A terrible beauty is born (l. 16)

In William Butler Yeats’ poem “Easter, 1916,” he explores the loss of the Irish Republic, trying to determine his own feelings about the results of this rebellion. This is a deeply conflicted poem, and shows Yeats deep sense of dual identity between that of his Irish heritage and growing up in Dublin and his life in London. Several lines highlight the intense discord of the speaker, which feel to have a great deal of Yeats the writer, the man bleeding through. One line in referencing the leaders of the rebellion speaks of a woman, stating, “That woman’s days were spent/ In ignorant good-will” (ll. 17-18) There is revealed a knowledge of the women and her life and actions, and admiration for her “goodwill” but yet there is a note of censure, for her will is but “ignorant.” Its almost as if the speaker feels the Rebellion lacked the forethought and preparation necessary for true victory. The woman’s heart was in the right place but she let blind patriotism to the Irish cause lead her to her ultimate downfall. A particularly powerful line that speaks of the dualism of ideas represented not only in the speaker but his interpretation of the Irish cause is, “Too long a sacrifice/ Can make a stone of the heart” (ll. 57-58). The speaker has been inspired by these people and their bravery but he only recognizes and coldness that has developed, a prejudice and hatred the colors the heart of this movement. There is no approval of the loss of life and violence involved in this Rebellion. Finally, in a line that seems to question the very idea of trying and rebellion, the speaker asks, “Was it needless death after all?” (l. 67). This voice holds a belief in the regeneration of the Irish identity, a desire and hope that the tragedy and turmoil of a people was not needless, that the sacrifices that have made a “stone of the heart” were not in vain. However there is also a desperate realization of the blatant wasteful loss that resulted, freedom was not reached, defeat was the outcome. The speaker questions the sacrifice and searches for some meaning, conflicted and broken over the events of Easter in 1916.