Comparsion of the Thematic of Violence in Earlier and later Heaney

“Compare and contrast the thematic of violence in earlier and later Heaney”

“Heaney’s poetry grants sectarian killing in Northern Ireland a historical respectability which is not usually granted in day to day journalism” (Morrison, 68)

Seamus Heaney was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. Derry was a bitterly divided city that soon became to the fore of "the troubles". In the 1970’s Northern Ireland's sectarian divisions hit a new level of extreme and t “the troubles” became violent and dangerous in the early 1970’s. With the change of situation in the North there also came a change in Heaney's writing. His poems seemed to grow more sociological and political as he delved into the troubled psychology of his homelands problems. In 1972 Heaney published "Wintering Out,", this collection is momentous in the works of Heaney as in this we see many references to the troubles. In 1975 still in the midst of the problems Heaney published "North," which was a much more indept analysis on the conflict. Both these publishcations will be examined as part of this essay to look at “theamatic of violence of Heaney’s work in early and later years. We see violence cut across Heaney's pastoral passions and makes him speak out as a citizen of Northern Ireland. Very similar to the First World War poets, who were torn from between an oblivious life and the fields of hell, Heaney's chose to speak out for the citizens affected by the horrors of the troubles.

In recent decades numerous literary critics, historians and political commentators have explored the vexed relationship between violence and Irish literature, with Heaney being a main focus of critism for perhaps a somewhat unbalanced opinion of the troubles. Denis Donoghue stated in his inspiring ...

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...from the war. Heaney depicted the violence as a Nationalist but, yet he was always neutral, and some poems even came from the protestant side of the conflict such as “The Other Side”. By times it was reflected that Heaney was against the British occupying his land but he was against the violence from both sides. Heaney’s progression through life came with the improvement of the situation in the North. This was reflected in his poetry as he gradually stepped away from the conflict, in his life, and in his poetry. Despite his views gaining Heaney a mass of critics, it still can recognised he will be forever the citizens voice on the troubles, along with one of the greatest poets to ever grace our country.

George Cusack. "A Cold Eye Cast Inward: Seamus Heaney's Field Work." New Hibernia Review 6.3 (2002): 53-72. Project MUSE. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. .