Act of Union
By Seamus Heaney
I
To-night, a first movement, a pulse,
As if the rain in bogland gathered head
To slip and flood: a bog-burst,
A gash breaking open the ferny bed.
Your back is a firm line of eastern coast
And arms and legs are thrown
Beyond your gradual hills. I caress
The heaving province where our past has grown.
I am the tall kingdom over your shoulder
That you would neither cajole nor ignore.
Conquest is a lie. I grow older
Conceding your half independent shore
Within whose borders now my legacy
Culminates inexorably.II
And I am still imperially
Male, leaving you with pain,
The rending process in the colony,
The battering ram, the boom burst from within.
The act sprouted an obstinate fifth column
Whose stance is growing unilateral.
His heart beneath your heart is a wardrum
Mustering force. His parasitical
And ignorant little fists already
Beat at your borders and I know they’re cocked
At me across the water. No treaty
I foresee will salve completely your tracked
And stretchmarked body, the big pain
That leaves you raw, like opened ground, again
Summary of Act of Union
- Popularity of “Act of Union”: “Act of Union” by Seamus Heaney is a powerfully symbolic poem. First appearing in his collection Field Work (1979), it reflects on the historical Act of Union (1801) that joined Ireland to Great Britain. The poem’s lasting appeal lies in its ability to articulate the complex emotions—particularly the sense of forced union and its aftermath—experienced by those affected.
- “Act of Union” as a Representation of Power: This poem doesn’t simply recount a historical event; it embodies it. Heaney uses a striking metaphor, framing the Act of Union as a deeply intimate, yet violently imposed, relationship. The opening lines evoke imagery of birth and labor, depicting Ireland as a land ‘in labor’ giving birth to a fraught and undesirable union. The speaker adopts the persona of England, initially expressing a possessive, almost paternalistic stance, yet quickly revealing a dominance and ironic detachment. The second stanza illustrates the pain Ireland is destined to endure. While the union may strengthen Britain, it will inflict lasting wounds on Ireland, and no political resolution can fully heal them.
- Major Themes in “Act of Union”: The central themes of the poem revolve around the exercise of power, the dynamic between the dominant and the dominated, and the profound sadness resulting from political and historical events. Heaney presents the Act of Union as a relationship in which one partner inflicts pain upon the other. The United Kingdom stands to gain control, but at a devastating cost to Ireland, and the poem suggests that no amount of political maneuvering can fully compensate for the damage done.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Act of Union”
Literary devices are the building blocks of poetry, enriching its meaning and emotional impact. Let’s explore how Heaney employs these techniques in “Act of Union.”
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates a musical effect and emphasizes certain ideas. For instance, the repetition of the ‘ea’ sound in “That leaves you raw, like opened ground, again” and the ‘e’ sound in “Beat at your borders and I know they’re cocked” creates a sense of echoing pain and resentment.
- Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences emphasizes a particular idea. Heaney uses anaphora strategically, especially in the second stanza. For example, the repeated use of “The” – “The rending process… The battering ram… The act sprouted…” – creates a cumulative effect, intensifying the sense of relentless force and irreversible change.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words adds musicality and emphasis. An example can be found in the phrase, “His heart beneath your heart” where the repeated ‘h’ sound reinforces the idea of a troubled and conflicted emotional connection.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words, rather than at the beginning, creates a subtle but effective sonic effect. Consider the repetition of the ‘t’ sound in “The battering ram, the boom burst from within,” or the ‘r’ sound in “His heart beneath your heart is a wardrum.” These sounds contribute to the poem’s sense of tension and aggression.
- Enjambment: This technique involves continuing a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause. For example, “Your back is a firm line of eastern coast / And arms and legs are thrown / Beyond your gradual hills. I caress…” The enjambment creates a flowing rhythm, mimicking the natural ebb and flow of language and emphasizing the connectedness of ideas. It also subtly builds tension as the reader is compelled to move forward to complete the thought.
- Irony: Heaney masterfully employs irony throughout the poem to reveal the complex and often contradictory attitudes of the dominating power. The speaker’s concession of Ireland’s “half independent shore” while simultaneously claiming that his “legacy culminates inexorably” within its borders is deeply ironic. It exposes the illusion of respect hidden beneath a veneer of control.
- Imagery: Heaney’s vivid and evocative imagery appeals to the reader’s five senses, creating a powerful and lasting impression. Phrases like “I am the tall kingdom over your shoulder,” “And arms and legs are thrown,” and “Beat at your borders and I know they’re cocked” paint a striking picture of physical and political dominance.
- Metaphor: The poem is built upon extended metaphors, most notably the framing of the Act of Union as a fraught and violent relationship. This allows Heaney to explore the complex emotions and power dynamics inherent in the historical event in a more nuanced and imaginative way.
- Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract concepts adds depth and complexity to the poem. Heaney personifies both England and Ireland, attributing to them emotions, motivations, and even physical attributes. For example, describing England as “the tall kingdom over your shoulder” and foreseeing Ireland being “raw, like opened ground.”
- Symbolism: The poem utilizes symbolism to convey deeper meanings and evoke emotional responses. The imagery of pain, dominance, and distress, and the very act of union itself, serve as symbols of the historical and political consequences of the Act of Union.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Act of Union”
While many literary devices are shared across different forms of writing, certain techniques are particularly prominent in poetry. Let’s examine how Heaney utilizes these in “Act of Union.”
- Diction: Heaney’s carefully chosen words, his diction, create a specific mood and tone. The poem employs descriptive language but is permeated with a lugubrious, tragic, and ironic tone. Words like “rending,” “battering,” and “raw” evoke a sense of violence and suffering, while the ironic undertones reveal the complex power dynamics at play.
- End Rhyme: End rhyme, the rhyming of words at the end of lines, contributes to the poem’s musicality and creates a sense of closure. While not strictly adhered to throughout, the poem occasionally uses end rhyme, for example, “head” and “bed,” “shoulder” and “older,” and “again” and “pain.”
- Stanza: The poem is structured into two stanzas, each containing a similar number of lines. This structure creates a sense of balance and symmetry, while also allowing Heaney to develop his ideas in a logical and coherent manner.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from the poem, “Act of Union” are powerful and resonant, making them useful for discussions about historical change and its lasting impact.
“I foresee will salve completely your tracked
And stretchmarked body, the big pain
That leaves you raw, like opened ground, again.”