“No Second Troy” by W.B. Yeats: A Critical Analysis

Why should I blame her that she filled my days

With misery, or that she would of late

Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,

Or hurled the little streets upon the great,

Had they but courage equal to desire?

What could have made her peaceful with a mind

That nobleness made simple as a fire,

With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind

That is not natural in an age like this,

Being high and solitary and most stern?

Why, what could she have done, being what she is?

Was there another Troy for her to burn?

1. The Intersection of Love and Suffering

Yeats explores the bittersweet nature of love, where admiration and emotional pain coexist. The speaker reflects on his unrequited love for Maud Gonne, questioning, “Why should I blame her that she filled my days / With misery?” This rhetorical question underscores his inability to detach himself from the emotional turmoil she causes. While acknowledging the suffering she has brought into his life, he also portrays her as a larger-than-life figure, whose beauty and nobility are almost transcendent. The interplay of love and suffering is central to the poem, as Yeats struggles to reconcile his deep affection for Gonne with the anguish her actions and ideals cause him.

2. Beauty as Power and Destruction

The poem highlights the dual nature of beauty as both a source of admiration and a catalyst for chaos. Gonne’s beauty is likened to “a tightened bow,” a metaphor suggesting not only her physical allure but also her potential to unleash destruction. Her beauty is further described as “not natural in an age like this,” emphasizing its exceptional and almost mythical quality. The allusion to Helen of Troy reinforces this theme, as her legendary beauty led to the destruction of an entire city. Similarly, Gonne’s beauty is seen as an irresistible force that incites political and emotional upheaval, aligning her with the archetype of a femme fatale in myth and history.

3. The Inevitability of Conflict

The poem delves into the inevitability of conflict when extraordinary individuals challenge societal norms. Yeats portrays Gonne as a revolutionary figure, inspiring “ignorant men [to] most violent ways” and stirring rebellion by metaphorically “hurling the little streets upon the great.” This imagery of uprising and unrest reflects Yeats’s perspective on her role in Ireland’s nationalist struggles. Yet, he acknowledges that her nature makes such actions unavoidable: “What could she have done, being what she is?” This rhetorical question conveys the speaker’s resigned acceptance that Gonne’s innate qualities destined her for a life of conflict, much like Helen of Troy’s role in history.

4. Heroism and Isolation

The theme of heroism is tied to Gonne’s solitary and uncompromising nature. Yeats describes her as “high and solitary and most stern,” portraying her as a figure removed from the ordinary, embodying traits that make her heroic but also alienating. Her unwavering dedication to her ideals and her refusal to conform to societal expectations set her apart as a solitary figure, much like a tragic hero. However, her sternness and isolation underscore the cost of her heroic nature, as she remains disconnected from the people she inspires. This duality reflects Yeats’s admiration for her courage and the loneliness it entails.

1. How does Yeats portray Maud Gonne’s character in the poem?

Yeats portrays Maud Gonne as an extraordinary figure, both admired and critiqued for her beauty, nobility, and revolutionary zeal. Through the lines “What could have made her peaceful with a mind / That nobleness made simple as a fire,” Yeats emphasizes her innate nobility, which he likens to fire—a force that is pure yet potentially destructive. Her beauty is described as “like a tightened bow,” symbolizing both tension and latent power, while her actions, such as inspiring “ignorant men [to] most violent ways,” reflect her influence on Ireland’s nationalist struggles. However, Yeats’s rhetorical questions, such as “Why should I blame her…?” and “What could she have done, being what she is?” suggest that her passionate and unyielding nature made her actions inevitable. Gonne emerges as a tragic and heroic figure, celebrated for her ideals yet held accountable for the chaos they provoke.

2. What role does myth play in the poem, and why is the allusion to Troy significant?

Myth plays a central role in “No Second Troy,” as Yeats draws a parallel between Maud Gonne and Helen of Troy. The final line, “Was there another Troy for her to burn?” directly references Helen, suggesting that Gonne’s beauty and passions are similarly fated to cause turmoil. This allusion elevates Gonne from a personal muse to a mythological archetype, framing her as a figure whose extraordinary qualities transcend ordinary human experience. Troy, a symbol of epic conflict and destruction, mirrors the revolutionary strife Gonne inspired in Ireland. The poem questions whether her actions, like Helen’s, were preordained by her character and circumstances, underscoring the inevitability of tragic consequences tied to great beauty and ambition.

3. How does Yeats explore the relationship between individual passion and societal conflict?

The poem examines how individual passion, when coupled with strong ideals, can incite societal unrest. Maud Gonne’s revolutionary fervor is depicted as inspiring violence and rebellion, as seen in the lines “Or hurled the little streets upon the great.” This metaphor suggests her role in mobilizing the masses against the ruling powers. Yeats critiques this dynamic by questioning the readiness of the people she influences: “Had they but courage equal to desire?” Here, he implies a disconnect between ambition and capability among her followers. Yet, he does not entirely condemn her actions, acknowledging that her character made such outcomes inevitable. By juxtaposing personal passion with its societal repercussions, Yeats presents a nuanced perspective on the cost of idealism.

4. What does the poem reveal about Yeats’s feelings toward modernity?

Yeats’s portrayal of Maud Gonne reflects his discontent with the modern era’s lack of heroism and grandeur. He describes her beauty as “not natural in an age like this,” suggesting that her qualities belong to a bygone era of epic ideals. Her “high and solitary and most stern” demeanor contrasts sharply with the mediocrity and conformity Yeats perceives in his contemporary world. By aligning her with Helen of Troy and framing her actions in mythological terms, Yeats elevates her beyond the ordinary, lamenting that such heroism and passion are rare in modernity. The poem implicitly critiques the loss of nobility and the inability of the modern age to produce or appreciate figures like Gonne, revealing Yeats’s yearning for a return to a more idealized past.