W. B. Yeats: The Only Jealousy of Emer

W. B. Yeats: The Only Jealousy of Emer

From Brendan Moir's Playwright Corner by Brendan Moir

May 2, 2026 · 24 min · Season 3 · Episode 25

About this episode

This episode explores W. B. Yeats' play 'The Only Jealousy of Emer', focusing on themes of self sacrifice and true devotion.

This is the inevitable conclusion of the Myth of Cuchulainn as set out by W.B. Yeats. "The Only Jealousy of Emer" is a story of self sacrifice and humility brought about through humiliation and debauchery. And yet, through all of that, each action taken by the characters in done out of love. If the other portions of Yeats' Myth of Cuchulainn were about fealty, this play is about true devotion, even unto giving up that precious item at the bottom of Pandora's box. Follow me on other platforms: https://bemuse.bandcamp.com https://www.instagram.com/talentunlimited1/?hl=en https://open.spotify.com/artist/0wiNjFbd6rluEHZF4Qffcv https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070481824821&locale=hi_IN https://www.patreon.com/bemuse Website: https://bemusearts.com *This Season's Album Art by Illuvisual* William Butler Yeats (13 June 1865 – 28 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist and writer, and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival, and along with John Millington Synge and Lady Gregory, he founded the Abbey Theatre, serving as its chief during its early years. He was awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize in…

People in this episode

Host: Brendan Moir

Topics covered

  • Myth of Cuchulainn
  • self sacrifice
  • humility
  • love
  • devotion

Keywords

  • W. B. Yeats
  • The Only Jealousy of Emer
  • Cuchulainn
  • self sacrifice
  • humility
  • love
  • devotion

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Only Jealousy of Emer

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