The Second Coming
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood‑dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Summary of The Second Coming
“The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats, a legendary Irish poet, remains profoundly relevant today, sparking interpretations across generations. First published in The Dial in 1920, the poem delves into themes of societal and cultural disintegration, predicting an upheaval and the birth of a new, potentially terrifying, era. The poem isn’t necessarily a religious prophecy, but rather a metaphorical one, foreshadowing a collapse of order and the rise of something unknown and unsettling. The poem’s lasting power lies in its ability to resonate with periods of significant change and unrest, offering a haunting vision of a world teetering on the brink.
Central Idea
At its core, “The Second Coming” explores the cyclical nature of history. Yeats believed that historical periods don’t simply progress linearly; instead, they unfold in “gyres”—vast, spiraling cycles of change. The poem describes the end of one cycle—a period of order and faith—and the chaotic birth of another, symbolized by the monstrous beast. The central idea isn’t necessarily about what will be born, but the inevitability of change and the unsettling nature of transitions.
Key Knowledge Points
- Historical Context: The poem was written in the aftermath of World War I and during a period of intense political and social upheaval in Ireland. This context heavily influenced Yeats’s sense of disillusionment and his belief that the old order was collapsing.
- Gyres: Understanding Yeats’s concept of gyres is crucial to understanding the poem. These aren’t simply circles, but complex spirals representing historical forces at play.
- Spiritus Mundi: This Latin phrase translates to “spirit of the world” and represents a collective unconscious—a reservoir of images, symbols, and archetypes that influence human consciousness.
In-Depth Analysis of “The Second Coming”
Stanza One: The Breakdown of Order
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood‑dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
The first stanza establishes a sense of impending doom. The image of the “falcon” and “falconer” is a potent metaphor for the breakdown of control and authority. As the falcon spirals outward in the widening gyre, it loses connection with the falconer’s guidance, symbolizing a loss of central authority and a descent into chaos. The famous line, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold,” encapsulates this disintegration.
The “blood‑dimmed tide” is a particularly striking image. It evokes violence and a loss of innocence, suggesting that the old values and beliefs are being swept away by a wave of barbarism. Yeats contrasts “the best”—those with genuine conviction—with “the worst,” who are filled with passion. This suggests that in times of upheaval, those lacking moral compass can become the most forceful and influential. The line “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passion” illustrates this point.
Stanza Two: The Birth of the New Beast
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
The second stanza shifts from describing the chaos to depicting its consequence—the birth of something new and terrifying. The poem initially suggests a traditional “Second Coming” – a religious savior – but quickly subverts this expectation. What emerges from the “Spiritus Mundi” isn’t a benevolent figure, but a monstrous shape with lion body and the head of a man.
This creature is deliberately ambiguous and unsettling. Its blank and pitiless gaze evokes a sense of indifference and inhumanity. The desert setting adds to the sense of desolation and barrenness. The imagery is chaotic: “Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.”
The image of the “rocking cradle” is particularly striking. It represents the birth of this new era, but it is a disturbing birth, “vexed to nightmare.” The cradle, typically associated with innocence and hope, is linked to the creation of something monstrous. The final line, “And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?” is perhaps the most famous in the poem. Bethlehem, traditionally the birthplace of Christ, is now the birthplace of this terrifying creature, highlighting the subversion of traditional religious expectations. This isn’t a savior coming to redeem the world; it’s a monstrous force emerging to replace the old order.
Literary and Poetic Devices in “The Second Coming”
- Metaphor: The entire poem is built on extended metaphors—the falcon and falconer representing control and its loss, the beast symbolizing the forces unleashed by societal collapse.
- Symbolism: The desert, the rocking cradle, the beast itself—all are powerful symbols loaded with meaning.
- Imagery: Yeats utilizes vivid and unsettling imagery throughout the poem, creating a palpable sense of dread and foreboding.
- Allusion: The poem alludes to Christian mythology (the Second Coming, Bethlehem) and classical archetypes (the sphinx‑like beast).
- Repetition: The repetition of “Surely” emphasizes the poet’s sense of inevitability.
- Meter: The poem’s rhythmic pattern contributes to its formal quality, though it is largely free verse with no strict meter.
- Structure: The poem is written in a series of loosely connected stanzas, with a largely free verse form and no fixed rhyme scheme.
Quotes for Consideration
These lines can be used to illustrate the themes of societal decay and the inevitability of change. They are particularly powerful when discussing periods of political or social upheaval:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood‑dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passion.
“The Second Coming” remains a haunting and relevant poem. Its power lies not in predicting a specific future, but in capturing the feeling of profound change, the loss of certainty, and the unsettling birth of the new. By understanding the poem’s historical context, its literary devices, and its central themes, readers can appreciate its enduring significance and apply its insights to the challenges of our own time.