“….. but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”
The passage you've provided is the final stanza of the poem "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats. It's a complex and symbol-laden poem that reflects the poet's sense of foreboding and the idea of a tumultuous change or apocalyptic event. Let's break down this stanza with reference to its context:
In this stanza, the speaker begins by stating, "but now I know," indicating that he has come to a realization or understanding of something significant. The imagery and language used in the subsequent lines are highly symbolic:
1. "That twenty centuries of stony sleep": This phrase suggests a long period of dormancy or inactivity lasting for two thousand years. It could refer to a time of spiritual or cultural stagnation.
2. "Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle": The image of a rocking cradle suggests the birth or awakening of something unsettling or ominous. The word "vexed" implies that this awakening disturbs the peace or order that existed during the long period of sleep.
3. "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?": This is the most famous part of the stanza. The "rough beast" is a mysterious and ominous creature, symbolizing chaos, destruction, or some malevolent force. The phrase "its hour come round at last" suggests that the time for this creature's emergence or birth has finally arrived. "Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born" evokes a sense of inevitability and doom, as if the creature is slowly and inexorably moving toward a significant location (Bethlehem, traditionally associated with the birth of Christ) to be born or unleashed upon the world.
The context of the entire poem is marked by a sense of chaos, uncertainty, and societal upheaval. Yeats wrote this poem in the aftermath of World War I, a time of great disillusionment and turbulence. The "rough beast" and its impending birth symbolize the idea of a destructive force or radical change that is about to disrupt the existing order. The poem conveys a feeling of apprehension about the future and a belief that the world is heading towards a crisis or cataclysmic event.
Overall, this stanza captures the essence of the poem's themes of historical cycles, the collapse of civilizations, and the anticipation of a significant, unsettling transformation in the world.
Subscribe on YouTube - NotesWorld
For PDF copy of Solved Assignment
Any University Assignment Solution
.webp)
