Ideas of Good and Evil (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

By William Butler Yeats

This early (1903) volume of essays, some written in an allusive style, includes “What is ‘Popular Poetry’?”, “Speaking to the Psaltery,” “Magic,” “The Happiest of the Poets,” “The Philosophy of Shelley’s Poetry at Stratford-on-Avon,” “William Blake and the Imagination,” “Symbolism in Painting,” “Symbolism in Poetry,” “The Celtic Element in Literature,” and “The Theatre.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Release date: May 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781411452398

Reviews for Ideas of Good and Evil (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

[judycroome_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was not what I expected from the title, but neither was it less than I expected. Rather than a discussion on good and evil as conditions of the human soul, this was a collection of essays about art written during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. (See titles below)Some discussions were perhaps more relevant during the time the essays were written, but most of Yeats’ thoughts could, with a little effort, be applied to today’s world. His thoughts on symbolism versus allegory, art as “the theatre of commerce” versus art as a “great Passion” and the essays on William Blake are marvellous. Underpinning his thoughts is Yeats’ fascination with spiritual mysticism and, for me, this adds a layer of meaning to his words that speaks to my soul of things Divine and Eternal; he touches on the great mystery of what makes great art rather than popular art by comparing the artistic life with the spiritual life of the religious mystic. This was both inspiring and comforting, and reminded me of why I continue to write the stories and poems that I do.IDEAS OF GOOD AND EVIL was not always an easy book to read; it requires concentration, as the style does reflect that of Yeats’ own era, but the insights and wisdom that imbue Yeats’ work with both magic and passion make the effort worth it.Essays included in “Ideas of Good and Evil” by W B Yeats: What is 'popular poetry'? Speaking to the psalteryMagicThe happiest of the poetsThe philosophy of Shelley's poetryAt Stratford-on-AvonWilliam Blake and the imaginationWilliam Blake and his illustrations to the Divine comedySymbolism in paintingThe symbolism of poetryThe theatreThe Celtic element in literatureThe autumn of the bodyThe moodsThe body of Father Christian RosencruxThe return of UlyssesIreland and the artsThe Galway plainsEmotion of multitudes