalize certain aspects of her.
Works Cited
Allison, Jonathan. The Attack on Yeats 1990
Boyce, David G., NetLibrary, Inc. Nationalism in Ireland [electronic resource] 2003
Howes, Marjorie E., NetLibrary, Inc. Yeats's nations [computer file] : gender, class,
and Irishness 1996
Hutchinson, John. The Dynamics of Cultural Nationalism: The Gaelic Revival and the
Creation of the Irish Nation State. London: Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1987
Nolan, Emer, NetLibrary, Inc. James Joyce and nationalism [electronic resource]
1995
Potts, Willard, NetLibrary, Inc. Joyce and the two Irelands [electronic resource] 2000
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