Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem "For Anne Gregory", written by William Butler Yeats, serves as a commentary on the nature of love and physical beauty. The poem revolves around the conversation between the speaker and a young woman named Anne, presumably Anne Gregory, the daughter of Yeats' friend and Irish nationalist, Lady Augusta Gregory.

In the first stanza, the speaker expresses the cynical view that a young man could never love Anne purely for herself and her character but would inevitably be attracted by her physical features, specifically her "yellow hair". This view portrays love as being intrinsically tied to physical attractiveness.

In response, Anne claims in the second stanza that she could change her hair color, implying that her physical appearance should not matter if someone loves her for who she is, not what she looks like. Her words show her idealistic belief in a love that transcends physical appearance.

However, in the final stanza, an "old religious man" interjects, stating that only God can love someone for their essence alone, untouched by physical appearance. This statement underscores the theme of the poem and highlights the reality that humans are inevitably swayed by physical beauty.

The poem can be read as a commentary on the societal emphasis on physical beauty and the superficial nature of human love. It raises questions about the nature of love and beauty, and the intersection of the two, posing an existential query on whether anyone can be loved purely for their inner self, devoid of their physical appearance. It also contrasts the human capacity for love with divine love, suggesting that only divine love can be entirely unconditional and unswayed by physical attractiveness.