POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CRITICISM IN THE POETRY OF W.B. YEATS

Abstract [English]

W.B. Yeats is widely regarded as one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, not only for his lyrical mastery but also for his incisive political and social criticism. His poetry reflects a deep engagement with the political turmoil of his time, particularly Ireland’s struggle for independence, the impact of war, the collapse of aristocratic values, and the cultural and moral decline of modern society. This paper explores how Yeats’s poetry serves as a critique of these issues, tracing his evolving stance on nationalism, his disillusionment with revolution, and his warnings about the dangers of unchecked modernity. Yeats’s early poetry, inspired by the Irish Literary Revival, romanticized Irish nationalism, but over time, he became increasingly skeptical of political movements, as seen in “September 1913” and “Easter, 1916.” His later work, such as “Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen” and “The Second Coming,” reflects his anxiety about the chaos and destruction wrought by war and revolution. He also mourns the decline of aristocratic leadership, believing that democracy and mass politics foster mediocrity, a theme evident in “Meditations in Time of Civil War.” Additionally, Yeats critiques the cultural and spiritual decay of modernity, as illustrated in “Sailing to Byzantium.”
Through his poetry, Yeats not only captures the historical and political transformations of his era but also offers timeless reflections on power, leadership, and human civilization. His work remains relevant in contemporary discussions of nationalism, governance, and societal change. Ultimately, Yeats’s poetry serves as both a record of his time and a universal meditation on history’s cycles of rise and fall, making him one of the most profound political and social critics in literary history.