An Analysis Conducted of Pakistan’s Present Socio-Political Situation in the Light

of Yeats’ “The Second Coming”

“The Second Coming” by W. B. Yeats mirrors the declining socio-political and spiritual

conditions of Ireland after World War 1, which can be applied to the decaying social and

political situation of the present Pakistan. Yeats, in this poem, describes that it is the

individual who is responsible for the barrenness in the country. Socio-political situation

of a country reflects the inclinations of its individuals. The loyalty of the individuals

promises the stable socio-political situations while disloyal individuals destroy the

integrity of a country. In this way, an individual determines the future of a country.

Yeats says that after the World War 1, the Irishmen have moved away from their centre

i.e. Christian belief. He predicts that this decentralization of the Irishmen would lead

them to destruction. He presents the people as victims of anarchy and darkness. He hints

at the animal instincts of the people who are engaged in killing one another. He points

out the spiritual dryness of the people who are no more loyal to their country and to their

own self. Yeats has written this poem for the people of Ireland but it can be extended to

every nation, which is going away from its fundamental beliefs. This poem can be

applied to the present chaotic situation of Pakistan. The people of Pakistan are moving

away from their moral values, due to which, there is disorder in every walk of life. The

people have lost hope in the goodness of humanity and have adopted animal instincts.

The loss of centrality is the basic issue of Pakistani people as it is of the Irishmen in

Yeats’ “The Second Coming.”

 Yeats, in this poem, presents the image of a falcon wheeling about in the sky, far

away from the falconer. The bird continues to fly and move further and further away

from the falconer. Yeats says:

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer” (l.1-2)

This metaphor depicts the situation of the Irishmen who are moving away from Christian

civilization. The teachings of Christianity are no more audible to them. Irishmen, after

World War 1, faced destruction at moral level. They lost politeness in their behaviors.

The spirits of sacrifice and loyalty were unknown to them. Selfishness had been

penetrated into the roots of the society. Therefore, falcon here symbolizes the Irishmen

who had moved away from the audibility of its falconer that is Christian belief.

Similarly, this metaphor can stand for the people of Pakistan who do not pay heed to the

moral values, preached by their ancestors. Love for humanity and respect for institutions

are lacking in Pakistani people. Collective benefits are sacrificed for the sake of personal

gains. The people of Pakistan prefer money on service. Corruption, dishonesty, and

insincerity are their main concerns. Therefore, the people of Pakistan can be the falcons

of Yeats who are moving away from their values. Margaret Rudd says:

The whole image of falcon’s flight,

The falcon and gyre as representative

Of “a period of anarchy and violence.”

 Yeats talks about the loss of centre and falling apart of the things. He says in his

poem “The Second Coming”, “things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” (l.3). After World

War 1, Ireland was going through civil war. Two nationalisms were being propagated by

Protestants and Catholics. The former wanted to remain as a part of Britain while the

latter promoted the thought of freedom. Similarly, In Pakistan, people have lost the sense

of nationalism and are no more loyal to their country. They want to change their

provinces and cities into separate countries. They do not regard the benefit of country as

their own benefit.

A decline can be evidently seen in the law and order situations of Pakistan. The

rich mould the law according to their own benefits while the poor are deprived of justice.

There is no balance in educational system as well. The children of the rich people have

modern system of education while the children of the poor people study under the

Pakistani educational system. Due to these injustices, the poor can never be able to meet

the rich. The thoughts of the people are also divided. There is no one straight thinking

about a healthy nationalism.

There is no centre of politics as well. Pakistan is a democratic country but army

rules it for most of the time. The constitution is considered to be a centre in the politics

of a country. All are supposed to follow the constitution but, in Pakistan, it becomes a

toy, which is played by every ruler. Every ruler makes amendments in the constitution

for his own benefits. Pakistan is an independent country but some outer hands control it.

There is no centre of independence in the country. The drone attacks

 are the best

examples of external involvement, which harms the independence of the country

severely. So the centre of Pakistan cannot hold, as it cannot in Yeats’ poem.

Yeats, in his poem, says that there is ‘anarchy’ in the world. He says in his poem:

“mere anarchy is loosed upon the world” (l.4). After World War 1, there were clashes on

different levels in Ireland. Religion and tradition gave way to historical and socio-

cultural shifting. Easter (or Irish) rebellion in 1916 shook the thoughts of the Irishmen,

due to which, exploration of decay, abnormality and gloom could be seen evidently in

them. Anarchy about which Yeats talks in his poem can be seen in the present Pakistan

as well. Selfishness has become a main way to live. Everybody is concerned with his

own life and there is no spirit of sacrifice. Personal gains are preferred instead of

collective benefits.

There is disorder in the society. The poor are exploited and the rich enjoy their

lives without doing anything. Child labor is the violation of human rights but it also

exists in Pakistan. The children are found working at different places at very low wages.

Shopkeepers and other businesspersons employ the small children to enhance their profit.

The poor people send their children to beg instead of sending them to schools. In this

way, the children at a very small age, start supporting their families economically. The

landowners use the children of the poor people in a selfish way and cease all the ways to

progress for them.

