Adams Curse by William Butler Yeats Essay Example

Yeats expresses his high expectations for poetry. He believes that if a line of poetry, which may take hours to write, does not appear as a fleeting thought, then it is worthless. The reader can perceive the speaker's deep affection for poetry in this passage.

The poem captivates readers with the poet's love for poetry and its warm embrace. Unlike complex poems that require effort to decipher, this poem invites interpretation through its vivid imagery. It starts and finishes with a serene scene of a conversation during a summer sunset. Furthermore, the poet creates a mesmerizing picture of the moon rising and the sun setting, coloring the calm sky with a soothing "blue-green" hue. The opening stanza strongly conveys the speaker's profound affection for poetry.

The text presents a conversation between a married couple and their friend, discussing the challenges of life. Initially, the speaker reflects on the difficulties and lack of recognition faced by poetry. Subsequently, the partner's friend contributes to the discussion by highlighting the obstacles associated with physical beauty, emphasizing that it requires diligent effort to attain. Expanding on this notion, Yeats references Adam and Eve's tale in Genesis, asserting that since Adam's fall, all things of beauty necessitate significant exertion. Despite being composed a century ago, this message remains relevant today.

It is evident that the speaker deeply loves and appreciates the individual being addressed. His words not only convey his affection for his partner but also his fervor for poetry. Throughout the poem, he contemplates poetry alongside his beloved and exhibits compassion towards them in its concluding lines.

The speaker expresses that they have experienced a fulfilling and long existence alongside a woman whom

they consider to be genuinely captivating. They possess an extraordinary comprehension and admiration, which is quite rare. The speaker acknowledges their earnest endeavors in loving the woman in a conventional way. In the concluding verse, as the speaker contemplates love, silence descends upon the audience. This perhaps signifies the speaker's emphasis on the unparalleled significance of love, seen as humanity's most remarkable attribute. Comparing the moon to our hearts, the speaker describes it as "worn as if it had been a shell washed by time’s waters".

Although it is evident that he adores his lover and has been content in their relationship, the impact of Adam's fall will eventually make even the bond of love grow weary. In the concluding line, he describes their love as "weary-hearted as that hollow moon". The essence of this poem is that we are all bound by the curse of Adam. Yeats ventures into a profound philosophical concept, presenting it in a beautiful manner. Perhaps, Yeats desired for the reader to simply acknowledge the troubles he discussed, hoping to stimulate their thinking with a fresh perspective. I believe the poem served as a means for Yeats himself to express his own fatigued heart.