Ideas of Good and Evil

"Ideas of Good and Evil" by W. B. Yeats is a compilation of essays from the early 1900s, which examines topics like poetry, symbolism, and the traits of well-liked books, showing Yeats's strong interest in Irish culture and writing as he wrestles with how art and society connect. The essays explore the underlying significance of poetic works alongside their aesthetic qualities. At the beginning of the book, Yeats examines what makes poetry appealing, recalling his initial involvement with the Young Ireland Society, speaking to prior conversations regarding Irish poets, balancing respect with insight into the appeal and artistic qualities of their work. He voices his wish to develop a new form of writing that speaks to the Irish identity, separate from English influences, acknowledging the difficulties of expressing a cultural identity through literature, introducing a challenging relationship between creative works and the soul, and the world of politics.