W.B. Yeats’ System of Mythology: The Great Wheel of Historical Cycles

ellipsis essays

William Butler Yeats, one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature, developed a complex and fascinating system of mythology that profoundly influenced his later poetry and philosophical thought. This intricate system, primarily outlined in his work “A Vision” (1925, revised 1937), represents a unique fusion of historical cycles, mysticism, and metaphysical speculation. The system emerged from automatic writing sessions conducted with his wife, Georgie Hyde-Lees, shortly after their marriage in 1917. During these sessions, supposed spirit “communicators” revealed a complex philosophical system that would become the foundation of his mythological understanding. While the origin might seem unconventional for a serious philosophical framework, Yeats spent over a decade refining and systematizing these revelations into a coherent worldview.

The Great Wheel and Historical Cycles

At the heart of Yeats’ mythology lies the concept of the Great Wheel, a cyclical understanding of history and human consciousness. This system divides historical progression into twenty-eight phases of the moon, with each phase representing a different type of personality and historical moment, symbolized by the moon’s monthly cycle. Complementing this lunar symbolism are two interpenetrating gyres – cone-shaped spirals representing opposing forces in history and human consciousness, continuously expanding and contracting in relation to each other.

The System of Opposites

Within this system, Yeats divided history into distinct phases. The primary phases, encompassing phases one through eight, represent objective, rational, and physical aspects of existence. The antithetical phases, from nine to twenty-two, embody subjective, emotional, and artistic aspects. Finally, the secondary phases, twenty-three through twenty-eight, mark a return to objectivity but with gained wisdom. Central to this mythology is the concept of fundamental opposites between the primary (objective, rational, democratic) and the antithetical (subjective, emotional, aristocratic), as well as between solar (reason and clarity) and lunar (intuition and mystery) influences.

The Four Faculties

Within this framework, Yeats identified four essential faculties that operate as cornerstones of human consciousness. The Will represents the active, conscious mind, while the Mask symbolizes the ideal self or anti-self. The Creative Mind embodies intellectual and rational faculty, and the Body of Fate encompasses external circumstances and events. These faculties interact differently at each phase of the Great Wheel, creating various personality types and historical moments that shape both individual destiny and collective experience.

Historical Applications

Yeats applied this system to understand historical cycles, proposing that civilization moves through approximately 2,000-year cycles. He traced these patterns through classical civilization in Ancient Greece and Rome, Christian civilization in the Medieval period, and modern secular civilization from the Renaissance onward. According to Yeats, each civilization moves through all twenty-eight phases before giving way to the next, creating a grand historical pattern of development and decline.

Mythological System in Yeats’ Poetry

The profound influence of Yeats’ mythological system on his poetry is most evident in his later works, where abstract philosophical concepts transform into powerful poetic imagery. “The Second Coming” (1919) stands as perhaps the most striking example of his mythological thinking in verse. The poem’s opening lines, “Turning and turning in the widening gyre / The falcon cannot hear the falconer,” directly employ the symbol of the gyre from his system, representing the dissolution of one historical cycle and the violent birth of another. The “rough beast” slouching towards Bethlehem embodies the antithetical phase replacing the primary Christian era, demonstrating how Yeats used his mythological framework to interpret contemporary historical upheaval.

“Sailing to Byzantium” (1926) explores the concept of Unity of Being through its portrayal of Byzantium as an ideal civilization where art, spirituality, and wisdom achieve perfect balance. The speaker’s journey from a world of natural cycles (“That is no country for old men”) to the artificial, eternal world of Byzantium reflects the movement between primary and antithetical phases in Yeats’ system. The golden bird of the final stanza represents the achievement of Unity of Being, where art transcends the natural world while paradoxically capturing its essence.

“Among School Children” (1928) demonstrates how Yeats applied his mythological thinking to personal experience. The poem moves from particular observations to universal significance, employing the concept of the Great Wheel in its famous conclusion: “How can we know the dancer from the dance?” This line epitomizes the ideal unity of being where opposites – body and soul, movement and stillness, art and artist – achieve perfect integration.

“The Gyres” (1938) perhaps most explicitly incorporates Yeats’ mythological system, using the central image of the interpenetrating gyres to contemplate historical transformation: “The gyres! the gyres! Old Rocky Face, look forth.” The poem embraces the tragic joy that comes from understanding history’s cyclical nature, where destruction and creation are inseparable parts of the same process.

“Lapis Lazuli” (1938) reflects the wisdom gained through understanding the cyclical nature of history. The carved mountain scene described in the poem’s final stanza, with its Chinese sages “gazing on the tragic scene,” represents the philosophical perspective achieved through comprehending the great patterns of history that Yeats outlined in his system.

Even in his love poetry, such as “The Wild Swans at Coole” (1919), Yeats employs his mythological understanding. The counting of the swans and reflection on their unchanged nature over nineteen years connects personal experience to larger cycles of time and permanence amid change, key concepts in his mythological system.

The Concept of Unity of Being

A crucial aspect of Yeats’ mythology is the concept of “Unity of Being,” representing perfect balance between opposing forces, integration of physical and spiritual existence, and harmony between intellect and emotion. While Yeats believed this state was rarely achieved, it represented the ideal human condition in his system, something for which individuals and civilizations might strive.

Contemporary Relevance

While highly personal and esoteric, Yeats’ mythological system offers valuable insights for contemporary readers. Its view of history as cyclical rather than linear provides an alternative framework for understanding historical patterns. The system’s exploration of personality types and human consciousness parallels aspects of modern psychology, while its framework for analyzing civilizational changes remains relevant for understanding cultural transitions.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Scholarly reception of Yeats’ mythology has been varied and complex. Some critics dismiss it as personal mysticism without broader significance, while others value it as a comprehensive philosophical system worthy of serious study. Many scholars, regardless of their position on its ultimate validity, acknowledge its importance in understanding Yeats’ poetry and thought. The system has generated extensive academic discussion and continues to influence interpretations of Yeats’ work.

Conclusion

Yeats’ mythological system represents one of the most ambitious attempts by a modern poet to create a comprehensive framework for understanding history, human consciousness, and artistic creation. While its complexity can be daunting, its influence on Yeats’ poetry and its insights into historical patterns make it a fascinating subject of study. The enduring value of his mythology lies not necessarily in its literal truth but in its power as a poetic and philosophical tool for understanding human experience and historical change. For students of literature and cultural history, understanding this system provides essential context for appreciating both Yeats’ work and the broader modernist attempt to create new mythological frameworks in an age of declining traditional beliefs.

Related Posts

88 comments

Leave a Reply