Discuss Ways in Which Yeats Presents Ideas of a Changing Ireland in the Fisherman.

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There are many ways in which Yeats conveys the changes which Ireland was going through when The Fisherman was written. The Fisherman was written in 1916, a time where Ireland was suffering because of a bitter conflict in the country, described in another of Yeats’ poems, Easter 1916. This conflict is bringing many changes to Ireland, and Yeats seems to be very bitter and angry in The Fisherman, as this new Ireland goes against his ideal and perfect country that is represented and symbolised by the perfect Irish man, who is The Fisherman. First of all, Yeats tries to show that the conflict in Ireland has brought about radical change to the Irish people. They are no longer the traditional rural Irish folk, just like The Fisherman is. They are no longer like the “dead man that I love,” who is seen to be John Singe, a good friend of Yeats who was also a leader in Irish literacy. “The craven man”, who symbolises the cowardly politicians of Ireland who had accepted defeat to the British have “won a drunken cheer.” The “drunken cheer” represents what is now seen to be the modern Irish man, a common drunkard. They no longer uphold the traditions of the perfect Irishman, who work hard like The Fisherman. They have all now just become what could be classed as “common” by being drunk and rowdy. Yeats seems to be disgusted with how the Irish people have changed, and this is shown through the tone of his language. When he says “the clever man who cries the catch cries of the clown,” we can hear the distain in the tone of his writing, with the sharp use of alliteration cutting through the poem. Yeats also seems to be angry how the changing people of Ireland have ruined the traditional Irish literacy. The “beating down” could symbolise great Irish literature and art is being mocked by the common drunkards of Ireland. Things are changing as this great literature is dying because

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