Modernist Poetry: Leda and The Swan

Modernist poetry’s common themes are alienation, disillusionment, and fragmentation. The themes often emphasize the effects of industrialization, post-war impacts on humanity, and everyday life with a more realistic perspective. The themes of the period stray away from nature and take a look into history as well as politics. W.B. Yeats’ poem "Leda and The Swan" encapsulates the era's fascination with fragmentation, psychological depth, and mythological motifs.

To emphasize the loss of identity, Yeats begins his poem with the theme of fragmentation, depicting different kinds of body parts, including animals. For instance, in the opening lines, "A sudden blow: the great wings beating still / Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed," the fragmented imagery highlights the disjointed nature of Leda's experience. This separation of body parts into discrete images evokes a sense of vulnerability and loss of wholeness, capturing the disorienting impact of the encounter.

He recounts Zeus’ seduction as rape, using it as a metaphor for the Irish Civil War, portraying Leda as Ireland. The poem's reference to "the broken wall, the burning roof and tower" symbolizes the violence and destruction associated with the war, reflecting the turmoil and devastation experienced during that period. The act itself, described with lines such as "He holds her helpless breast upon his breast," emphasizes the lack of control and autonomy, mirroring Ireland’s subjugation under British rule.

The poem's exploration of power dynamics and control echoes the political upheavals of the early 20th century, with the swan symbolizing domination and aggression. The swan's "indifferent beak," which releases Leda after the act, suggests the detached and unfeeling nature of imperial power, with little regard for the suffering inflicted. The brutal act of rape thus becomes a metaphor for the coercive imposition of power, mirroring the oppressive forces exerted by British rule over Ireland.