Discuss Yeats As a Poet of Love with Reference to Some of His Poems.

Answer

Discuss Yeats as a poet of love with reference to some of his poems.

Love is an intense and deep affection for another person. W. B. Yeats (1865-1939) is considered a great love poet. His lyrical poems are based on the theme of love. As a poet of love, W B Yeats is criticized more than appreciated by several critics. Again, many renowned critics admire his poetry based on the theme of love. Yeats’s passionate love for Maud Gonne is famous all over the world.

Yeats’s Love for Maud Gonne: Yeats’s love for Maud Gonne has two phases. The first phase started after Yeats met with Maud Gonne. And the second phase is after the marriage of Maud Gonne to Major MacBride. Again, as a father, Yeats’s passionate love is also found in the poem “ A Prayer for My Daughter.” 

The First Phase of Yeats’s Love: At 23, Yeats fell in love with Maud Gonne. But it was one-sided love because Maud Gonne never had any feelings for him. As an optimistic love poet, Yeats writes many poems describing the surprising beauty of Maud Gonne. In his poetry, he worships Maud Gonne as a Goddess. He also reveals that he will continue to love her for a lifetime. Yeats was overwhelmed by the beauty of Maud Gonne, but his expression of her was spiritual. It’s found in Yeats’s most celebrated poem, “When You Are Old,”

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

Yeats expresses his passionate love in many of his celebrated poems like”The Rose of the World,” “The Rose Tree,” and “When You Are Old.” In “The Sorrow of Love,” Yeats laments his sincere love for Maud Gonne.

The Second Phase of Yeats’s Love: Maud Gonne married Major MacBride in 1903. After that, Yeats’s love poetry becomes violent and aggressive. After he fails in love, Yeats ultimately becomes a critic of Maud Gonne. He writes many famous poems after he fails in