W.B. Yeats, a towering figure of modernist poetry, stands apart from his contemporaries through his intricate system of occult symbols. While other modernists embraced ambiguity by presenting fragmented images, Yeats imbued his poetry with specific, albeit hidden, meanings rooted in his esoteric beliefs. This exploration delves into the heart of Yeats’s occult symbolism, focusing on his masterpiece “Byzantium,” to unravel the complex tapestry of meaning woven within its verses.
Contents
The Occult World of Yeats
To understand Yeats’s poetry, we must first grasp the nature of the occult as he perceived it. Occultism, for Yeats, was not mere mystery; it was a path to salvational knowledge (gnosis), a hidden realm of truth accessible only to a select few through specific symbols. This concept of privileged knowledge is crucial to interpreting his work. Yeats’s deep involvement with occult organizations, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and his association with figures like Aleister Crowley, profoundly shaped his symbolic language.
Yeats’s Symbolic System
Yeats developed a unique symbolic system drawing from various esoteric traditions. Central to this system are the phases of the moon, representing the states of the human mind and historical cycles, forming a “Great Wheel” that culminates in apocalyptic transformation. Within this wheel spin smaller “gyres,” representing the interplay of subjective and objective consciousness, a constant dance of opposing forces.
Other recurring symbols in Yeats’s work include the mask, representing the creative form of the spirit, and the shadow, embodying the duality of knowledge – both a gateway and a barrier to deeper understanding. These symbols, imbued with personal psychological meanings, form the foundation upon which Yeats builds his poetic universe.
“Byzantium”: A City of Symbols
“Byzantium,” a late-period masterpiece, showcases Yeats’s mature symbolic style. The poem opens with the image of a dome, “starlit or moonlit,” immediately establishing the central ambiguity. This dome, potentially representing the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (“Holy Wisdom”), becomes a symbol of eternity, disdainful of the “fury and the mire of human veins.” The ambiguity of the light source – star or moon – connects to Yeats’s lunar phases, suggesting either the beginning or the culmination of a cycle.
The second stanza introduces the image of “Hades’ bobbin,” unwinding the “winding path,” a clear reference to Yeats’s gyres. The interplay of life and death, “death-in-life and life-in-death,” becomes the “superhuman,” the eternal cycle of existence transcending individual mortality.
The golden bird on the “starlit golden bough” acts as a symbolic intermediary between the mortal and spiritual realms, echoing the journey to the underworld in The Aeneid. This bird, a symbol for symbols themselves, unites the “complexities of mire and blood” with the transcendent.
The fourth stanza presents a vision of spiritual fire, “flames begotten of flame,” purifying the “blood-begotten spirits” and expelling the “complexities of fury.” The final stanza introduces the “golden smithies of the Emperor,” dividing the mortal and spiritual realms, while the “Marbles of the dancing floor” break the “bitter furies of complexity.” The poem concludes with the shattering of these opposing forces, a reset of the natural order, preparing for a new cycle.
The Purpose of Obscurity
Yeats’s use of obscure symbolism was not merely aesthetic; it was a deliberate act of concealment. He crafted a private language accessible only to those initiated into his occult worldview. This intentional obscurity sets him apart from other modernists. While their ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations, Yeats’s symbols possess fixed, albeit hidden, meanings, creating a poetic universe governed by his own esoteric rules.
Poetry as a Secret Language
Yeats’s poetry, particularly “Byzantium,” functions as a secret language. The poem’s power lies not in its accessibility, but in its layered meanings, revealed only through a deep understanding of Yeats’s occult system. This approach challenges the traditional notion of poetry as a vehicle for universal truth, presenting instead a highly personalized and esoteric vision.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Hidden Meanings
Yeats’s occult symbolism presents a unique challenge to readers. While his intricate system can be daunting, the rewards for those who delve into its mysteries are immense. “Byzantium,” with its intricate tapestry of symbols, stands as a testament to Yeats’s powerful and enigmatic vision, a reminder that poetry can be a journey into hidden realms of meaning.
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold. Yeats. Oxford University Press, 1970.
Frazer, James. The Golden Bough. (1890 edition). Canongate Books, Ltd., 2010.
Guénon, René. Theosophy: The History of a Pseudo-Religion. Tr. Alvin Moore, Jr.; Cecil Bethell; Hubert and Rohini Schiff. Sophia Perennis, 2004.
Hanegraaff, Wouter J. Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed. Bloomsbury, 2013.
Rogers, Matthew D. “Frenzies of the Beast: The Phaedran Furores in the Rites and Writings of Aleister Crowley.” Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism. Ed. Henrik Bogdan, Martin P. Starr. Oxford University Press, 2012. pp. 209-226.
Serra, C. Nicholas. “Esotericism and Escape.” W.B. Yeats’s “A Vision”: Explications and Contexts. Ed. Neil Mann, Matthew Gibson & Claire Nally. Clemson University Digital Press, 2012. pp. 307-328.
Yeats, William Butler. The Autobiography of William Butler Yeats. The Macmillan Company, 1944.
—. “Magic.” Ideas of Good and Evil. A.H. Bullen, 1903. pp. 29-69.