Yeats story is the classic tale of unrequited love. "Why should I blame her that she filled my days" (2246). Yeats has proposed to the same woman repeatedly for several years. He even proposes tot he woman's adopted daughter 30 years later... However, he sees nothing wrong with this. He feels that more men would feel his plight if they allowed themselves to desire her as he does (2246). In No Second Troy, he compares her to Helen of Troy whose beauty was enough to set the two nations of Greece and Troy at War for ten years. While he does not blame Maud for his love her wonders why she is so "high and solitary and most stern". Maud did accept a marriage proposal from another man; however they divorced shortly after. And still she did not accept Yeats advances. Again it is not her fault "what could she have done, being what she is?/ Was there another Tray for her to burn" (2247)? It is not her fault that he loves her. it was inevitable for her to affect him in such away. He is the only Troy for her to burn.
Deborah,
ReplyDeleteGood commentary on Yeats's poem, with good consideration of the connections between this poem and both Greek mythology and the poet's love life. As you observe, both are important here.