Introduction
“The Second Coming” – a poem by William Yeats – has relevance to the current world by portraying history as a repeating cycle. It evokes mixed feelings among readers, pushing them to think about Christ’s return and the changing order in the Christian world. For the reader who draws parallels between the text and the present time, like me, it symbolizes the instability that exists in the 21st century.
Discussion
The poem by Yeats is an allegory of the current day because the symbols and imagery used in the text resemble a hard time in history. He portrays the period of anarchy when the nation does not recognize authority. This line justifies it: “The falcon cannot hear the falconer” (Yeats). Thus, the first stanza aims to cause panic by depicting a terrible picture of the universe where everything is falling apart. My personal experience compares it with the last decade when people suffered from political unrest, global pandemic, and economic recession. It connects this poem to the period when the government provided more freedom to the nation, but people still struggled.
Symbols utilized in the text force readers to believe that the second coming brings terror. For example, it hints at the Sphinx: “A shape with lion body and the head of a man” (Yeats). Notably, the Sphinx is an evil demon of destruction, meaning that Yeats points to the idea that the world is coming closer to its collapse. Thus, he continues to evoke a fear of the unknown through literary devices.
Conclusion
To conclude, Yeats skillfully portrays the historical time when the world is changing. However, in his opinion, these changes do not result in a positive outcome but bring destruction. Readers feel the excitement for the second coming but also fear and anxiety of its unknown consequences. Thus, the poem resembles the current day when people face challenges and continue to fight even in the darkness.
Work Cited
Yeats, William. “The Second Coming.” Poetry Foundation, 1921. Web.