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.

본 논문은 빈고전주의 음악의 자율성, 보편성에 살진 토양을 마련해준 합스부르크 제국 황 제와 귀족의 음악문화 및 음악후원에 대해 탐구하며, 다음의 결론에 이른다. 합스부르크 제 국의 절대적이고 강력한 유력가들은 정치적, 종교적 목적을 음악후원의 한 기틀로 삼았으나, 동시에 수 세대에 걸쳐 음악을 중요한 정신적 덕목으로 삼으며 전문가적 관심과 방식으로써 다양한 장르의 음악예술을 보호했다. 아울러 ‘옛’ 양식과 ‘현대적’ 양식, ‘옛’ 언어와 ‘현대적’ 언어, 세속적 양식과 종교적 양식이 공존하는 음악, 혼합양식의 음악을 보호, 후원함으로써 보편주의적 음악 상(像)을 구현했다. 이러한 기조 가운데 18세기 중반 황제에서 귀족으로 음 악 문화 및 후원의 주체가 옮겨지고, 이때 귀족들은 후원자를 넘어 동료로서 동시대와 미래 를 주도할 음악에 발전의 동력을 마련해주었다. 과거 유산들의 시대 초월적 의미마저 발견해 내 독창적 작곡가들에게 알린 이들의 공적은 음악예술의 자율성과 보편적 가치 실현을 위한 중요한 밑거름이 되었다. 논문투고일자