Cultural Criticism in W.B.Yeats’ An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Ess

Cultural Criticism in W.B.Yeats An Irish Airman Foresees His DeathThe various levels of interpretation that a poet, such as W.B.Yeats, welcomes to his poems is difficult to grasp upon first reading his poetry. What appears to be a straight forward poem, such as, An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, is representually an quick-witted cultural criticism of Yeats modern day society. The poem, written as a testament to Lady Gregorys son, captures the innermost concerns and perceptions of an Irish throwa track in World War I. However, through Yeats sentimental and poetic style, the poem incorporates a double meaning, and hence, focuses on Irish nationalism and its lack of an international consciencesness. The airman is Ireland someoneified, and his outlook on war and society is a window into the severe situation that Ireland faces. As the title suggests, there is a sense of close at hand(predicate) doom for the soldier (Ireland). He foresees his death, but has not yet experient it a nd does nothing to prevent it. The poem is written in the first person which gives a first hand feel for the tragic loss that the Irish soldier will experience. (i.e. his own death). Yeats is making a subtle rendering on the state of his modern Ireland. He can foresee her doom, yet, contradictory the subject of his poem, does not sit back and accept his fate. The lack of a unified republic in Ireland and the ominous presence of English colonization, defy in the way of progression for the Irish people. Yeats writes a poetry (specifically, An Irish Airman Foresees His Death) to open the eyes of the world to the shadow of desolation that covers Ireland analogous an umbrella. Lady Gregorys son is used as a throttle valve to project Yeats imagery of Irelands desperate situati... ...otism is established in a seemingly simple testament to a dead soldier. What better way to honor the dead than to personify Lady Ireland through his character The impatience that Yeats subconsciously in corporates into his poem equals that of his love for Ireland. An Irish Airman Foresees His Death begins on a low and desperate note, but reaches its climax upon Gregory answering Irelands call, and ends by, essentially, posing a question to the reader. As a collective people, which spatial relation of the teeter-totter do we belong? He leaves his hero (Gregory) hanging in the balance of an important national question. The poem may be closely Yeats character foreseeing his death, but the fact remains he is in the act of foreseeing, he is not dead yetand neither is Ireland. Works Cited Townshend, Charles. Ireland The twentieth Century. New York Oxford UP, 1998.