Poem Analysis - Wisdom

An Opulent Infancy: Reimagining the Divine

Yeats's "Wisdom" presents a strikingly unconventional depiction of the infancy of Christ. The poem subverts traditional, humble narratives of Jesus's birth and early life, instead portraying a scene of extravagant wealth and artistic grandeur. The tone is initially celebratory, almost reverential in its description of artistic achievement, before subtly shifting to a more complex, even ironic, contemplation of innocence and wisdom. The poem concludes by hinting at the troubling realities that even a divinely conceived infant must face.

The Influence of Aestheticism: Art as Revelation

While direct historical or social contexts are not overtly evident, the poem reflects Yeats's deep engagement with the Aesthetic movement. This movement, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, emphasized beauty and art for their own sake, often rejecting didactic or moralistic purposes. In "Wisdom," faith is "discovered" not through scripture or piety, but through artistic creation: "painted panel, statuary, Glass-mosaic, window-glass." These art forms are presented as superior to the "peasant gospeller," suggesting that true understanding of the divine comes through aesthetic experience and elevated craftsmanship, rather than simple faith.

Innocence and Wisdom: A Paradoxical Pairing

One of the central themes of the poem is the tension between innocence and wisdom, particularly as applied to the figure of Christ. The poem explicitly states: "King Abundance got Him on / Innocence; and Wisdom He." This juxtaposition creates a sense of paradox. How can innocence, typically associated with naivety and lack of knowledge, be coupled with wisdom, which implies profound understanding? The poem suggests that Christ's wisdom is perhaps not earned through experience but is instead an inherent quality, bestowed upon him from birth. This inherent wisdom is what will eventually be required when "wild infancy drove horror from His Mother's breast", suggesting that it is Christ's divine ability to know and understand that would protect him from the more horrifying aspects of the world.

Symbolism of Opulence: Redefining Divinity

The poem is replete with vivid imagery of wealth and luxury, used symbolically to convey a specific understanding of divinity. The "damask clothed" seat, the "chryselephantine, cedar-boarded" construction, and the "purple hoarded" are all evocative of royalty and abundance. The reference to "starry towers of Babylon" further reinforces this idea of opulent grandeur, a civilization known for its architectural marvels. This deliberate association of Christ with wealth and artistry challenges the traditional image of Jesus as a humble carpenter's son. By placing him in this context of affluence, Yeats seems to be suggesting that divinity is not necessarily antithetical to earthly riches and artistic achievement.

The Carpenter's Son: A Subversion of Expectations

The line "Swept the Sawdust from the floor / Of that working-carpenter" is particularly striking. It directly alludes to Joseph, Jesus's earthly father, but dismisses the humble carpentry shop, replacing it with a vision of opulent grandeur. This juxtaposition may serve to emphasize the divine nature of Jesus, contrasting his origins with his ultimate destiny. The image of Mary, "stitching at a purple hoarded," further reinforces this theme of elevated status. The purple dye itself was historically expensive and reserved for royalty. She is preparing garments "That He might be nobly breeched," indicating a deliberate effort to present him in a manner befitting a king.

Concluding Thoughts: An Unconventional Incarnation

"Wisdom" is a complex and thought-provoking reimagining of Christ's early life. Yeats challenges conventional notions of divinity by placing Jesus in a context of artistic beauty and worldly wealth. The poem explores the paradoxical relationship between innocence and wisdom, and it suggests that true understanding of the divine may be found not only in scripture but also in the power and beauty of art. By subverting traditional narratives, Yeats invites us to reconsider our own assumptions about the nature of faith and the qualities that define a truly divine being. The final line raises the point that even a divine figure has to contend with horrors, and that is what makes the idea of wisdom being thrust upon innocence such a strong one.