Poem Analysis - Michael Robartes And The Dancer

Introduction: A Debate on Beauty and Knowledge

William Butler Yeats's "Michael Robartes and the Dancer" is a vibrant and thought-provoking dialogue between two figures, exploring the complex relationship between beauty, intellect, and spiritual understanding. The poem unfolds as a spirited debate, characterized by intellectual tension and contrasting viewpoints. Initially, the tone is assertive and somewhat didactic, particularly on the part of Michael Robartes. However, as the poem progresses, the Dancer's interjections introduce elements of questioning and skepticism, leading to a nuanced exploration of the central themes. The poem's mood is less about conflict, and more an intellectual challenge of the status quo of views on women and their roles.

The Battle of the Mind and Body

One of the central themes of the poem is the tension between intellectual pursuit and the appreciation of physical beauty, especially in women. Michael Robartes argues that a woman's true "wage" or worth lies in her physical appearance, as reflected in the "looking-glass." He suggests that a lover will be envious of anything absent from that reflection. This idea is contrasted with the Dancer's question about whether she can pursue education ("May I not put myself to college?"), which Robartes dismisses, claiming that books cannot provide the same knowledge as the experience embodied in "that beating breast, / That vigorous thigh, that dreaming eye?" The poem thus sets up a dichotomy between the pursuit of traditional learning and the inherent wisdom and power attributed to the female body.

The Allure of the Visual World

The poem heavily emphasizes the importance of sight and visual representation. Robartes cites artists like Paul Veronese and Michael Angelo as examples of figures who understood the power of the body as a source of inspiration and artistic truth. Veronese's paintings, depicting "bodies all their days," and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, revealing the potency of "sinew," illustrate the belief that the physical form can convey profound meaning. The "lagoon you love so much," refers to Venice, a symbolic location of visual indulgence. The "long looking-glass" also serves as a key symbol, representing the surface-level perception of beauty. It's what society values most, and it determines the self-worth of the women in question.

The Dragon of Self-Doubt

The image of the dragon appears at the beginning, with the woman's thought being the dragon that rose every morning. It rises to dig its claws, shriek, and fight. The dragon that reappears later in the poem when the Dancer says "My wretched dragon is perplexed" is a symbol of internal conflict and self-doubt. The Dancer refers to her own intellectual and emotional confusion as her "wretched dragon." She is questioning everything she knows and her place in the world. It may represent the societal pressure to conform to conventional ideals of feminine beauty. This is in contrast to the desire for intellectual fulfillment, which causes inner turmoil.

Spiritual and Physical Wholeness

The poem suggests that spiritual "blessedness" is achieved through a rejection of intellectual complexity in favor of embracing pure, unadulterated physical beauty. Robartes cites a Latin text to assert that "blest souls are not composite," meaning they are not made up of conflicting elements. He argues that beautiful women can achieve a similar state of "uncomposite blessedness" if they "banish every thought" that detracts from their physical image. This idea raises questions about the value of intellect and self-awareness, particularly for women, and the potential consequences of prioritizing superficial beauty over inner growth. Is Yeats suggesting that women should suppress their intellectual curiosity to achieve a state of idealized beauty and spiritual purity, or is he using Robartes's argument to critique this very notion?

Conclusion: The Enduring Debate

"Michael Robartes and the Dancer" is a complex exploration of beauty, intellect, and the societal expectations placed upon women. Through the dynamic dialogue between the two figures, Yeats challenges the reader to consider the limitations and potential pitfalls of valuing surface appearances over inner knowledge. The poem's enduring significance lies in its ability to spark conversation about the multifaceted nature of human worth and the ongoing struggle to reconcile the demands of the body with the aspirations of the mind. It asks if an appreciation for the physical must preclude the pursuit of intellectual enlightenment, or if there is a path to find balance between the two.