Death and Destruction; An Analysis of Imagery in The Second Coming

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In the poem, "The Second Coming" written by William Butler Yeats in 1919 following World War I the emotional element and the symbols involved are significant in comprehending in order to fully understand the poem. The poem is written in an iambic pentameter. The first image presented to the reader is one of calamity, where a falcon is unable to heed the call of safety and begins to spiral out of control. "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold" The centre of this spiral could metaphorically relate to a society out of control. Following which the speaker states "Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world," anarchy pertaining to confusion or chaos dependent upon the readers understanding, a world where innocence has been lost. Additionally, anarchy could be referring to new freedoms in society which are being taken advantage of by some and withheld from others. A society where common sense has been lost, people have begun to stray from goodness and more towards their vices. Yeats was critical of people specially those in power following the Great War. Which in the poem can be depicted by "The blood-dimmed tide is loosed".
Further imagery is provided by the seas full of blood and drowning. The 'best' in society are apathetic while the worse have a "passionate intensity". Through this image, Yeats presents an image of a chaotic society headed towards self destruction. The gyres play an interesting role as they symbolize the transition of one to another, as one gyre ends at the center of another. Thusly providing the idea that Yeats believes of a transition that is coming. Which he cites as an anticipated change that he is looking forward to. This event can be characterized by "The Second Coming". A symbolic reference can be made in ...

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...or anarchy in the world. Additionally, the cradle represents the manger of baby Jesus which could only be rocked by animals forcing one to go back to the Sphinx that Yeats has seen. Yeats ends the poem by two questions left unanswered. Yeats while having seen a revelation is still not entirely convinced in what that beast may be. However, that beast has taken the place of Jesus Christ the Savior and at the time that would have called for Jesus' return this "rough Beast" has taken his place slowly making his way towards the eventual doom of everyone. This doom may not be directly attributed to the "rough" as it may imply a harsh justice rather than horror, but contrastingly, this "rough beast" may be the Antichrist. Yeats employs myriad symbols creating a sentiment of catastrophe causing the reader to doubt the change and fear it even if the change is for the better.

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