Yeats’s “Magic” and The Pot of Broth

In his essay “Magic” (1901), Yeats talks about the mystic ideas, setting up the relationship between magic and literature and manifesting a concrete design of his mystical ideas. According to Yeats, the Great Memory influences man and his history; ancient religious rural people of Ireland could have easier access to the Great Memory. He insists that poets and artists get imagery from the Great Memory and portray it in their works. He deals with the transformation of mystic ideas in The Pot of Broth: the pot is a utensil in which makes food. It also symbolizes an archetype, part of the Great Memory to evoke an alchemic variation. The broth infused with thoughts, feelings, emotions is transformed into a new “matter” which emblematizes a person’s wisdom and national identity. KCI Citation Count: 1