Poem Analysis - Before The World Was Made

Introduction: A Quest for Primordial Beauty

William Butler Yeats' "Before The World Was Made" is a contemplative poem that delves into the speaker's yearning for a past, a state of being that predates the complexities and disappointments of earthly existence. The poem carries a tone of wistful longing, tinged with a hint of detachment. It presents a persona preoccupied with appearances and relationships, but ultimately driven by a desire for something more profound than surface-level connections. The mood is initially self-absorbed, but gradually shifts towards a broader philosophical reflection on the nature of love and identity.

The Search for an Idealized Self: Theme of Identity

One of the central themes is the search for an idealized identity. The speaker's meticulous attention to physical appearance in the first stanza—"If I make the lashes dark / And the eyes more bright / And the lips more scarlet"—suggests a dissatisfaction with their current self. However, this is not mere vanity, as the speaker explicitly states: "No vanity's displayed." Instead, this act of adornment is a quest, a deliberate attempt to recapture "the face I had / Before the world was made." This suggests that the speaker believes that their true, untainted self existed prior to the corrupting influences of the world, implying a longing for a state of original purity and innocence.

Love Beyond the Physical: A Reflection of the Ideal

The poem also explores the theme of love, but in a highly unconventional way. The second stanza reveals a detachment between the speaker's actions and emotions: "What if I look upon a man / As though on my beloved, / And my blood be cold the while / And my heart unmoved?" This suggests that the speaker's outward expressions of affection may not reflect genuine feelings. However, the speaker justifies this by arguing that they want the man to love "the thing that was / Before the world was made." This implies that the speaker is not seeking love for their current self, but rather for the idealized, primordial self that they are trying to embody. It shifts the focus of love from the individual to an abstract, timeless essence.

The World as a Corrupting Influence: The Theme of Loss

A third, underlying theme is the idea of the world as a corrupting influence, which leads to a sense of loss. The repeated phrase "Before the world was made" acts as a symbol of a lost paradise, a time of unblemished beauty and authenticity. The speaker's actions – the artificial enhancements and the detached performance of love – are presented as a response to this loss. The world has somehow diminished or obscured the speaker's true self, forcing them to engage in a constant struggle to recapture it. This creates a sense of isolation, as the speaker feels disconnected from both themselves and others.

Mirrors and Scarlet Lips: Symbols of Reflection and Passion

The poem contains potent symbolism. Mirrors, mentioned in the line "From mirror after mirror," represent self-reflection and the search for identity. However, instead of providing clarity, the mirrors seem to offer only a distorted or incomplete image of the speaker's true self. The scarlet lips are a recurring vivid image that can be interpreted as a symbol of passion and vitality, perhaps even a rebellion against the coldness described in the second stanza. The speaker's emphasis on artificially creating this vibrancy suggests a struggle to maintain a connection to life and feeling in a world that has become disenchanted. Is the poem suggesting that love in this world is artificial because we are detached from our essential selves?

Conclusion: A Timeless Yearning

In conclusion, "Before The World Was Made" is a poignant exploration of identity, love, and loss. Yeats uses vivid imagery and a reflective tone to convey the speaker's yearning for a time of primordial beauty and authenticity. The poem suggests that the world, with its complexities and corruptions, has obscured our true selves, leading to a perpetual quest for something lost. Ultimately, the poem resonates with a timeless desire to transcend the limitations of earthly existence and reconnect with a deeper, more essential part of ourselves.