Poem Analysis - To A Shade

Yeats' "To A Shade" is a passionate, almost urgent address to a deceased figure, marked by frustration and a weariness with the enduring pettiness of the living. The poem oscillates between a wistful reflection on the tranquility the spirit might seek and a sharp, bitter condemnation of the continued injustices in the world it has left behind. The tone shifts from a gentle suggestion of solace to an exasperated plea for the shade to remain in its tomb, highlighting the speaker’s concern and disappointment. The poem serves as both a lament and a warning.

The Enduring Power of Petty Grudges

One of the primary themes in "To A Shade" is the persistence of malice and the failure of society to appreciate true value. The poem explicitly states that the "old tricks" continue, with a man of similar spirit to the addressee being driven out and disgraced. This emphasizes that the injustices that may have plagued the shade in life are still very much alive. The lines "Your enemy, an old fotil mouth, had set / The pack upon him" vividly portrays the image of gossip and slander being weaponized to destroy an individual's reputation, showing how destructive and long-lasting such actions can be.

Yearning for Peace and Escape

The poem explores the theme of seeking solace and escape from the turmoil of the living world. The initial lines offer the shade a vision of peace: "To drink of that salt breath out of the sea / When grey gulls flit about instead of men, / And the gaunt houses put on majesty." This imagery evokes a sense of serene beauty and detachment from human concerns. The "salt breath" and the "grey gulls" suggest a natural world untouched by human pettiness, providing a contrast to the bitter realities the speaker then describes. The speaker, however, quickly dismisses the spirit's right to this peace, urging it to return to the tomb because the world is still rife with the same troubles that caused it pain in life.

The Corrosive Nature of Ungratefulness

The poem also grapples with the theme of societal ingratitude and the failure to recognize true worth. The speaker highlights the contrast between the benefactor's intent and the community's response: "A man / Of your own passionate serving kind who had brought / In his full hands what, had they only known, / Had given their children's children loftier thought, / Sweeter emotion..." This emphasizes the tragic irony of the situation. The "full hands" symbolize generosity and potential, yet the community is blind to the value being offered, preferring instead to embrace "instilt heaped upon him for his pains, / And for his open-handedness, disgrace". The image of gentle blood working in their veins suggests the enrichment they could have received. The fact that society rejects this gift indicates a deep-seated flaw in its values.

Recurring Symbolism: Sea, Dust, and the Tomb

The poem employs several recurring symbols that contribute to its meaning. The sea represents a potential escape and source of tranquility, but it is ultimately deemed unattainable for the shade in the current state of affairs. The dust, particularly in the phrase "till the dust stops your ear," symbolizes the finality of death and the refuge it offers from the world's noise and strife. The tomb, instead of being a place of sadness, becomes a haven, a safer place than the living world. The act of gathering the Glasnevin coverlet about your head until the dust stops your ear is a plea for the shade to hide from the malice of the living world.

A Final Plea for Peace

"To A Shade" is a poignant exploration of societal failings, ingratitude, and the enduring power of malice. It's a reflection on the disappointment that arises when society fails to appreciate those who offer genuine benefit. The poem ultimately serves as a plea for the departed spirit to remain in its tomb, suggesting that the peace of death is preferable to the continued injustices of the living world, and a cry for change that acknowledges the difficulties and potential futility of bringing positive change to a society set in its ways.