Easter 1916 Yeats

Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats is a poem about an Irish immature

revolutionary plan which became unsuccessful to overthrow the British
reign in Ireland. About fifteen hundred people particioated in this
revolution to seize the government office building of Dublin on Easter
morning, but three hundred of these were killed on the spot, and more
than two hundred people were taken as prisoners and tortured.In Easter
1916 the poet begins with a criticism of the politicians both living and
those who are dead in the recent revolution . Yeats was deeply moved by
the heroism and the martyrdom of the rebels. He saw the whole Irish
scene transformed by the tragedy of execution. The heroes of the
rebellion- Pearse, Connolly, McDonough and MacBride- all became symbols
of heroic martyrdom. As an Irishman , Yeats supported Irish independence,
though he disliked violence. The poem reflects his struggle to come to
forms with his conflicting emotions. The repeated line A terrible beauty is
born powerfully captured Yeats`s internal conflict- his admiration at the
love the rebels felt for their country and his sadness over the loss of life
that resulted. The tone of the poem shifts from casual indifference to
confession.

In stanza I Yeats recalls Dublin before the rebellion, remembering

encounters with clerks and shopkeepers- a humdrum existence that
contrasts sharply with the mood of the rebellion that triggered the Easter
Rising. In stanza II refers specifically to the rebellion whom Yeats knew.
Such as: Countess Markovicz, Patrick Pearse and Thomas MacDonough. In
stanza III Yeats commemorates the rebels for their strength in sacrificing
themselves: a strength, which he compares to stone throughout the
poem.Yet he wonders whether such sacrifice was necessary since England
had after all, promised Ireland their independence. He ultimately
concludes, however, in the fourth and final stanza that its the duty of
those who remain to remember the Sinn Fein`s sacrifice and honor them
for .for their country and their political convictions.