The poems in The Rose(1893) represent Yeats’s patriotic attempt to describe the heroic Irish past with “roses” symbolizing ‘eternal beauty’ mixed with pagan wisdom. He concretely suggested “Celtic wisdom” through the epic heroes in Irish myths such as Cuchulain, Fergus, Druid, and Cathleen. They sans, first, wander to get “eternal beauty” as to overcome man’s destiny, living just a day. Second, they don’t pursue impossible knowledge and passionate commitment as shown in Fergus and Cuchulain. Third, they transcend secular passions through the “ancient ways” to go to a Celtic paradise. Fourth, they seek the internal Tree of Life instead of indulging in the external Tree of Knowledge. Fifth, they remember that only such things as the sacrificial behaviors shown by Cathleen will allow us the chances to go to Heaven. So, Yeats wants the Irish and English to seek harmony and reconciliation through the “Celtic wisdom” to get rid of the disharmonious elements in Ireland and English at the end of the 19th century.

• 이명옥(경기대) | Lee, Myoung Og