Sailing to Byzantium

In Yeats poem “Sailing to Byzantium”, Yeats focuses on his journey to ancient Byzantium which is referred to as paradise in this poem. William Butler Yeats is on a voyage to paradise, and wants to transform into another form rather than human. However he has faith that he will end the journey. The poet Yeats describes paradise as the soul of art; he wants to get there when he reaches the end of his life. Even though Yeats desires to enter Byzantium, and to take form of a “dying animal” (III. 6) and stay in that form for eternity. He also has confidence that he would reach his paradise soon.

In the poem Yeats refers Byzantium as the “holy city”. “And therefore I have sailed the seas and come To the holy city of Byzantium.” (II. 8) which is clearly poses the idea of paradise. Ancient Byzantium was a city in Rome and was known as heaven, due to the vast works of art. Art was one of the most significant elements of the city and since Yeats believes art is essential to life and death, he uses Byzantium as the prime example of paradise in his poem “Sailing to Byzantium”. “That is no country for old men” (I. 1) this quote claims that elderly people have no place in this world, and after stating that he talks about the young generation how they are occupied with their life and are not concerned about anything else. Old men are the”salmon” and the sea is crowded with “mackerel” which referring to the adolescents, and how the older generation is being isolated from rest. He wants to escape from this world and to find the paradise he desires for, which he refers to as Byzantium.

The poet is praying to god “O sages standing in God's holy fire” (III. 1). to be consumed by the holy fire and to be cleansed in the “perne in a gyre” (III. 5) The holy fire is referred to the supremacy of holy city of Byzantium. He wants to leave his human form and transform into something that is not human.

“And fastened to a dying animal

It knows not what it is; and gather me

Into the artifice of eternity.” (III. 6-8)

He wants to be consumed in this holy fire so he can be cleansed and take the form of the “dying animal” (III. 6) and remain in this form eternity. In the second half of the quote the speaker is asking to be the envoy of all knowledge. This imagery also shows how he does not want to be in his human coat where the coat is all tattered, old and filled with pain. In the second stanza he represents the elderly human form as fragile, old and worn out. “Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing For every tatter in its mortal dress” (II. 3-4) in this quote he states that the only way to escape this undesirable dress is if the soul attempts do so. This also shows that he does not want to continue living as an old man and wishes take form of a “dying animal” (refers to something not human). In the last stanza Yeats says “I shall