Poem Analysis - That The Night Come

Introduction: A Yearning for Transcendence

William Butler Yeats's "That the Night Come" is a powerful, if somewhat cryptic, exploration of a woman driven by an intense desire for a death that promises something beyond the ordinary. The poem possesses a tone of admiration, tinged with a certain understanding of her almost reckless pursuit. The initial lines set a scene of turmoil, which then transitions into a celebration of her unwavering conviction. Ultimately, the poem leaves the reader contemplating the nature of such a profound yearning and its implications.

Historical Context and Yeats's Vision

While the poem doesn't explicitly reference a historical event, Yeats was deeply involved in Irish nationalism and often explored themes of heroism and sacrifice in his work. This background might inform our understanding of the "proud death" she desires, potentially linking it to a romanticized view of martyrdom or fighting for a cause. Furthermore, Yeats's interest in the occult and spiritualism suggests that the "night" represents not just death, but also a transition to another realm of existence, one that she anticipates with fervor.

The Allure of Death: A Central Theme

The most prominent theme is, undoubtedly, the allure of death. The poem presents it not as a terrifying end, but as a "proud death," something desirable and worthy of striving for. This isn't a morbid fascination, but rather a yearning for something more meaningful than "the common good of life." She rejects a mundane existence, seeing death as a potential gateway to a higher state of being, a concept that aligns with Yeats's spiritual beliefs.

Celebrating Individual Will and Defiance

Another key theme is the celebration of individual will and defiance against the ordinary. The woman in the poem "lived as 'twere a king," signifying her self-determination and her rejection of societal expectations. She dictates her own path, even if that path leads to death. The poem emphasizes her courage and her refusal to be confined by the limitations of a conventional life. The comparison to a king packing his wedding day with battle-like celebrations underlines her determination to expedite her journey towards her desired end.

Sacrifice and the Rejection of Mundane Existence

The theme of sacrifice is woven throughout the poem. By longing for a "proud death," she sacrifices the potential joys and comforts of a normal life. The phrase "common good of life" suggests a rejection of shared happiness and experiences in favor of a singular, perhaps more significant, destiny. This highlights a conflict between individual ambition and societal expectations, suggesting that true greatness may require a willingness to forego the ordinary.

Symbolism: The Night as Transformation

The central symbol is "the night," which clearly represents death, but perhaps also something more. It’s not presented as a void, but as a destination, a state of being she actively seeks. The imagery of the king's wedding day, packed with "banneret and pennon, trumpet and kettledrum, and the outrageous cannon," symbolizes a frantic, almost desperate, attempt to speed up time, to hasten her arrival into that night. These aggressive and celebratory images underscore her proactive and even forceful approach to embracing mortality, hinting at a belief that death will be a transformative and glorious event.

Conclusion: A Complex Portrait of Yearning

"That the Night Come" is a complex and compelling poem that explores the allure of death, the power of individual will, and the rejection of a mundane existence. Through vivid imagery and a tone of admiration, Yeats paints a portrait of a woman driven by a profound desire for a transformative death. The poem invites us to contemplate the nature of such intense yearning and to question the boundaries between life, death, and the pursuit of something beyond the ordinary. Ultimately, it’s a testament to the human spirit's capacity for both profound longing and unwavering self-determination, even in the face of mortality.