W.B. Yeats’ treatment of myth and history, civilization and philosophy in his poetry

The treatment of history and civilization/ myth and philosophy is one of the most important aspects of Yeats’ poetry. In his poetry, he successfully handles history and civilization/ myth and philosophy. His early poems profusely deal with Irish mythology. His early poems are full of symbolic meanings. As for history, he referred to the rise and fall of civilizations. He believed that the nature of civilization changes after almost every two thousands years.

          “The Second Coming” is a poem by Yeats which deals with the history and civilization/ myth and philosophy. In the beginning of the poem, the poet gives us a picture of the disintegration which has overtaken the Christian civilization. The poem is most remarkable for the expression of his notion that history consists of cycles and that every civilization has a time span of its own. According to history the present cycle of history which began roughly with the birth of Christ.

          Yeats believed that the present cycle of history began two thousand years ago, with the birth of Christ. Prevision to that there was Greco-Roman civilization. It began with the mating of god Zeus and Leda. Helen and Clytemnestra were born as a result of his union. The pagan civilization broke down and after a life of two thousand years. Christ came and a new civilization was born. Similarly, the Christian civilization has nearly run its course of two thousand years. And so Yeats believes “The Second Coming” is at hand.

          In “Easter 1916” we also find the treatment of myth and philosophy, history and civilization of Yeats. Here he transforms and modifies old myths to suit his purpose. Even he creates new myths. This poem deals with contemporary Irish history. The opening lines of the poem give us an impression that some legendary figures are coming out of the dead past to take part in the activity of present. The Irish revolt merges into Yeats’s philosophy or history.

          “A Prayer for My Daughter” is another important poem which is also based on myth and philosophy, history and civilization. In this poem, Yeats talks about his own little daughter. The child is peacefully sleeping in its cradle. The outside atmosphere is not good. The storm is blowing outside violently. Yeats indicates that there is little protection for the child against the gloomy violence outside. The background of the storm is an image of the world. Yeats believed that the Christian civilization had reached its climax and was disintegrating now. So the poet wants his daughter from many an evil of the present civilization.

          This poem gives us some references to Helen, to Venus, Aphrodite, to Vulcan and to the Horn of plenty. Helen was a most beautiful woman. The Greek warriors and General, Menelaus got married to her because of her great beauty.

But her beauty made her so proud that she found her life with Menelaus dull and boring. Afterwards, she ran away with her lover Paris, the Prince of Troy. This caused a bloody war between the Greeks and the Trojans.

          From the above discussion we may safely say that Yeats’ treatment of myth and philosophy, history and civilization is really praiseworthy.