What Type of Virtues does Yeats Desire for his 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 type of virtues does Yeats desire for his daughter in the poem/ What are the elementary attributes that Yeats wants from his daughter?
The poem “A Prayer for My Daughter” by W.B. Yeats is a heartfelt plea for his daughter’s safety, happiness, and well-being. In the poem, Yeats describes his hopes and dreams for his daughter’s future. He highlights the importance of virtues that will help her navigate life’s challenges. Here are some of the virtues that Yeats desires for his daughter:
Innocence: Yeats begins the poem by asking the gods to preserve his daughter’s virginity. He desires that she will remain free from the corrupting influence of the world and its vices.
Inner Beauty and Character: Yeats wishes for his daughter to have inner beauty and potency of character. He prays that she may have a soul that is innocent, pure, and wise. He also wishes for her to be unwavering and stable in her principles and values. Again, he wants her to have a peaceful, tender, and compassionate heart. It is evident in his tongue,
May she be granted beauty and yet not
Beauty to make stranger’s eye distraught.
Grace: Yeats hopes for his daughter to move through life with grace and ease. He desires that she will handle whatever comes her way with poise and dignity.
Intelligence: Yeats desires his daughter to be intelligent and thoughtful, to be able to discern truth from falsehood, and to make wise decisions.
Moral courage: Yeats believes that his daughter will encounter ethical dilemmas in life. He wants her to have the courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult.
Self-awareness: Yeats wants his daughter to be self-aware, to know herself deeply, and to be able to understand her motivations and emotions.
Compassion: Yeats values compassion and empathy. He hopes that his daughter will be able to see the world through the eyes of others and offer kindness and support to those in need.