What Are The Prayers of the Poet for His Infant Daughter?
A Prayer for My Daughter is a notable literary work by William Butler Yeats. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of A Prayer for My Daughter.
Answer
What are the prayers of the poet for his infant daughter?
In the poem “A Prayer for My Daughter” (1921) by W.B. Yeats (1865-1939), the poet expresses deep hopes and wishes for his infant daughter’s future. He outlines several vital prayers through his tender words that reflect his desires for her well-being, character, and happiness. Here are the main points from the poem:
Beauty with Kindness: Yeats wishes his daughter to be beautiful but, more importantly, to possess a kind and gentle heart. He prays that her beauty will not lead to arrogance or vanity but will be coupled with modesty and compassion. He writes,
May she be granted beauty and yet not
Beauty to make a stranger’s eye distraught.
Wisdom and Inner Peace: The poet desires his daughter to be wise. Another important prayer is for his daughter to find peace and contentment within herself. She will avoid the turbulence of unnecessary passions and conflicts of the world. He hopes she will find inner peace and wisdom that surpasses the superficial charm of the world.
Strong Roots in Tradition: Yeats values the importance of tradition and heritage. He wishes his daughter would grow up appreciating and being grounded in the values and customs of the past. He wants her to understand and cherish her cultural roots. He believes this will give her stability and strength.
A Life of Happiness and Stability: Above all, Yeats prays for his daughter to have a life filled with joy and stability. He wants her to be happy and secure. She will find contentment in life’s simple pleasures and the love of a stable home. Yeats beautifully expresses this wish with,
And may her bridegroom bring her to a house
Where all’s accustomed, ceremonious.
Yeats reveals a father’s profound love and hopes for his daughter’s future through these heartfelt prayers. His wishes contain superficial qualities and deep-seated virtues that would help her lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.