d during the political troubles in Ireland. The poem is a father’s prayer for his newborn daughter while a violent storm rages outside. In this poem, Yeats uses myths and history to explain his fears and his hopes for his daughter’s future. These myths help him show the dangers of beauty and the value of goodness. These myths and history form an integral part of Yeats’ poetry.

Myth of Helen of Troy—Beauty of Destruction: Helen of Troy is one of the most important myths in the poem. She was known as the most beautiful woman in the world. Yeats uses Helen as an example to show that too much beauty can bring unhappiness. He writes,

“Helen being chosen found life flat and dull

And later had much trouble from a fool.”

Though Helen was very beautiful, her beauty did not bring her joy. She unwisely eloped with a foolish prince named Paris. This affair caused the 10-year-long Trojan War. Yeats means that Helen’s beauty led her into trouble, war, and sorrow. He wants his daughter to avoid such danger. By using Helen’s myth, Yeats sends a message that inner goodness is more important than outer beauty.

The Myth of Aphrodite—Beauty Without Wisdom: Yeats also refers to Aphrodite. She is the Greek goddess of love and beauty. According to myth, she was born from the sea foam. She was very beautiful, but she did not make a wise choice. She married a lame or “bandy-legged” husband, Hephaestus. Yeats writes:

“While that great Queen, that rose out of the spray…

Yet chose a bandy-leggèd smith for man.”

Yeats uses this myth to say that beauty alone cannot guide a person. Beautiful women often “eat a crazy salad with their meat.” It means beautiful women often make foolish choices. They may not find true friends or marry the wrong person.

Yeats also gives us the example of Maud Gonne from his own life. Maud Gonne was a beautiful Irish politician. The poet loved her, but she rejected him many times. Later, Maud Gonne married an angry man, and the marriage did not last long. Yeats does not want such foolishness for his daughter. He prays she will have simple beauty with wisdom and kindness.

The Horn of Plenty—A Mythical Symbol of Blessings: Another important mythical image in the poem is the Horn of Plenty, also known as the Cornucopia. In Greek mythology, this horn is always full of fruits, flowers, and abundance. It represents blessings and joy.

Yeats uses it to show how some women waste their blessings. He says Maud Gonne was born—

“Out of the mouth of Plenty’s horn.” 

It means Maud Gonne’s life was full of happiness and blessings. But she destroyed her happiness because of her pride and strong opinions. The myth of the Horn of Plenty helps Yeats express his worry that beauty without kindness can ruin everything.

Violent History: Yeats expresses his worry about the violent history of the world. He is worried about his daughter’s future in a world full of war, danger, and suffering. In 1919, Ireland was entering the Irish War of Independence. Europe had just suffered the destruction of World War I. In the poem, there is a great storm blowing outside. The storm symbolizes the dangers of the world around him.

In the poem, Yeats uses myths and history to express his deep worries and hopes for his daughter. His myths and history give us an important message: simple beauty, wisdom, and kindness are necessary in a violent and selfish world.