Easter, 1916 — Main Theme/Central Meaning
Even though a committed nationalist, Yeats usually rejected violence as a means to secure Irish independence, and as a result had strained relations with some of the figures who eventually led the uprising. The sudden and abrupt execution of the leaders of the revolutionaries, however, was as much a shock to Yeats as it was to ordinary Irish people at the time, who did not expect the events to take such a bad turn so soon. Yeats was working through his feelings about the revolutionary movement in this poem, and the insistent refrain that "a terrible beauty is born" turned out to be prescient, as the execution of the leaders of the Easter Rising had the opposite effect to that intended. Although the uprising was unsuccessful, and most of the Irish republican leaders involved were executed for treason, the event brought up an immense change in the history of Ireland and its people.
Yeats’s “Easter, 1916 ” is a profoundly ambiguous poem which strongly states that Ireland and the Irish people have been utterly changed. Yeats, in this poem, describes his emotions and attitudes regarding the events of the ‘Easter Rising’ staged in Ireland against British rule on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916. Yeats celebrates the memory of the general individuals who blindly sacrifices their lives in the ‘Easter Rebellion’ despite the fact that they would certainly be defeated by the English Government. Yeats, as a tribute to the martyrs, immortalizes them in his poetry by mentioning their names for their ability to transform themselves and the history of Ireland.
Yeats, at first, doubts the patriots and their plans as he could not feel the serious commitment of patriotism in them. To him their cause was trivial and they just acted as revolutionaries. But after the revolution of Easter 1916 “A terrible beauty is born”. The beauty has been achieved at the cost of the lives of the great martyrs. Their sacrifice was doubted initially posing a question – was it necessary? But later due to their sacrifice an utterly beautiful change is seen and felt in Ireland. The people of Ireland have been united for a great cause of national liberation. Through the event of Easter and the sacrifice of the general people to the national freedom, the lives of other people were greatly affected and changed. Through the revolution against the established ruling class, the speaker asserts that the people of Ireland have claimed for their independence and identity.
Yeats mentions the names of the martyrs who are really insignificant in normal lives to suggest that all the Irishmen have the potentiality and responsibility to evoke changes. The poet deliberately illustrates the imperfections and human nature of the martyrs so as to motivate the citizen stating that any heroic deeds are possible even for the average citizens if they passionately pursue change and justice. He demands for the need of the individuals to take active part in change and revolution for the sake of Irish identity for which many people sacrificed their lives.
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