Easter 1916 (Stanza – III) | Hearts with one purpose alone.…he living stream | Explain

Easter 1916 (Stanza – III) | Hearts with one purpose alone.…he living stream | Explain

“Hearts with one purpose alone

Through summer and winter seem

Enchanted to a stone

To trouble the living stream.”

The excerpt is taken from the poem, Easter 1916, by the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats. In this excerpt, Yeats mentioned the Irish revolutionaries in 1916. Those revolutionaries took part in the Easter Rising movement against the British rule in Ireland.

The above lines from Easter 1916 convey the message of strict determination of the revolutionaries at the time of Easter Rising in Ireland. They were single-minded in their cause to achieve freedom. They were so determined even no adversity could divert them from their goal.

The phrase, ‘Hearts with one purpose alone’ suggests an unwavering focus on their goal. They had a strong determination of the rebels against the British. The imagery of them being ‘enchanted to a stone’ implies their strong resolution. They had unchanged commitments like stone monuments. They wanted their freedom anyhow.

Moreover, W. B. Yeats uses natural imagery like ‘summer and winter’. By the use of this natural imagery, Yeats wants to suggest the injuring, timeless quality of their struggle. Through their revolutionary actions, the Irish people could represent the disruption and upheavals of Irish society. Thus, the ‘living stream’, the ‘trouble’ could represent this disruption and upheavals.

Finally, the above except captures Yeats’ admiration and respect for the Irish revolutionaries. Even, the poet himself struggles with the complex legacy of the Easter Rising. The poet, thus, reflects on their courage and conviction. They were strongly determined. Anyhow, they wanted to achieve their freedom from the clutches of British rule. In doing so, the revolutionaries were ready to accept all the difficulties and sacrifices which were involved in their cause.

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