‘ in Ireland there is something of timid affection between men and spirits. They only ill-treat each other. Each admits the other side to have feelings.’
This short essay is a satirical and reprimandable take on people who don't believe in spirits or worse, questions those who ridicule people who do believe in them. Yeats throughout the essay shows the core of Ireland is about folk tales and stories ranging from many centuries. He says one should embrace that identity as part of the nation’s culture and heritage.
He compares the two countries Scotland and Ireland and says,
‘In Scotland you are too theological, too gloomy. You have burnt all the witches. In Ireland we have left them alone.
You have discovered the faeries to be pagan and wicked. You would like to have them all up before the magistrate. In Ireland warlike mortals have gone amongst them, and helped them in their battles, and they in turn have taught men great skill with herbs, and permitted some few to hear their tunes.’
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