The Second Coming

📜 Overview of the Poem

Poet: W. B. Yeats
Written: 1919, after World War I
Themes: Chaos, change, destruction, rebirth
Tone: Dark, mysterious, prophetic
Meaning: The world is falling apart, and something strange and powerful is about to take its place.

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre”
The world is spinning out of control – nothing is stable anymore.
“The falcon cannot hear the falconer;”
A trained bird (falcon) flies too far and can't hear its master – symbol of loss of control.
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;”
Everything is breaking down – even the core of society or life can't stay together.
“Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,”
Chaos is spreading everywhere like a flood.
“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere”
The world is covered in violence – a wave of blood and destruction.
“The ceremony of innocence is drowned;”
Goodness and innocence are disappearing in this storm.
“The best lack all conviction, while the worst”
Good people are silent and confused.
“Are full of passionate intensity.”
Bad people are loud, angry, and causing more trouble.

“Surely some revelation is at hand;”
Something big and mysterious is about to happen.
“Surely the Second Coming is at hand.”
Refers to the Christian belief that Jesus will return to fix the world.
“The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out”
He starts to say it, but...
“When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi”
A huge image from the world’s collective spirit or mind appears instead.
“Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert”
In a desert, he sees something terrifying.
“A shape with lion body and the head of a man,”
A beast — part lion, part man — appears.
“A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,”
Its eyes are cold and merciless.
“Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it”
It walks slowly, heavily – powerful and unstoppable.
“Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.”
Angry birds circle it, afraid or disturbed by its presence.

“The darkness drops again but now I know”
Darkness returns, but the poet has understood something important.
“That twenty centuries of stony sleep”
The world (or Christ's teachings) has been asleep for 2,000 years.
“Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,”
Something has awakened – rocked like a cradle but it brings nightmares, not peace.
“And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,”
A terrifying creature’s time has come.
“Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”
It’s slowly moving to Bethlehem (where Jesus was born) – but this is no savior, it’s a dark, frightening new power.

Loss of Order – The world is no longer balanced; rules and morals are falling apart.
Global Change – A new, strange era is coming, possibly violent or evil.
Religious Imagery – It starts with the idea of Jesus returning, but instead we see a beast.
Symbol of the Beast – The “rough beast” could represent war, destruction, or a dark new age.

Symbolism:
- Falcon & falconer = lost control.
- Beast = chaos, anti-Christ, or new world order.
Allusion:
- Christian Second Coming, but twisted.
Imagery:
- Vivid pictures of destruction, deserts, and beasts.
Paradox:
- The savior that comes is actually terrifying.