Two Plays for Dancers

A collection of two dramatic works written in the early 20th century. This book showcases Yeats' innovative approach to drama, particularly his focus on the integration of dance and music within the theatrical experience. The likely topic revolves around themes of love, memory, and the interplay between the living and the supernatural, as seen through a poetic lens. The collection includes ''The Dreaming of the Bones'' and ''The Only Jealousy of Emer.'' In ''The Dreaming of the Bones,'' a young man, hiding from law enforcement after the Easter Rising, encounters spirits and confronts themes of guilt and love, specifically referencing the tragic figures of Dermot and Dervorgilla. The play weaves between the realms of the living and the dead, exploring themes of unfulfilled passion and the haunting nature of historical memory. ''The Only Jealousy of Emer'' contrasts the deep, passionate love of Cuchulain for his wife Emer against his entanglement with Eithne Inguba, revealing the complexities of loyalty, jealousy, and the consequences of choices made in love. Both plays blend lyrical dialogue, evocative imagery, and the arts of dance and music to create a unique theatrical experience.