Poem Analysis - A Man Young And Old 6 His Memories

Introduction: A Bitter Reflection on Aging and Desire

Yeats' "A Man Young And Old: 6. His Memories" is a short, potent poem steeped in disillusionment and a sense of aging’s isolating effects. The tone is initially melancholic, reflecting on invisibility and decay, then shifts to a bitter and somewhat resentful recollection of past passion. The poem explores themes of aging, lost love, and the destructive power of beauty, using sharp imagery to convey a profound sense of loss and regret. It captures the speaker's internal struggle as he grapples with his fading vitality and the enduring impact of a past love that seems both glorious and devastating.

The Isolation of Aging: Becoming Invisible

One of the central themes of the poem is the isolation that comes with aging. The opening lines, "We should be hidden from their eyes, / Being but holy shows / And bodies broken like a thorn," establish this immediately. The speaker feels that he and others like him are no longer seen or understood by the younger generation. The phrase "holy shows" suggests a kind of reverence tinged with pity, as if they are relics of a bygone era. The image of "bodies broken like a thorn" is particularly powerful, conveying both physical decay and a sense of pain and vulnerability. The speaker’s feeling of isolation is compounded by the mention of "buried Hector," a legendary figure lost to time, emphasizing the oblivion that awaits all. The inability of the younger generation to understand the past or to see beyond the surface of the aged adds to the feeling of alienation.

Love's Destructive Beauty: Helen of Troy Revisited

The poem also grapples with the theme of love, or rather, the destructive force of beauty and desire. The reference to "She who had brought great Hector down / And put all Troy to wreck" clearly alludes to Helen of Troy, a figure synonymous with devastating beauty. The speaker seems to equate his past lover with Helen, implying that she, too, possessed a beauty that led to ruin and suffering. The memory of their passionate encounter, culminating in the line "'Strike me if I shriek,'" reveals a complex mixture of pleasure and pain, dominance and submission. This intense moment highlights the potentially destructive nature of desire and the lasting impact it can have on an individual, even long after the passion has faded. The poem doesn't romanticize love; instead, it presents it as a force that can both enthrall and destroy.

The Thorny Symbolism of Decay and Passion

A recurring symbol in the poem is the thorn. Initially, the speaker describes his "body broken like a thorn," suggesting pain and vulnerability. Later, he compares his "arms are like the twisted thorn," implying a physical decline and perhaps a bitterness or defensiveness resulting from his experiences. However, he then acknowledges that "there beauty lay" within those same "twisted" arms. This complex image encapsulates the poem's central tension: the simultaneous presence of pain and beauty, decay and passion. The thorn, a symbol of suffering, also held the capacity for intense pleasure and connection. The thorn could even symbolize the Virgin Mary; in Catholicism thorns represent great suffering.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Loss and Lingering Desire

In conclusion, "A Man Young And Old: 6. His Memories" is a poignant exploration of aging, isolation, and the enduring power of past loves. The poem uses stark imagery and a bitter tone to convey the speaker's disillusionment and the sense of loss that comes with growing old. The recurring symbols, particularly the thorn, highlight the complex interplay of pain and pleasure, decay and beauty. Ultimately, the poem suggests that even as the body fades and memories become tinged with regret, the intensity of past experiences continues to shape and define us, leaving a lasting legacy of both sorrow and lingering desire. It’s a reminder that the past, especially the passions of our youth, remains an indelible part of who we are, even as we become "hidden from their eyes."