Yeats as a patriotic and Irish poet

William Butler Yeats is one of the greatest poets of the English language. But he is an Irish poet with a great love for his country. His patriotic fervour prompted him to join organisations like the Irish Republican Brotherhood nationalist leader Parnell. His patriotism was further enkindled by the influence of John O'Leary. 

Besides, his ladylove Maud Gonne was involved in the nationalist movement. In many of his poems, he addresses the issue of the Irish nationalist movement aimed at Yeats greatly respected the Irish freeing Ireland from the English rule.

Yeats's patriotic fervour finds expression in his attempt to highlight the countryside, folklore, tradition, mythology and above all the culture of Ireland. Yeats spent his boyhood and youth in the countryside of Sligo from where he got the knowledge of the peasants and their folklore. The poem The Wild Swan at Coole combines Irish countryside with Irish folk belief and legends.

In the poem, the poet gives us an impressive description of the lake at Coole Park. His heart captures the exquisite calm and quietness around the lake. The poem captures the serene beauty of nature. The poet says:

The trees in the autumn beauty,

The woodland paths are dry,

Under the October twilight, the water

Mirrors a still sky.

Yeat's sense of nationalism and patriotic fervour is evident in Easter 1916. The poet here shows his veneration to the Irish the Easter morning of 1916 Irish nationalists launched a revolt against the British Government. The revolt was unsuccessful and a number of nationalists were executed. Yeats knew some rebels nationalists who laid down their life for the sake of their country. On Connolly, Patrick Pearse, Thomas Mac Donagh, Major Mac Bride. It may be that those persons had led a comic and ordinary life earlier.

But their sacrifice has given a meaning to their lives and as a result a terrible personality. In this poem, he mentions their names beauty is born. The poet says:

I write it out in a verse- Mac Donagh and Mac Bride

And Connolly and Pearse

Now and in time to be,

Where evergreen is worn, Are changed, changed utterly:

A terrible beauty is born.

At the beginning of the poem The Second Coming, Yeats sums up the situation of the world after the First World War as it is seen by Yeats. The falconer has lost control i.e. the world itself is out of joint. The centre cannot hold and absolute anarchy has been loosened upon the world. 

Traditional and aristocratic values of life have been damaged beyond repair. An atmosphere of fanaticism and violence has overtaken everything. The poet is here hinting at the anarchy in Ireland caused by the imperial rule of England: Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Yeats highlights the long-cherished customs and traditions of Ireland. He possessed deep-rooted respect for the Irish aristocracy. In A Prayer for My Daughter, he wants for her daughter a husband whose family would respect traditional custom. 

According to Yeats custom and ceremony are opposed to arrogance and hatred, which are found in the common people. The aristocratic way of life is rooted in custom and tradition, which are the sources of all beauty and innocence. Ceremony and tradition preserve spiritual values, all that is noble and lofty, and pass them on from generation to generation. The poet says:

How but in custom and in a ceremony

Are innocence and beauty born?

Ceremony's name for the rich horn,

And custom for the spreading laurel tree.

Yeats seems to say that the Irish tradition, customs, literature and art are part of its long-cherished culture. Yeats's poem ceaselessly focuses on those aspects of Irish culture and thus helps his countrymen to imagine Ireland as a nation.

From the above discussion, it is evident that Yeats feels an inherent love for his country. In his personal life as well as in his works, he does not hesitate to show his love for Ireland. At the same time, he focuses on the Irish cultural richness, by presenting its folklore, legends, myths and history. All these show his emotional ties with his country. Undoubtedly, he is a patriotic poet