William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming" is an allegory that conveys the destructive changes in the state of Europe due to World War I. The poem uses various metaphors to symbolize the collapse of established social and political order, as well as the birth of a new era of chaos and uncertainty.
One of the most powerful metaphors in the poem is the "rough beast" that "slouches towards Bethlehem to be born." This metaphor suggests the birth of a new era that is terrifying, destructive, and beyond human control. The image of the beast is a powerful symbol of the chaos and destruction that was unleashed during World War I, as well as the fear and uncertainty that it created.
Another metaphor in the poem is the "falcon" that is "turning and turning in widening gyre." This image suggests the idea of a cycle, with the falcon symbolizing the changing times and the widening gyre representing the increasing chaos and instability in Europe.
Throughout the poem, Yeats uses vivid and powerful metaphors to suggest the end of an era and the birth of a new, uncertain future. The poem's existential world view is revealed through its emphasis on the idea that the old order is collapsing, and something new and unknown is emerging.
For example, in the poem's opening lines, Yeats writes, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world." This image suggests that the established order has collapsed, and society is descending into chaos and anarchy. The metaphor of the "center" that cannot hold is a powerful image of the loss of stability and order in the world.
In conclusion, the metaphors in "The Second Coming" convey powerful meanings that suggest the destructive changes that occurred in Europe as a result of World War I. The poem's existential world view is revealed through its emphasis on the collapse of the old order and the birth of a new, uncertain future. Yeats' use of metaphor creates a vivid and powerful picture of the chaos and destruction that was unleashed during this period of history.
*IG:whis.sama_ent*