what would the person being addressed a little sadly in the poem when you are old by WB Yeats
Answers
Explanation:
Popularity of “When You Are Old”: William Butler Yeats, a famous Irish poet wrote, “When You Are Old”. It was first published in 1893 and is one of the famous love poems. It comprises the poet’s eternal love for his beloved. However, its popularity lies in the description of the poet’s meditation on catastrophic onslaught of time.
“When You Are Old” As a Representative of Love: As this poem is about love, the speaker directly addresses his beloved and invites her to throw her mind forward to the future when she will not be attractive, beautiful or glamorous, but a fair old lady poking by the fire. He asks her to recall her past youth, how many people would have loved and admired her for her startling looks and eye-catching features. However, he mentions that there was only one person who loved her sincerely despite knowing the transient qualities of her beauty. He adds that he could have been the right choice for her, but she rejected him. As their love would not last, and she would surely regret her decision for the rest of her life. What enchants the reader is the way he has drawn a metaphorical comparison to show his genuine love for his mistress.
Major Themes in “When You Are Old”: Love, rejection and time are the major themes of this poem. To express pure love, the poet invites her to have a glance at the time when she will be old and will not be surrounded by fake lovers. Therefore, she should understand his feelings toward her. Throughout the poem, he tries to make her realize that her existing company loves her for her beauty, but one day she would grow old and regret lost opportunities.