The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand (eBook)

W.B. Yeats's 'The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand' marries the dramatist's lyrical prowess with his deep engagement with the mythic and political dimensions of Irish culture. These two plays demonstrate Yeats's unyielding fascination with the intersection between the individual artist and the collective identity. 'The King's Threshold' delves into the intrinsic value of art and the artist's place within societal structures, questioning the recognition and remuneration of the creative spirit. 'On Baile's Strand,' meanwhile, harnesses the power of dramatic irony and comedic elements to rejuvenate the legend of the heroic Cuchulain, casting new light on timeless themes of fate, loyalty, and identity. Both plays contribute to the modernist narrative with their experimental form and symbolic complexity, standing as landmark pieces in the Irish theatrical canon. The Nobel laureate William Butler Yeats is as essential to the Irish literary renaissance as James Joyce or Sean O'Casey. His dedication to national folklore and political struggle, coupled with a visionary's pursuit of beauty, spurred Yeats to sculpt works that both celebrated and critiqued Irish identity. The impetus for penning 'The King's Threshold' stems from Yeats's own experiences with disregard for artists in practical society, while 'On Baile's Strand' was born from his lifelong fascination with Irish mythology, solidifying cultural identity through the arts. The pieces in this collection speak to Yeats's role as co-founder of the Abbey Theatre and assert his advocacy for the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of national drama. Recommended for both aficionados of Irish literature and newcomers to Yeats's theatre, 'The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand' is indeed a study in passion and poetics. This volume will engage readers who savor works that blend the political with the poetic, the mythical with the material. It should find its valued place among the collections of students and scholars of literature, as they strive to unpick the complex tapestry of cultural nationalism, artistic integrity, and the evocative use of folklore to reflect the broader human experience.