September 1913 and Easter 1916 Poem

September 1913 and Easter 1916 Poem

Throughout many of his poems, W.B Yeats portrayed important aspects of Ireland’s history especially around the 1900’s when Ireland was fighting for independence. During this time, Ireland was going through an agonizing time of struggle. The Employers’ Federation decided to lock out their workers in order to break their resistance. By the end of September, 25,000 workers were said to have been affected. Although the employers’ actions were widely condemned, they refused to consider negotiation or compromise with the Union. His readers are able to see how Yeats reflects the political, cultural, and societal atmosphere in Ireland during the early 1900’s. The poems September 1913 and Easter 1916 both reflect the political, cultural, and societal atmospheres that were found in Ireland around the 1900’s.

The poem September 1913 focuses on the time where the Irish Independence was at its highest. Yeats repeats the phrase “romantic Ireland” a lot in this poem as it refers to the sacrifice of the materialistic things for independence and freedom. To further emphasize the importance and greatness of the revolution, Yeats pointed out the names of heroic individuals who gave their lives to fight for the cause. Yeats did not give any detail about the Irish heroes but he does state that “they have gone about the world like wind” (11). The heroes were so famous; their names could be heard and talked about all over the world. In this poem, Yeats does not go directly in to detail about the historical events that happened but focuses on the reactions of Ireland’s citizens and what may have lead to the revolution for independence. According to Yeats, there was a happening or an “inspiration” that had occurred that made way for Ireland to fight for independence as he says “you’d cry �some woman’s yellow hair has maddened every mother’s son’” (28). This actually refers to a folkloric character by the name of Cathleen Ni Houlihan, who isn’t mentioned by name, but was said to have come in a dream and told him that Ireland should go to war. Yeats then reflects upon Ireland’s merchant class as they were not so susceptible to fighting, as they were more so worried about themselves in a greedy manner. Yeats comments when he says “for whom them hangman’s rope was spun” (13), representing the sacrifices the heroes made was in vain because they are fighting for people who don’t care. Yeats ends the poem stating “but let them be, they’re the O’Leary in the grave” (108). Yeats argues that the heroes are better off dead because old patriotic Ireland had died along with them. The reference to some historical events was effective because Yeats portrayed the instances that lead to an event and showed the point of views of Ireland’s citizens while what was going on.

The poem Easter 1916 describes the emotions regarding the events of the Easter Rising staged in Ireland against British rule on Easter Monday. Yeats begins to portray the societal aspect when he begins to have encounters with people prior to the rebellion He states, “I have met them at close of day coming with vivid faces” (1). The poem can be seen focusing on the cultural and societal atmospheres in Ireland in the early 1900’s as it shows the point