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Fallible Gods, By William Butler Yeats

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William Butler Yeats draws an image of a brutal and horrific attack, for the reader to create an understanding of a story that has a greater meaning. The actions of the swan show that he has a knowledgeable concept that his decisions to act on impulses are just a fragment of a bigger scheme. According to the article “Fallible Gods” Zeus is a “typical dictator” (Asimov 39) who has a desire for authority and possession. The use of many symbols in this sonnet demonstrates the notion of narcissistic actions and self-mindlessness to pre-meditate a rape to selfishly gain something as well as addresses the underline issue if women have fault in their own rape because they might appear as tempting and vulnerable. A swan’s erotic and sexual lust for a human being is the cause of …show more content…

A result of this horrific accident, there are great consequences lasting for many decades. Leda becomes pregnant with the swan’s eggs and gives birth to both Clytemnestra and Helen. Clytemnestra is the wife of Agamemnon who is the older brother of Menelaus. Helen is the wife of Menelaus but is taken by a Trojan prince due to her remarkable beauty. Her kidnapping cause’s war and she then becomes the known source of “evil influences” (“Wall”) by invading and “destroying” (“Fire”) the walls and roof during the Trojan War because the war was fought over her. Clytemnestra also has marital issues, she believes her husband plays a part of infidelity. Upon him returning from the Trojan War she conspires and initiates the murder of her own husband. The bigger picture of why they swan might have chosen Leda as his victim starts to reveal. He possibly has insight or knowledge on the destruction of the Greek Civilization. When he is done with her, Zeus’ unsympathetic “beak” (Yeats 14) drops Leda to dispose of her as she begins to achieve some of his “power” (Yeats 13) and higher

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