vIMPORTANCE OF VALUES AND TRADITIONS IN HUMAN LIFE

I feel like the poem is just bound with the values which is the reflection of society .. i like the
harmonization between the inner and the outer dimensions of human existence where the virtue
of courtesy is viewed as the essence of happiness for good life .we see a clear move from the
‘howling’ wind and the ‘frenzied drum’ of external forces to the inner tranquility of human
courtesy. More specifically, the poet is here making a clear interaction between his young
daughter and her male peers.

To quote from line 33

‘In courtesy I'd have her chiefly learned’ (line.33)

So nowwwwww, is it a poem for gentle folk?

I believe yes but not exactly dedicated to it!

The concluding stanza of the poem brings together all the essential processes of learning and
development. Yeats wants his daughter’s bridegroom to bring her to a house where ‘custom’
and ‘ceremony’ will lend their life with constancy, stability, and well-being:

the would-be bride is expected to inbuilt the concepts that she has learned from her society and
culture with the help of first, her father and second, her bridegroom,. However, this prospect has
been faced with strong opposition by feminist critics.

To spcificallay quote>>.

‘How but in custom and ceremony

Are innocence and beauty born?’ (line.77-78).

The poet wonders how innocence, courtesy, and moral beauty can ever grow without being
deeply ingrained in society’s cultural traditions and social values.

IMPACt OF NATURE

. Cross-cultural tropes such as the tree and the linnet are also invoked to create further
interconnection between the child and her surroundings:

Through depicting these tropes and symbols drawn from nature, Yeats hopes that his
daughter’s thoughts will be like the linnet's song, a ‘glad kindness’ (line.40) dispensed freely for
making people happy and firm like a

‘green laurel
 The linnet is pictured here as a symbol of freedom, innocence, and self-delights, while the
laurel is presented as an emblem of constancy and immortality. Keeping his daughter’s future in
mind,, he is expressing a genuine tenderness towards her.. This comparison of yeats for his
daughter is obviously a botanical metaphor used here to mark the growth.

Customs vs nature : It is also equally true to argue that there is enough evidence in the poem
which suggests the overall superiority of culture to nature,

As writyly quoted by a critics,“At the same time that culture is influencing the individual, the
individual is also creating culture”.
Culture representated by wife and nature is tamed, wild represents maud gonne. That is why he
enforces her to follow ideals of womanhood which eventually her mother had!

CRITICISM Because of his continuous implication hatred in poem some critics have pointed
out that poem is ‘Snobbish’. But this poem has a ring of optimism in it , thinking that mere
anarchy cannot harm the child if she is innocent and is nicely bred.

The poet while talking about the possible weakness of women deals with opinionated mind.
Reference of Helen is prejudiced as Helen‘s destiny is already written. Here, while wishing for
perfect life for own daughter Yeats presents Helen negatively. Butttttttt Yeats is progressive
male writer in sexist society and that is reflected in his poetry

Many critics rightly pointed out that this poem showcase “the destructive obsession of
unattainable women”. He is also criticized on not praying for his daughter with Christian virtues
but it is irrelevant since a poet as a father desires organic innocence and freedom from hatred
which can be practically implied in real life. The poem also reflects the socio-economic
situation of women in early 20th century. Many critics positively pointed that the ‘quiet natures
are not mute’ also highlights the liveliness in poem( for example : the tree are both flourishing
and hidden) .