The Paradox of a Sonnet

"Leda and the Swan" was composed in the classic sonnet form by William
Butler Yeats. The subject of this sonnet, on the other hand, was rather unique. This
sonnet is presented in a violent rape scenario, which is contrary to the traditional use
of love sonnets such as Shakespeare's. When we think of the word sonnet, we
generally equate it with love and confession with their other half or to whomever
they want to express their feelings. It is filled with love language, allowing readers
to feel the love through the words of poetry. However, in this case, the sonnet was
used as a lustful love language. Many critics believe that Yeats' poem "Leda and the
Swan" is a disclosure of personal difficulties in his life. The joint review of Yeats'
personal life and his poem "Leda and the Swan" has revealed that this poem seems
to be the sexual fantasy of his life—a rape fantasy that is ideally equal to that of a
Greek mythology episode.
Looking closely at William Butler Yeats' relationship with the woman who
was his muse and whom he loved the most—Maud Gonne, an Irish beauty who was
fierce and intelligent—it is conceivable to infer that there is a possible displacement
of personal frustrations in creating this poem. Although their relationship did not
flourish as how Yeats’ wanted it to be, he fell in love with her the moment he set
eyes on her, where he stated, "the troubling of my life began." Maud Gonne liked
and admired him, but only to a point. Yeats, the Romantic, couldn't give up the hope
that Maud would someday be a willing partner, physically, with a little patience and
persuasion. He failed a lot of times in making her say yes to every proposal because
Maud's passion was bestowed onto Ireland and she had thought that being his muse
would be better than her being his other half. Going back to the poem, rape is
depicted in "Leda and the Swan." The poem's figurative imagery makes it clear that
Zeus, disguised as a swan, assaults Leda. From the introductory verse, “A sudden
blow,” it is evident that the god Zeus is violating the mortal Leda. "Staggering girl,"
"helpless," and "terrified" are just a few of the words used to describe Leda's abuse.
The notion that her thighs “loosen” implies that, initially, they were locked around
each other, and she attempted (but fails) to “push” Zeus away. As a result, the poem
expresses Leda's initial fear, confusion, and resistance when she is attacked,
emphasizing her vulnerability. The poem indicates that a human woman seems to
have no chance against a god's "feathered glory" and "white rush," since she only
has "terrified vague fingers" and a "helpless breast." Despite the apparent violence,
the speaker adds a (debatable) elegance to the encounter. Phrases like "thighs,"
"caressed," "nape," "holds her... breast," and later, "feathered glory" and "shudder in
the loins" start giving the poem's representation of this union a sensual necessity.
Furthermore, the speaker imagines Leda's fingers pushing Zeus away as "vague,"
her thighs as "loosening," and her body (or anybody) can't resist but "feel the
mysterious heart" of Zeus.
Essentially, Yeats made an effort to repress his physical desire and utterly
failed. This failure resulted in an inner frustration of the figure Maud, who was
blamed for the guilt that followed. This unconscious resentment led to violent
impulses and thus the rape scene in "Leda" is, eventually, the sublimation of physical
desire. Thus, leading to the whole idea of the poem “Leda and the Swan” where
Yeats’ equate himself as Zeus, a divine being capable of shape shifting, to represent
the power of his mind and word to redirect an alarming impulse into a majestic
constructive piece.