Eunuchs ran through Hell and met
On every crowded street to stare
Upon great Juan riding by:
Even like these to rail and sweat
Staring upon his sinewy thigh.
Poem Analysis:
In “On Those that Hated,” William Butler Yeats presents a sharp and ironic reflection on hatred, envy, and the human tendency to condemn what appears powerful, beautiful, or unconventional. Although the poem is very brief, its imagery is striking and its meaning extends beyond the literal scene it describes.
The poem begins with a dramatic midnight setting: “Once, when midnight smote the air.” The verb “smote” gives the opening a violent and almost supernatural quality. Yeats then introduces a crowd of eunuchs who run through Hell and gather to stare at “great Juan riding by.” Juan, traditionally associated with the legendary figure Don Juan, represents vitality, masculinity, freedom, and sensual energy. In contrast, the eunuchs symbolize those who lack or reject these qualities and therefore respond to them with hostility.
The central irony appears in the final lines. The eunuchs “rail and sweat” while staring at Juan’s “sinewy thigh.” Their hatred is mixed with fascination: although they condemn Juan, they cannot stop looking at him. Yeats therefore suggests that hatred may sometimes conceal envy or frustrated desire. The very qualities that provoke criticism can also attract intense attention.
The poem can also be read as a broader comment on society. People who are different, confident, creative, or unusually successful often become targets of criticism from those who feel threatened by them. The exaggerated image of the eunuchs in Hell makes the scene humorous and satirical, while the contrast between the weak spectators and the powerful Juan emphasizes the theme of resentment toward vitality.
Ultimately, “On Those that Hated” is a compact poem about the psychology of hatred. Yeats implies that hostility is not always evidence of superiority; sometimes, it reveals the insecurity of the person who hates. Through vivid imagery, irony, and the symbolic contrast between Juan and the eunuchs, Yeats transforms a strange comic scene into a broader observation about envy, desire, and human behavior.