Poem Analysis - A Man Young And Old 10 His Wildness

Introduction: Lament for a Lost World

Yeats's "His Wildness," part of the "A Man Young and Old" sequence, is a poignant reflection on loss and the struggle to find meaning in a world where beauty and heroism seem to have vanished. The poem evokes a sense of yearning for a past filled with vibrancy and passion, contrasted with a present marked by decay and loneliness. The tone is initially wistful, almost pleading, before shifting to a more melancholic and introspective mood as the speaker contemplates his solitary existence. The poem ultimately explores the speaker's attempt to create his own reality in the face of disillusionment.

Echoes of a Glorious Past: The Vanishing Ideal

The poem is steeped in a sense of historical and cultural loss. References to "peg and Meg and Paris' love" evoke a world of idealized romance and legendary figures. Paris, of Greek mythology, represents passionate love, while "peg and Meg" likely refer to more contemporary, yet equally vibrant figures of the past – perhaps popular actresses or beauties of Yeats's time, now fading from memory. The line "That had so straight a back" suggests not only physical beauty but also moral uprightness and strength of character, qualities the speaker perceives as absent in the present. The phrase "changed their silk for sack" underscores this decline, symbolizing a fall from elegance and grace into a state of drabness and poverty, both literal and metaphorical.

Isolation and the Yearning for Connection

One of the central themes in "His Wildness" is the profound isolation of the individual in a world that no longer resonates with their ideals. The speaker's desire to "mount and sail up there / Amid the cloudy wrack" suggests a yearning to escape the earthly realm and find solace in a higher, more imaginative space. The line, "Were I but there and none to hear," points to a deep sense of being misunderstood and unheard. The speaker seeks a space where he can express his true self, even if that expression takes the form of a "peacock cry" – a flamboyant, perhaps even absurd, outburst of emotion, which is “natural to a man / That lives in memory." This highlights the speaker's detachment from the present and his deep connection to the past.

The Stone as Symbol: Creating Meaning in Emptiness

The image of the speaker nursing a stone and singing it a lullaby is particularly striking and symbolic. The stone represents the cold, hard reality of the speaker's situation – a world devoid of warmth and connection. By nursing the stone and singing it a lullaby, the speaker attempts to imbue this emptiness with meaning and affection. This act can be interpreted as a form of self-soothing, a way of finding comfort and purpose in the face of despair. The lullaby suggests a desire to nurture and protect even the most unpromising object, highlighting the speaker's capacity for love and his need to create his own reality in the absence of genuine connection. It can be asked if the stone is a symbol of the speaker himself; cold and unyielding, but in need of comfort and affection.

Conclusion: A Song of Solitary Resilience

"His Wildness" is a moving portrayal of an individual grappling with loss and disillusionment. The poem’s power lies in its exploration of themes of isolation and the struggle to find meaning in a world that feels increasingly alien. The speaker's desire for escape, his flamboyant emotional outbursts, and his act of nurturing a stone all serve to illustrate his resilience in the face of adversity. Ultimately, the poem suggests that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can find ways to create its own light, even if that light shines only on a cold, unyielding stone. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of memory and the individual's capacity to find solace and meaning within themselves.