"By the dark webs, her napes caught his bill"
Yeats' poem 'Leda and the Swan' was supposedly written in 1923 during the period of Irish Civil War although it was published in 1928, it was a time of confusion and division in Ireland. 'Leda and the Swan' symbolises the conflicting relationship between Ireland and Britain during the early 20th century, this conflict is shown through Yeats' use of violence and godly image through the swan and the loss of innocence through Leda. 'Leda and the Swan' is based off Greek mythology when Zeus disguises himself as a swan and rapes Leda, resulting in the birth of two demi-gods, Helen and Pollux and two mortal children, Castor and Clytemnestra. The swan also metaphorically represents the power of Britain while Leda represents the vulnerability of Ireland.
Throughout the entire poem Yeats conveys this image of godly power and imagery through the act of rape carried out by the swan. The "great wings" of the swan describe the sheer size creating this image of immense strength which overpowers Leda. This line could also suggest that this swan is larger than average size, this depicts the image of godly power because Zeus is a more impressive and powerful being than a human. This imagery of godly power is further portrayed when the swan is described as a "feathered glory", this shows the swan as a majestic and glorified creature, however the act in which the swan partakes is far from glorious because it is sinful. This godly image perceived by the swan is further depicted when Leda takes on his "knowledge with his power" which shows the swan as omniscient, much like that of a god, this quote also shows how Leda has accepted the fact that she is unable to do anything in this situation as he is a god who is much more powerful than herself. This godly imagery is also presented in 'The Cold Heaven' where Yeats describes his heartbroken feelings as "injustice of the skies", showing that, like Leda, what has happened is at fault of the gods and not themselves. Yeats metaphorically uses the swan to symbolise the immense power of Britain and its exploitation and control over Ireland- which is shown through the rape. Yeats also relates the poem to Greek mythology of the relationship between Zeus and Leda which was one of power and control. Yeats uses this godly imagery of power and control to make the reader fearful of Zeus through his dominance of Leda. This use of godly imagery allows the swan to use violence and destruction to control and force Leda into submission.
The octave of the poem shows the struggle and violence of the joining of the swan and Leda through the rape and the control the swan possesses. Yeats continuously uses the theme of violence throughout the poem through the act of the swan. The caesura of "blow" emphasises the impact and surprise felt by Leda, that is reiterated by the use of "sudden" which shows that the presence of the swan was unexpected and forceful as it knocks Leda down. This shock that Leda experiences is further shown when she is "staggering" which shows the force that the swan hit Leda with as it was able to knock her off balance, showing the swan as immensely strong. This image of violence is further shown when the swan "holds her helpless breast upon his breast" which shows that the strength of the swan has left Leda unable to do anything and vulnerable to the violence and strength of the swan. Yeats' use of alliteration in "brute blood" shows how merciless and destructive the swan is in its brutal nature and approach to Leda, the swan has "mastered" this act of violence which shows the power of the swan. The swan installs many feelings in a "terrified" Leda which shows that the violence inflicted by the swan has rendered Leda helpless and in complete fear. Similar feelings are also shown in the poem 'The Cold Heaven' where Yeats describes said that he "cried and trembled". In the sestet of the poem, Leda "being so caught up" has been left helpless and vulnerable by the swan after its violent attacks, the line itself is isolated which could depict how the control of the swan has left Leda feeling and that is too late for her to do anything now, the isolation of the line could also suggest that Leda is showing acceptance that she can't do anything, which is why it is in the sestet of the poem as she as overcome the violence of the swan and the struggle and is accepting what is happening to her. The last line "before the indifferent beak could let her drop?" shows the uncaring and brutal nature of swan as it has become "indifferent" as to say that it has got what is wanted and that Leda is of no use or importance anymore. This line also shows the release of Ireland from Britain as an independent country. The words "indifferent beak" shows that it was destined to be chaotic and violent. Therefore ‘Leda and the Swan’ can be seen simply as England’s ‘rape’ of Ireland. This violence displayed by the swan towards Leda makes the reader sympathise for Leda under the circumstances but also extremely fearful of the brute violence of the swan. The brutality and the ferocity of the swan forces the loss of innocence and entrapment upon Leda through his violent act of rape.
Yeats consistently uses Leda's loss of innocence and entrapment to show the control that the swan obtains over her. Leda's loss of innocence leaves her vulnerable and susceptible to the swan's attacks. "The broken wall, the burning roof and tower" symbolises the breaking of the hymen when the swan rapes her, it also symbolises the Trojan War in Greek mythology when Helen was captured by the Trojans, the war lasted ten years. "Broken" and "burning" show the destruction and corruption that the swan has caused Leda and well has her loss of purity and innocence through the sinful act. A similar situation can be found in 'The Stolen Child" when the child's loss of innocence is shown through the "reddest stolen cherries" which has connotations of rape and corruption like 'Leda and the Swan'. The entrapment of Leda is shown when the swan traps her "by the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill". "Dark webs" has connotations of danger and evil showing that Leda is trapped and can't escape from the swan. "Caught" tells us how Leda is trapped but also shows the immense strength of swan as he has caught her with his beak rendering her helpless and vulnerable. Leda's loss of innocence and entrapment is symbolic of the conflicting relationship between Britain and Ireland when it was part of United Kingdom and was being exploited through Britain with potato farming. Leda's vulnerability through her loss of virginity and entrapment makes the reader continue to feel sympathetic towards her as it was acted out through force in which she could not stop from happening because she was weaker than the swan.
In conclusion, control is continuously depicted throughout 'Leda and the Swan' through the violence inflicted upon Leda and the sinful act of rape, the loss of innocence and entrapment forced upon Leda through the brute strength of the swan, and the godly imagery and power depicted through the swan who is Zeus. Leda is left powerless, corrupted and vulnerable at the end of the poem but accepts that what has happened to her was out of her control. Therefore control is represented through the lack of it that Leda has and the large amount that the swan obtains over her.
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