Educational system is in its worse condition. Degrees are sold and jobs are given

on the merit of wealth not of education. The police officers work for those people who

pay them separately. The doctors of government hospitals spend most of their time in the
private clinics and use the medicines of government for their own purposes. The courts

are unable to do justice with the people. The decisions are predetermined. The rich buy

the justice and the poor wait for their turns in the courts for years. Therefore, the

‘anarchy’ about which Yeats talks in his poem, is present in Pakistan.

In his poem, Yeats tells that there is bloodshed everywhere. He says in his poem,

“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed.” After World War 1, Ireland was in terrible shape.

Due to the civil war, there were many killings. Germany was suppressed by the British.

Russian revolution was also there. In these circumstances, Yeats could perceive that next

world is of bloodshed. The civil war of Yeats’ time can be identified with that of the

present Pakistan. The thoughts of the people are divided on provincial level. They want

their provinces as separate countries. Such demands cause riots, which result in killing.

People fight against one another on sectarian basis. Different sectors propagate negative

elements against one another. They use the name of religion to kill one another.

There are suicide attacks and bomb blasts in the cities. Terrorists come to the cities

and kill the innocent people. Blood tides are seen everywhere in political processions,

educational institutions, courts, public places and even in religious gatherings. Even the

people who come from other countries for business or sports also become the victims of

the explosions. Louis MacNeice says in The Poetry of W. B. Yeats:

“The Blood-dimmed tide” does represent

That upsurge of instinctive violence which,

Other outlets being barred, finds a natural

In fascist mob-mania.
So the blood tides in Ireland after World War 1 can be seen in the present Pakistan.

Yeats, in his poem, says that:

“The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity” (l.7-8)

The finest and most outstanding men have no profound beliefs or principles, while the

bad or the most harmful and destructive are filled with zealous dedication. After World

War 1, Irish leadership was lacking conviction while the destructive forces were at their

best. Irish republican army went to militants. The lack of devoted leadership can be

observed in the present Pakistan as well. The people who are at the helm of affairs are

practically quiet while the destructive forces are doing their best. The opponent forces

who are working against the integrity of Pakistan and damaging its image on the world

level but the rulers have no concern with the repute of the country. The enemies of

Pakistan have divided it into two parts before and now they are trying to remove it from

the map of the world but the rulers of the country are devoid of national spirit and paving

the ways for the enemies. Therefore, the opponents of Pakistan are eating it up while the

rulers have closed their eyes.

Yeats predicts that the second coming of a beast is about to happen. He says in his

poem:

“surely the second coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert” (l.9-13)

After World War 1, there were brutality and violence in Ireland. There was an evident

despair at the apparent inevitability of change and an unmistakable sense of fear in the

face of an unknown future. The revelation of beast which can be symbolized with the

unknown fear of war is revolving around the whole world including Pakistan. There is

always a danger of war in the country. Due to political and economical instability,

opponent forces are seeking the opportunity to attack Pakistan. Some disputes have been

politicized to create tension in the country. Due to this problem, the people of the

country can never be able to get rid of the fear of war. The tension of war, which always

remains in the people, is an outcome of the inhuman activities of Pakistani extremists.

These activities are not acceptable anywhere in the world. Resultantly, a fear of war

encircles the people of Pakistan. The prediction of Yeats seems quite true in the present

Pakistan. A civil war between the army and extremists is also going on within the

country. Due to this war, there are a lot of killings and people are forced to leave their

places. These are the self-made problems, which induce fears in the minds of the people.

These self-created issues are getting strength in the country, which leads to the fear of

war. Anwar Shaoor, a Pakistani poet writes about this situation:

How lacks of people became homeless

Is this situation possible?

We could not even think about it

That such a big migration can be possible

Yeats says in his poem “darkness drops again” (l.18). Before World War 1, it was

considered that human beings are civilized but, after the war, which ended up in massive

killings, it was confirmed that human beings are still savage. There were the elements of

fear, uncertainty, and pessimism after the war. In the same way, Yeats presents the idea

of the dark world, which hereby means that world has reentered the Dark Age. The

gloominess after World War 1 can be identified with the miserable condition of present

Pakistan. It is getting dark day by day and reaching the position where it will be

disappeared from the scene of the world.

The economic condition of the country is very much miserable. The present

Pakistan is indulged in the net of debts so badly that every newborn child is indebted.

The artists are moving to other countries because they are not paid well in the country.

Due to security reasons, outer investors neglect Pakistan. Economic injustices further

worsen the situation as society is extremely divided into rich and poor classes. The lives

of the poor are worst than those of animals and the rich are accumulating more wealth. So

the ongoing adverse circumstances have enveloped the country from all sides and

pushing it in the darkness.

In the light of this poem, the people of Pakistan can learn a lot from the situation of

a European man generally and of the Irish man particularly. Now the Pakistani people

are standing at the same position where the Irish people have been standing in the past.

The beast of ignorance and poverty is also destroying the country. Therefore, people of

Pakistan should be loyal to their culture and values. The best people should be convicted

and the worst should be discouraged. There should be an atmosphere of sacrifice and
service. Selfishness and anarchy must be removed. The rulers must consider their

country above all. In short, W. B. Yeats’ poem “The Second Coming” can be identified

with the present situation of Pakistan and can be an eye- opener for its masses.