No Second Troy

Women are the root of war? Troy was caused by 2 kings fighting over Helen of Troy. It would be the question of could Helen have prevented this situation. I would say no, there is nothing that she could do. The men decided that she was worthy of love and war and thus fought to vie for her affections. Yeats expresses this emotion through the narrator saying that she couldn't be blamed for vexing him in his emotions. Her affections caused men to find it worthy to rage war against one another. From this war came courage and nobleness. The poem seems to suggest that from the war and destruction came the creation in the hearts of the men fighting valiant attributes. Even to ask the question in the end to say that was there another way to instill these things into more men by creating another Troy. "Why, what could she have done, being what she is? Was there another Troy for her to burn?(1118)" This creates in my mind that the attributes the men gained from being in the war were more highly treasured than the death that may have ensued. "Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways, or hurled the little streets upon the great, Had they but courage equal to desire?" While in a bad situation the things that were learned could be considered valuable in the long run. For that small reason, Yeats suggests through the narrator that Troy may have been a success and that she can't be blamed for the small misery created in the same breath. I think its kinda funny, to almost excuse a war of love for the creation of chivalry almost.