Introduction
William Butler Yeats is one of the most renowned figures in British as well as world literature. His poems are full of symbolism and mystery, which are combined with clarity and divine power. The poet touched upon numerous topics. Love was one of the major themes in his works. “Never Give All the Heart” is one of such poems. It was written in 1905. The poem is a response to the poet’s romantic disappointment.
The woman he loved, Maud Gonne, got married and broke Yeats’ heart (Ross 170). This poem is a reflection of the poet’s romantic experience revealed with the help of a number of expressive symbols and literary devices which create the mysterious atmosphere of the world of emotions.
The ‘Surface’ of the Poem
As has been mentioned above, the poem is a result of the poet’s sad romantic experience. The woman he loved broke his heart and the poet warns other people to be more careful. The major theme of the poem is unhappy love and the way to love. The poet claims that a person can never lose one’s head, otherwise he/she is likely to lose his/her heart in the game called ‘love’. Yeats is regarded as a great Symbolist poet who managed to make every word meaningful and symbolic.
The poem in question is an example of the poet’s style. The poem is full of symbols and hidden meanings. It is also necessary to note that though the poem was written in 1905 when Modernism was flourishing, the piece under consideration is traditional in form, just like the majority of the poet’s works (Ross 170). Therefore, the poet warns people in a very symbolic but, at the same time, explicit way.
The Meaning and Symbolism
One of the major symbols in the poem is the symbol of the play, called ‘love’. The poet warns people that it is dangerous to play the game, especially if a person is completely devoted to the one he/she loves, “And who could play it well enough / If deaf and dumb and blind with love?” (Yeats 79).
The poet compares love to a game. On the one hand, the play means a variety of rules and conventions which people have to follow. Glances, smiles, kisses of “smooth lips” and “brief, dreamy, kind delight” can be regarded as different tactics to play the game (Yeats 79).
Apart from this, there is another symbol. In the poem, the heart also stands for a stake, “He that made this knows all the cost, / For he gave all his heart and lost” (Yeats 79). Clearly, the poet compares the heart to a stake. Those, who love with all their hearts, can become miserable (and lose their hearts) like a gambler loses all his money, i.e. everything in the game. Furthermore, heart is also a symbol of selfless love.
The words “never give all the heart” can be read as follows: always remain sensible (Yeats 79). The poet warns people and stresses that a person should try to critically see the dearest one and his/her behavior. Finally, Yeats claims that love is unlikely to go on forever and he uses the following symbolic line “it fades out from kiss to kiss” (79). Therefore, Yeats uses symbols to reveal his grief. In his poem, the poet admits that love can be unfair and painful.
The Form
To have a deeper understanding of the poem, it is important to analyze it in terms of rhythm, meter and literary devices used. Lines in metrical rhythm can be described as tetrameter since there are four feet, “But a brief, dreamy, kind delight. / O never give the heart outright” (Yeats 79). The meter used is predominantly iambic, “For he gave all his heart and lost” (Yeats 79).
This adds clarity and expressiveness to the poem. The rhythm is simple and does not distract the reader from perceiving the meaning of each line. As has been mentioned above, the poem is full of meaning and symbols, which are revealed with the help of a variety of literary devices.
One of the most apparent devices is repetition of the word “heart” which is used four times (Yeats 79). This repetition is used to emphasize the importance of being economical with emotions and be less devoted to the dearest one. Besides, the repetition is used as the heart is central to the poem. It has several meanings and functions. Thus, it stands for love, devotion and a stake in a dangerous game. It is but natural that it is used several times.
Metonymy is also used to create the image of a beautiful woman, “smooth lips” (Yeats 79). This device is used to make the poem more expressive. Admittedly, the reader will picture the image of the perfect woman as he/she sees it. Though the device is a bit trivial (lots of poets glorify this part of the woman’s face), it perfectly fits the present poem as it creates the necessary atmosphere of the imagery and somewhat dim world.
The dim atmosphere is also created with the help of the following line, “That it [love] fades out from kiss to kiss” (Yeats 79). Love can easily vanish after several dates. The poet also resorts to quite a common metaphor, “If deaf and dumb and blind with love?” (Yeats 79). However, in this context, the line creates a very specific image of a gambler who plays his/her game blindfolded. This device supports the poet’s symbol of the game. The reader pictures a gambler who puts everything (own heart) at stake and loses the game.
Conclusion
To sum up, the poem in question is a majestic reflection of the deepest emotions of the poet in love. Yeats manages to transform his grief into a small literary masterpiece as a love story is told in fourteen lines only. These fourteen lines are full of symbols and meanings. Each line stands for certain stage, i.e. falling in love, giving one’s heart away, disappointment, grief and wisdom. According to Shakespeare, life is a play and people are actors. Yeats makes another important observation which focuses on psychological or spiritual sphere of the human existence.
The poet notes that love is a game where people’s hearts are stakes. Yeats stresses that this is a dangerous and painful game which can make people lose the most important, their hearts, i.e. their desire to go on. The poem brings back sad memories to those who have had such experiences. It also warns those who are only about to give their hearts away. In any case, the poem makes the reader feel that love is what makes people inspired and wise.
Works Cited
Ross, David A. William Butler Yeats: A Library Reference to His Life and Work. New York, NY: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Print.
Yeats, William Butler. The Collected Works of W.B. Yeats. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 2010. Print.