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W. B. YEATS, "SEPTEMBER, 1913": Alba Vizcarro Navarro

The poem criticizes the Irish middle class for not supporting Irish nationalism and independence from Britain, unlike revolutionary leaders in Ireland's past who fought and died for the cause. Yeats addresses the middle class, saying they would not have had the courage to fight if they lived during those times, and would think revolutionary ideals were not worth dying for. He mentions historical nationalist figures like Edward Fitzgerald, Robert Emmet, and Wolfe Tone who sacrificed their lives for Irish independence. The poem expresses bitterness that their efforts seemingly came to nothing since nationalism appeared to be "dead and gone" in 1913.

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464 views2 pages

W. B. YEATS, "SEPTEMBER, 1913": Alba Vizcarro Navarro

The poem criticizes the Irish middle class for not supporting Irish nationalism and independence from Britain, unlike revolutionary leaders in Ireland's past who fought and died for the cause. Yeats addresses the middle class, saying they would not have had the courage to fight if they lived during those times, and would think revolutionary ideals were not worth dying for. He mentions historical nationalist figures like Edward Fitzgerald, Robert Emmet, and Wolfe Tone who sacrificed their lives for Irish independence. The poem expresses bitterness that their efforts seemingly came to nothing since nationalism appeared to be "dead and gone" in 1913.

Uploaded by

alba vizcarro navarro
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Alba Vizcarro Navarro

W. B. YEATS, “SEPTEMBER, 1913”

The story of the relation between Ireland and Britain started with the Anglo-
Normal conquest in 1120’s. Later, Henry VIII made himself king of the island. That
was a problem because 80% of the Irish population were Catholics in 17th Century and
until de 19th C. Catholics were not allowed to engage in a public job. In 1801 due the
Act of Union Ireland, Scotland and England were finally the United Kingdom. The
Gaelic Revival arises; they claimed their independence through their culture and
Gaelic language and promoted new Irish nationalistic writers and made them write in
Gaelic. They also created The Gaelic Journal and a national theatre: Abbey Theatre in
1904, a very important culture institution even nowadays. Finally, in 1912 Home Rule
was approved by the House of Commons and came into effect in 1914. But there were
still independent groups demanding going beyond. In our days, this conflict still is not
over; IRA disarms not a long ago: 29th July 2005.

William Butter Yeats (1865-1939) was an Irish nationalistic poet and play
writer. He was one of the founders of the Abbey Theatre. He was involved in politics
to the point of being a senator for two terms. He won the Nobel in 1923.

About the writing style of the text we must say that it is composed by four line
stanzas organized into four stanzas with rhyme a b a b-c d c d. This way is easier to
make clear the message that he is sending, so the content is more important than the
shape. He’s addressing to the middle class “what need you”, “you’d cry”.

Talking about the subject-matter, we can read that the two main topics in the
poem are nationalism and working class. Religion is showed as well because in this
conflict is significant the contrast between Catholic Ireland and Protestant Britain.
Middle class uses Catholicism in a very selfish way. The poet is critical with their
religious practices because they are hypocritical. “For men were born to pray and
save”. Those who save are only the ones able to do it: bourgeoisie. If you are praying
all the time you do not act. You cannot save when you are executed like revolutionary
leaders, but that is what middle class are doing instead of involve in Ireland.
Alba Vizcarro Navarro

The repetition of final sentence displays the main point. O’Leary was an activist
nationalistic that founded Young Republic Brotherhood and died in 1907. He would
not be proud of the Ireland of those days. “Romantic Ireland” associated with
revolution and being knocker with middle class because they do not care about nation,
just themselves.

In the text nationalistic leaders are named, “For this Edward Fitzgerald died,
and Robert Emmet and Wolfe Tone” they fought in the 1797 revolution and were killed
because of their ideas. Those revolutionary leaders were part of the Irish culture since
their childhood, even for this hypocrite middle class. “The names that stilled your
childhood play”. The wild geese were Irish soldiers; unlike that selfish middle class,
the wild geese are generous fighting not only for Ireland but also for other countries,
the enemy is not Britain; it is the middle class who is against the romantic revolution
“the wild geese spread the grey wind upon every tide”.
To sum up, if the current middle class of Yeats’ times would live those times,
they would not be ready to fight and they would think that the revolution would be
worthless, and that those nationalistic people are crazy about Ireland and “Some
woman’s yellow hair”. This last quote is referring to Kathleen Ni Houlihan, a woman
that represents Ireland. The revolutionary leaders suffered and gave their lives for
nothing because now nationalism is dead and gone. The tone is bitter and nostalgic.

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