For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats.
For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats.
Summary.
The poem "For Anne Gregory" is a dialogue between a young man and Anne Gregory, where they discuss the nature of love and the human tendency to focus on outward appearances.
The young man begins by lamenting that no man could love Anne purely for who she is, independent of her physical beauty, particularly her "yellow hair," which symbolizes her outward charm and attractiveness. This suggests that love, in his view, is often shallow and based on physical traits.
Anne Gregory counters his argument by pointing out that she could change her hair color to brown, black, or even carrot-red if she wanted to. This implies that she believes she can overcome superficial attraction and find someone who loves her for her true self.
The young man then responds by quoting an old religious man who stated that only God is capable of loving someone for their true inner self and not for their external appearance. This idea suggests a philosophical perspective on the limitations of human love compared to divine love.
In this playful yet profound exchange, Yeats explores themes of love, beauty, and human nature. The poem emphasizes the struggle between superficial attraction and the desire for deeper, unconditional love. It also contrasts human love, often influenced by physical appearances, with the spiritual and unconditional love of God.
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