Anti-Brain-Eating Amoeba Drug

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English 1020
29 January 2013
THE SECOND COMING
A sense of loss is depicted from the work of Yeats in The Second Coming. She uses specific terminology to represent and end to something with an uncertainty of what the future may hold. It is interesting to note that Yeats makes references to the bible and the end of the world as a twister that only widens and does not cease, which cause things to fall apart. The poem does not describe the end of the world as volcanoes erupting, fires gone wild or flooding waters that fill the Earth, instead it speaks of “anarchy is loosed to the world” (Yeats, 544) and “the ceremony of innocence is drowned”(Yeats, 544). Anarchy is disorder due to the lack of authority. In this world, only people or humans have the capability of authority and innocence. It is as if he has a sense of doom spreading throughout the world that is not necessarily the end of the world, but something more personal.
In the bible the second coming is portrayed as a savior or a disciple who comes to save the innocent. Yeats describes this second coming as a figure with the “head of a man,” a lion’s body, and a blank gaze insinuating an unawareness of what is happening or what has happened (Yeats, 544). Yeats does not represent the second coming with a full figured human, yet represents him as half animal, which can be construed as a being that has no feeling or emotions but has an ability to think and speak. The author describes the expression of the figure as “pitiless”(Yeats, 544) indicating its outlook on us or our fate, which aligns with the darkness that follows. This figure rises and continues on its movement but slowly, and then “darkness drops again”(Yeats, 544). To explain further, the dropping of darkness can insinuate that after the second coming, this figure, or society has made the same errors again leading to darkness or a decline in its state of being. This can be supported by the fact that the figure wandered slowly and not quickly as one who is confident.
The terminology alone describes a sense of negativity. Such words and phrases used are “things fall apart,” “blood-dimmed,”(Yeats, 544) “troubles my sight,”(Yeats, 544) “darkness drops again,”(Yeats, 544) and “nightmare”(Yeats, 544). These all imply a negative connotation and sense of loss or pessimism. These are no words or phrases of joy or optimism, nor do they imply faith in the possibility of something good happening in the future.
Sometimes optimism can be had when there are people who have the courage to speak up or fight for what is right. In one of Yeats’ lines she sates “the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity”(Yeats, 544). In my opinion, this is meant to state that while there are good people who in a different place and time may have stood up and fought for justice, the author feels that here they are not. In this poem, it is the worst people that have the energy and passion to fight, not necessarily for what is correct.
In conclusion, Yeats has no optimism for the future. The words in the poem depict a civilization that will not stand up for itself and has very little chance for a positive outcome. There is a darkness and lack of enlightenment in this poem which signifies a loss in the ability to hope. Sources: Yeats, William B. “The Second Coming.” Literature: A Portable Anthology. Gardner, Lawn, Ridl, & Schakel. 2009. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. 544. Print.