It is noticeable that the critics of William Butler Yeats has recently tried to elucidate the poet's aristocratic disposition in relation with his political identity. Some critics have disparaged Yeats' works of art in the light of his seeming conservative political position as an advocate of aristocracy. Other critics who disagreed with this excessive blame have insisted that Yeats' aristocratic disposition only shows his self-deceptive idealism. As the poet's inclination toward aristocracy seems to suggest his conservatism or elitism, it has hindered the critics from understanding and appreciating his poetry wholeheartedly. In this paper I intend to examine the established points of the critics concerning Yeats' political identity and demonstrate that his inclination towards aristocracy could be understood as an attempt to cultivate united national identity among the Irish. Inflamed as the working condition of the artists in Dublin deteriorated and the social position of the Anglo-Irish Protestant fell in Irish society, the aristocratic disposition of Yeats ultimately contributed to contrive a poetic vision for national integration. From the point of time when Yeats decided to pursue his own poetic principle, "Unity of Being," his vision of aristocracy assumed the mental and moral characteristic and became an ideal plan for achieving cultural nationalism among the Irish. Yeats' vision of aristocracy includes the ceremony of tradition and spiritual attitudes such as magnanimity and liberty which can be cultivated in the aristocratic society. According to the poet's vision, the ideal society consists of three major groups: the aristocrats who would lead an affluent life and support the artists, the artists and scholars who would concentrate on creating great works, and the populace who would appreciate their arts without any prejudice. All member of these groups will form a horizontal solidarity based on shared culture, which will give each member of them joyful peace and affirmative ability to embrace life.
목차
I. 예이츠의 귀족주의 비전: 역사적 위치 II. 예이츠의 귀족주의 비전과 문화적 민족주의의 실현 III. 결론 인용 문헌 Abstract
키워드
귀족주의문화적 민족주의존재의 통합앵글로 아이리쉬 프로테스탄트연대예이츠aristocracycultural nationalismUnity of BeingAnglo-Irish ProtestantsolidarityYeats
예이츠 및 관련 분야에 대한 회원들의 학문 발전을 도모하고 연구 의욕을 고취시키기 위해 다음과 같은 일을 기획하고 수행함을 그 목적으로 한다.
1) 학술 발표회 및 세미나 개최
2) 학술 정보의 수집과 자료 교환
3) 연구논문집 『한국예이츠저널』(The Yeats Journal of Korea) 발간
4) 회원 상호간의 학문적 교류와 친목 도모