Wednesday, 6 February 2013

How Yeats shows violence in Leda and the Swan


In Leda and the Swan, Yeats retells the classic Greek myth of the rape of Leda by Zeus in the form of a swan. Yeats shows violence through the use of language and the description of the Swan having "great wings beating still" creates an imagery of somebody being attacked in some form. The word "beating" and “staggering” makes the action seem repetitive which means it must be causing more damage or pain. Also the reader is aware that wings are “beating”, however do not know who the wings belong to. Yeats also uses sexual connotations such as the 'broken wall' which represents the females hymen, being "broken", this explains Leda's experience of being involved in a sexual activity, however in this case it is rape. The description of the “dark” webs also creates a sense of fear, mystery and uncertainty around the Swan. A feminist critic describes the poem as ‘troublesome and potentially repugnant some readers.” I certainly agree with this critic, especially due to the fact I personally believe the poem has glorified the idea of rape which I think is morally utterly wrong! 

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