Poem Analysis - No Second Troy

A Lament for Lost Peace

William Butler Yeats’s "No Second Troy" is a lament, tinged with both admiration and resentment, for a woman who has disrupted the poet’s life and the peace of his society. The poem is a passionate, almost accusatory, examination of a figure who, like Helen of Troy, possesses a destructive beauty. The tone shifts from a questioning blame to a resigned understanding, acknowledging the woman's inherent nature as a catalyst for chaos. This creates a sense of inevitability and tragic acceptance. The poem explores themes of destructive beauty, societal upheaval, and the justification of actions based on inherent character.

The Shadow of Maud Gonne

While the poem doesn't explicitly state it, many readers interpret "No Second Troy" as being inspired by Yeats's complex and often unrequited love for Maud Gonne, an Irish revolutionary and actress. Her passionate involvement in Irish nationalist politics, sometimes advocating for violent methods, deeply influenced Yeats's life and work. This context illuminates the poem's references to inciting "ignorant men" and hurling "little streets upon the great," suggesting Gonne's role in stirring up social unrest in pursuit of Irish independence. The poem then reflects Yeats's internal conflict: admiring her dedication yet lamenting the turmoil it brings.

Beauty as a Destructive Force

One of the central themes of "No Second Troy" is the idea of beauty as a destructive force, capable of causing widespread disruption. The poem compares the woman to Helen of Troy, whose legendary beauty launched a thousand ships and led to the Trojan War. Yeats emphasizes the woman's extraordinary, almost unnatural beauty, describing it as "like a tightened bow." This image suggests tension and potential energy, implying that her beauty is not merely passive but actively capable of causing harm. The poem asks if such a woman, possessed of such potent beauty, could possibly have acted otherwise. This explores the idea that exceptional qualities, even those seemingly positive, can have devastating consequences.

Fire and the Inevitable

The imagery of fire recurs throughout the poem, acting as a potent symbol of both purity and destruction. Her "nobleness made simple as a fire" initially suggests an almost elemental purity and directness. However, the poem's title, linking her to the burning of Troy, casts fire in a more destructive light. This duality highlights the complex nature of the woman, suggesting that her admirable qualities are intertwined with her capacity for causing chaos. The question "Was there another Troy for her to burn?" implies that her destructive potential is an intrinsic part of her being, making her actions almost inevitable.

Resigned Acceptance of Fate

The poem concludes with a sense of resigned acceptance. The final lines, "Why, what could she have done, being what she is? / Was there another Troy for her to burn?" convey a feeling that her actions are predetermined by her nature. Yeats seems to absolve her of blame, suggesting that her inherent qualities make her a force of nature, incapable of being controlled. This creates a tragic understanding: her beauty and passion, while admirable in some ways, inevitably lead to destruction, leaving Yeats to question the very possibility of peace in the face of such overwhelming force. The poem, therefore, becomes an elegy for lost peace, not just in Yeats's personal life, but perhaps in the wider world as well.