What is the speaker’s view of society in “The Second Coming”? Support your answer, citing details from the poem.

Answer:

In “The Second Coming,” the speaker sees society as chaotic, violent, and falling apart. He believes the world has lost its order and moral center, as shown by the lines “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” and “Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” He also describes a “blood-dimmed tide,” which suggests destruction and suffering. The speaker thinks good people have become weak or silent, while dangerous people are gaining power, as shown in “The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity.” Overall, he views society as decaying and moving toward disaster.