The lyrics of transcendence by William Butler Yeats is to a greatextent a comprehensive interpretation of Yeats' views on poet ics and life.According to Yeats,transcendence is essentially a cold,lofty wisdom with which human beings could transcend their innate limitations,incompleteness as well as the secularities of existence,therefore achieving the mastery over one's fate.The thematic study of Yeats' lyrics of transcendence offers an unique approach to Yeats' philosophy in art and life.
Yeats' lyrics of sublimation is one of his major concerns in his later years. Sublimation for Yeats is essentially the transmutation and elevation of bitterness and tragic facts of being into happiness, into tranquility of mind, then into the emotionless emotion, as Yeats names it as "innocence". The process of sublimation enriches the creativity of Yeats as artist when he is confronted with severity of aging spiritually and physically.