Blood and the Moon (Poem by William Butler Yeats)

Blood and the Moon (1)

By William Butler Yeats

Blessed be this place,

More blessed still this tower;

A bloody, arrogant power

Rose out of the race

Uttering, mastering it,

Rose like these walls from these

Storm-beaten cottages —

In mockery I have set

A powerful emblem up,

And sing it rhyme upon rhyme

In mockery of a time

Half dead at the top.

Blood and the Moon (2)

Alexandria’s was a beacon tower, and Babylon’s

An image of the moving heavens, a log-book of the sun’s journey and the moon’s;

And Shelley had his towers, thought’s crowned powers he called them once.

I declare this tower is my symbol; I declare

This winding, gyring, spiring treadmill of a stair is my ancestral stair;

That Goldsmith and the Dean, Berkeley and Burke have travelled there.

Swift beating on his breast in sibylline frenzy blind

Because the heart in his blood-sodden breast had dragged him down into mankind,

Goldsmith deliberately sipping at the honey-pot of his mind,

And haughtier-headed Burke that proved the State a tree,

That this unconquerable labyrinth of the birds, century after century,

Cast but dead leaves to mathematical equality;

And God-appointed Berkeley that proved all things a dream,

That this pragmatical, preposterous pig of a world, its farrow that so solid seem,

Must vanish on the instant if the mind but change its theme;

Saeva Indignatio and the labourer’s hire,

The strength that gives our blood and state magnanimity of its own desire;

Everything that is not God consumed with intellectual fire.

Blood and the Moon (3)

The purity of the unclouded moon

Has flung its atrowy shaft upon the floor.

Seven centuries have passed and it is pure,

The blood of innocence has left no stain.

There, on blood-saturated ground, have stood

Soldier, assassin, executioner.

Whether for daily pittance or in blind fear

Or out of abstract hatred, and shed blood,

But could not cast a single jet thereon.

Odour of blood on the ancestral stair!

And we that have shed none must gather there

And clamour in drunken frenzy for the moon.

Blood and the Moon (4)

Upon the dusty, glittering windows cling,

And seem to cling upon the moonlit skies,

Tortoiseshell butterflies, peacock butterflies,

A couple of night-moths are on the wing.

Is every modern nation like the tower,

Half dead at the top? No matter what I said,

For wisdom is the property of the dead,

A something incompatible with life; and power,

Like everything that has the stain of blood,

A property of the living; but no stain

Can come upon the visage of the moon

When it has looked in glory from a cloud.

Poem Analysis:

"Blood and the Moon" by William Butler Yeats is a complex and multi-layered poem that delves into themes of power, history, symbolism, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Through rich imagery and evocative language, Yeats explores the interplay between human history, violence, and the eternal presence of the moon.

Symbolism of the Tower: The poem begins with the speaker blessing a tower, which symbolizes human ambition, power, and the cyclical nature of history. The tower is described as rising from storm-beaten cottages, suggesting the ascent of civilization from humble beginnings. Yeats contrasts the tower's symbolic power with the mockery of a time that is "Half dead at the top," hinting at the decline of human values and ideals.

Historical and Literary References: Yeats references historical and literary figures such as Swift, Goldsmith, Berkeley, and Burke, who are associated with the tower. These figures represent different aspects of human endeavor, intellect, and ambition. Swift's "sibylline frenzy blind" reflects the struggle of the intellect against the limitations of human nature, while Goldsmith and Burke symbolize the pursuit of knowledge and power.

The Moon as a Symbol: Throughout the poem, the moon serves as a powerful symbol of purity, transcendence, and eternal renewal. Despite the bloodshed and violence that have occurred on earth, the moon remains pure and unblemished. Its light illuminates the darkness and offers a sense of hope and redemption amidst the chaos of human history.

Themes of Violence and Redemption: The poem explores the theme of violence and its consequences on human history. The "blood-saturated ground" serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed by humanity over the centuries. Despite the darkness and despair, there is a sense of redemption and transcendence symbolized by the unclouded purity of the moon.

The Cyclical Nature of Life: Yeats emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and history, as symbolized by the moon's eternal journey across the sky. The poem suggests that while human endeavors may rise and fall, the purity and transcendence of the moon endure. The tortoiseshell butterflies, peacock butterflies, and night-moths represent the transient beauty and fragility of life, echoing the larger themes of impermanence and renewal.

In conclusion, "Blood and the Moon" is a profound exploration of human history, power, and the enduring purity of the natural world. Through its rich imagery and layered symbolism, the poem invites readers to contemplate the complexities of human existence and the eternal mysteries of the cosmos.