Poem Analysis - Ego Dominus Tuus

A Dialogue of Artistic Identity

W.B. Yeats's "Ego Dominus Tuus" is a thoughtful and complex dialogue between two characters, Hic and Ille, concerning the nature of artistic creation and the artist's search for self. The poem unfolds as a debate, exploring the tension between finding oneself through direct experience and constructing an "anti-self" as a means of artistic expression. The tone is initially contemplative, but it becomes more argumentative and passionate as the characters present their contrasting viewpoints. This shift in mood underscores the fundamental conflict at the heart of the poem: the struggle between subjective experience and the creation of objective art.

The Artist's Quest and the "Anti-Self"

One central theme in "Ego Dominus Tuus" is the artist's quest for self-discovery through their art. Hic believes in finding oneself directly, asserting, "And I would find myself and not an image." Ille, on the other hand, proposes that true artistic creation arises from constructing an "anti-self," a persona that embodies qualities opposite to one's own. This idea is expressed in the lines, "By the help of an image I call to my own opposite, summon all that I have handled least, least looked upon." This concept suggests that artists can achieve deeper understanding and create more compelling art by exploring aspects of themselves that are unfamiliar or repressed.

The Dissatisfaction of Modern Art

Another significant theme revolves around the dissatisfaction with modern art. Ille criticizes the modern tendency to analyze and criticize rather than create with passion and conviction. He argues that modern artists are "but critics, or but half create, timid, entangled, empty and abashed," lacking the "old nonchalance of the hand." This critique speaks to a perceived decline in artistic boldness and a rise in self-consciousness, suggesting that modern artists are too focused on self-analysis and lack the raw, uninhibited creative energy of their predecessors.

The Allure of the Unrealizable Ideal

The poem also explores the theme of the allure of the unattainable. Ille uses Dante as an example, suggesting that Dante's hollow face, more visible than any other but Christ's, was born from a "hunger for the apple on the bough most out of reach." This image symbolizes the artist's perpetual yearning for something beyond their grasp, a driving force that fuels their creative endeavors. Keats is also presented not as a lover of life, but as someone who remained ultimately unfulfilled, a boy with his "face and nose pressed to a sweet-shop window," whose art arose from deprivation.

Symbols of Creation and Imagination

Several symbols recur throughout the poem, contributing to its overall message. The "lamp" and the "open book" mentioned at the beginning represent traditional learning and artistic approaches, which Ille seems to reject in favor of a more personal, intuitive method. The "grey sand" and "shallow stream" evoke a liminal space, a meeting point between the tangible world and the realm of imagination. The "characters upon the sands" that Ille traces symbolize the ephemeral and transient nature of artistic creation, suggesting that true art arises from a fleeting, almost mystical encounter with the "anti-self." The reference to "the apple on the bough most out of reach" works as a vivid symbol of the constant desire, the perpetual longing, that fuels artistic creation, as well as more generally human experience.

Conclusion: Embracing the "Anti-Self"

"Ego Dominus Tuus" is a profound meditation on the artistic process and the artist's identity. Through the contrasting perspectives of Hic and Ille, Yeats explores the tension between direct self-expression and the creation of an "anti-self." While Hic advocates for finding oneself, Ille argues that true artistic creation arises from embracing one's opposite, a path that leads to a deeper understanding of both the self and the world. Ultimately, the poem suggests that the artist's journey is not about finding a fixed identity but about constantly seeking and transforming, embracing the complexities and contradictions that lie at the heart of the creative spirit, and that the act of creating a persona can reveal truths hidden in the depths of one's own self.