Poem Analysis - The Old Stone Cross

William Butler Yeats's "The Old Stone Cross" presents a cynical and world-weary perspective on politics, society, and art. The poem uses a recurring refrain to create a sense of timeless wisdom delivered from a mysterious, perhaps supernatural, source. The tone is critical and disillusioned, though tinged with a dry wit, shifting from sharp observations to a more general lament for lost values. The poem is a lament for the current state of the world and a commentary on its values.

The Corruption of Public Life

The poem opens with a harsh critique of public figures, specifically politicians and journalists. Yeats portrays politicians as deceitful, saying "A statesman is an easy man, / He tells his lies by rote." This suggests a practiced, almost effortless dishonesty. The journalist is presented as even more aggressive: "A journalist makes up his lies / And takes you by the throat." This suggests that public discourse is polluted by manipulative individuals. The advice to "stay at home' and drink your beer / And let the neighbours' vote" is not just a suggestion but a despairing resignation from meaningful participation in a corrupt system. This portrays a sense of disillusionment in democratic processes, highlighting the speaker's belief that true power has been corrupted.

The Blurring of Values

The second stanza shifts focus to the general state of societal values. The lines "Because this age and the next age / Engender in the ditch, / No man can know a happy man / From any passing wretch" paint a picture of universal misery and moral decay. The ditch serves as a powerful image of abjection and despair. The poem claims that happiness is indistinguishable from wretchedness, indicating the leveling effect of a degraded environment. "If Folly link with Elegance / No man knows which is which," suggesting a world where superficiality has triumphed over substance. This blurring of distinction is the essence of cultural decay and the theme reflects a deep societal breakdown.

The Failure of Art

The final stanza expresses the speaker's strong distaste for actors who lack musicality and embrace a vulgar naturalism. "But actors lacking music / Do most excite my spleen" reveals a disdain for art that abandons higher ideals in favor of mere imitation. The "shuffle, grunt and groan" represents a debased form of acting, seen as misguided because it emphasizes the mundane rather than the "unearthly stuff / Rounds a mighty scene." This emphasizes the belief that true art transcends the ordinary and possesses a transformative power that is being lost. The stanza presents art as a tool to reveal higher truths and a lament for modern artists’ perceived lack of inspiration. This reveals the author's values in art as something much higher than simple acting.

The Enduring Symbol of the Cross

The recurring image of the "man in the golden breastplate / Under the old stone Cross" is central to the poem's meaning. The old stone cross is symbolic, likely representing faith, tradition, and a sense of historical continuity. However, the "man in the golden breastplate" complicates the symbolism. The golden breastplate could signify power, authority, or even a false kind of sanctity. Is he a protector of the faith or a symbol of its corruption? His enigmatic pronouncements suggest a detached wisdom, observing the world's decline from a position of enduring faith. His presence is both reassuring, because of his strength, and concerning, because of his distance.

A Lasting Disillusionment

In conclusion, "The Old Stone Cross" is a bleak but compelling meditation on the decay of modern society and the loss of traditional values. Yeats uses vivid imagery and a powerful refrain to create a sense of timeless wisdom, delivered from a mysterious figure standing sentinel over a fallen world. The poem captures a profound sense of disillusionment with politics, society, and art, offering a critique that is both cynical and deeply felt. The enigmatic figure at the cross serves as a reminder of lost ideals, inviting the reader to contemplate the true meaning of faith and beauty in a corrupted world.