Easter 1916

• Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats is a poem about an Irish immature revolutionary plan which became unsuccessful to overthrow the British reign in Ireland. About fifteen hundred people participated in this revolution to seize the government office building of Dublin on Easter morning, but three hundred of them were killed on the spot, and more than two hundred people were taken as prisoner and tortured.
• In Easter 1916, the poet begins with a criticism of the politicians both living and those who are dead in recent times. He saw the whole Irish scene transformed by the tragedy of execution. The heroes of the rebellion-Pearse, Connolly, McDonough and MacBride-all became symbols of heroic martyrdom.
• In the first stanza, the poet speaks of the politicians whom he meets at close day in the parliament. The politicians are sitting on the counter without any work on their desk. The poet meets with people coming out of their homes or offices and greets them with a nod of his head.  He is certain that all of them are living where life consist of a mixture of colors like the dress of a jester. But glorious and terrible change happens suddenly.. 
• The last stanza turns to pay tribute to all the rebels who sacrificed their lives and brought a new era in the nation’s life. The green color in the poem stand for the nation color of Ireland which became prevalent now and forth coming days symbolized the successful revolution for the liberation of Ireland.