In the poem "The Second Coming" written by William Butler Yeats in 1919 after World War I, the emotional element and symbols involved are important to understand in order to understand the poem well. The poem is written in iambic pentameter. The first image presented to the reader is of a calamity, where a hawk is unable to answer the call of safety and begins to spiral out of control. "Things are falling apart; the center cannot hold" The center of this spiral could metaphorically refer to a society out of control. After which the speaker declares: "A simple anarchy is unleashed on the world", an anarchy relating to confusion or chaos depending on the reader's understanding, of a world where innocence has been lost. Additionally, anarchy could refer to new freedoms in society that some enjoy and are denied to others. In a society where common sense was lost, people began to move away from good and turn more towards their vices. Yeats was critical of people, especially those in power after the Great War. Which in the poem can be represented as “The blood-stained tide is unleashed”. Other images are provided by seas full of blood and drowning. The “best” in society are apathetic while the worst have “passionate intensity.” Through this image, Yeats presents the image of a chaotic society headed towards self-destruction. Gyres play an interesting role because they symbolize the transition from one to the other, since one gyre ends in the center of another. Thus giving the idea that Yeats believes in a coming transition. Which he cites as an anticipated change that he's looking forward to. This event can be characterized as “The Second Coming”. A symbolic reference can be made to the middle of paper or to anarchy in the world. Furthermore, the cradle represents the manger of the baby Jesus which could only be rocked by animals, forcing a return to the Sphinx that Yeats saw. Yeats ends the poem with two unanswered questions. Yeats, despite having seen a revelation, is still not entirely convinced of what this beast may be. However, this beast took the place of Jesus Christ the Savior, and in the moment that would have called for Jesus' return, this "brute beast" took his place, slowly moving toward the eventual doom of all. This catastrophe cannot be directly attributed to the "brutals" because it may imply harsh justice rather than horror, but on the other hand, this "brutal beast" may be the Antichrist. Yeats uses a myriad of symbols creating a sense of catastrophe leading the reader to doubt and fear change even if the change is for the better..