No Second Troy
By William Butler Yeats
Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,
Had they but courage equal to desire?
What could have made her peaceful with a mindr Yeats – Summary and Line by Line Explanation in Hindi
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?
Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?
Summary
INTRODUCTION –
“No Second Troy” is a famous poem by the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats. It was written in 1916 during the Irish revolution but published later, in 1921 in his collection titled ‘The Green Helmet and Other Poems’. The poem consists of a single stanza of twelve lines. The rhyme scheme followed in the poem is ABABCDCDEFEF. It is addressed to the beautiful Maud Gone, an Irish revolutionist whom Yeats loved but who rejected his proposals of marriage. Instead, Maud Gone married John MacBride in 1903. Although this marriage resulted in a separation, two years later, it left Yeats in great distress. Hence, in this poem, Yeats has shown his anger and frustration towards her by her comparing her to the Helen of Troy.
Helen is a legendary character from Homer’s Iliad. Like Maud Gonne, Helen was considered one of the most beautiful women of her age. She was also partly responsible for starting the Trojan War, which eventually led to the burning of the great city of Troy at the end of the ten-year war. Many legends paint her as a romantic who left her husband Menelaus for the beautiful but cowardly Trojan Prince Paris. With this comparison to Helen, Yeats is accusing Maud Gonne of being partially responsible for the violence in revolutionary Ireland, just like Helen was partially responsible for the Trojan War. Hence, Maud Gone is portrayed similar to Helen in his poems as she too broke Yeats’s heart for someone else.
POET –
William Butler Yeats (13 June 1865 – 28 January 1939) was an Irish poet and an important literary figure in the 20th century. Further, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923 for his great contribution to literature. A renowned poet, Yeats works include famous poems like Byzantium, Sailing to Byzantium, A Prayer for My Daughter, etc.
SUMMARY –
In the very first line of the poem, Yeats begins with a rhetorical question saying that he should not blame her (Maud Gonne) for filling his life with misery. The answer to this is implied in the question itself. The poet is unhappy that Maud Gonne has not responded to his love but he doesn’t blame her for his pain of rejection. He continues further by saying that he should also not blame her for teaching innocent Irish people the rebellious and intense methods to get freedom for their country. He addresses the ignorant men as “little streets” symbolizing that these men belong to the poor class of the society. Maud Gone is encouraging these poor people to fight the ‘great’ i.e. the British rulers, which is futile. It is to be noted here that she is not training the rich or high-class men but those who are low-class and can be easily moved. Yeats even questions these men as they have the desire to achieve their freedom but are still under the dominance of a woman refusing to question her and her ideas.
Next, Yeats analyses Maud Gone’s thoughts, intelligence, beauty, and motives. There is no doubt that she is a very powerful and authoritative woman but the poet views her as a symbol of destruction. Her beauty is said to be like a tightened bow ready to strike. Her mind is made simple as a fire of nobleness, which presents a contrast in itself as simple is not used to describe fire. Further, it is incredible to possess a beauty like her at such an age. Beauty fades away with time but Maud Gone seems to remain unaffected by it. She can be described as distinguished, solitary, and most stern. She belongs to another age. Lastly, the poet concludes that because there was no “second Troy” for her to destroy, she had to destroy other things – like the speaker’s happiness, and the lives of Irish commoners.
THEMES –
Love – The poem follows the emotions and feelings of a heartbroken lover. Yeats loved Maud Gone and worked with her for a long time. He wished to marry and have a life with her but she rejected his proposals. The poem opens on a sad note describing how her refusal filled him with misery.
Violence and revolution – The poem is written around the period of the Irish Revolution. There was an increase in the spirit of patriotism during that interval. But the ways to achieve it turned more damaging. With time, it turned violent killing many common men. It was even more painful because the people most affected and killed were poor men and not the rich class.
END –
“No Second Troy” expresses that moment in a disturbing love affair when the unanswered lover, fed up with all the hoaxes and shenanigans that have been raging beneath the surface, finally empties all his emotions in a fit of pitiless honesty. Yeats’s love for Gonne and his love for his country conflict dramatically, pulling him this way and that. In the end, his love of Ireland and nonviolence win the day, and he comes close to rebuking Gonne through the ruinous comparison to Helen of Troy.
Analysis of “No Second Troy”
Theme of Unrequited Love and Admiration
Yeats deeply loved Maud Gonne, but she did not reciprocate his love. Despite this, he admires her beauty and strength, showing a mix of admiration and regret.
Comparison to Helen of Troy
The poem draws a parallel between Maud Gonne and Helen of Troy. Just as Helen’s beauty led to the destruction of Troy, Yeats suggests that Maud Gonne’s revolutionary spirit could have caused a similar downfall if she had lived in a different time.
The Political Context
Maud Gonne was an active nationalist, fighting for Irish independence. Yeats questions whether her extreme revolutionary zeal was necessary, but he also acknowledges her as an extraordinary figure.
Philosophical Reflection
The poet wonders if Gonne’s passion and intensity were inevitable, as if she were born with a fate beyond human control. The poem suggests that her actions are not to be judged by ordinary moral standards.
Structure and Style
The poem is written in a single stanza of rhetorical questions, emphasizing Yeats’ contemplation and frustration. It uses simple but powerful language, blending personal emotion with historical and mythological references.
Question-Answer
1. What is the main idea of “No Second Troy”?
The poem reflects W. B. Yeats’ admiration and frustration towards Maud Gonne. He compares her to Helen of Troy, suggesting that her beauty and revolutionary spirit could have caused a grand historical conflict if she had lived in a different era.
2. Who is the poem addressed to?
The poem is addressed to Maud Gonne, the Irish nationalist and activist whom Yeats loved but who did not return his love.
3. Why does Yeats compare Maud Gonne to Helen of Troy?
Yeats compares Maud Gonne to Helen of Troy to emphasize her beauty and her potential for destruction. Just as Helen’s beauty led to the Trojan War, Gonne’s fiery nature and revolutionary zeal could have led to great turmoil. However, Ireland is not as grand as ancient Troy, so no such war occurs.
4. What is the tone of the poem?
The tone is a mix of admiration, frustration, and philosophical contemplation. Yeats both praises Maud Gonne for her extraordinary qualities and questions the necessity of her extreme revolutionary actions.
5. What does the title “No Second Troy” mean?
The title suggests that there is no place or event in modern history (such as the Trojan War) worthy of Maud Gonne’s passionate and destructive energy. Unlike Helen, who played a role in a great historical event, Gonne’s passion seems wasted in a less grand era.
6. How does Yeats portray Maud Gonne in the poem?
Yeats portrays Maud Gonne as a powerful, almost mythical figure. He admires her beauty, strength, and intelligence but also questions whether her extreme revolutionary fervor was necessary. He sees her as someone beyond ordinary moral judgment.
7. What literary devices does Yeats use in the poem?
Rhetorical Questions: The poem is structured as a series of rhetorical questions, emphasizing Yeats’ contemplation.
Imagery: Descriptions of beauty and revolution create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.
Historical and Mythological Allusions: References to Troy and Helen give the poem a grand, timeless quality.
Contrast: Yeats contrasts Maud Gonne’s grandeur with the unworthiness of modern Ireland to highlight her tragic uniqueness.