Final Answer:
When Yeats describes his subject's pilgrim soul, he reveals his love for spiritual and transcendent qualities. The pilgrim soul embodies a longing for a higher, divine realm and signifies Yeats' appreciation for the spiritual journey and quest for meaning.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of W.B. Yeats' poetry, particularly in works like "Sailing to Byzantium" and "The Second Coming," the reference to the pilgrim soul conveys Yeats' admiration for qualities associated with spiritual seeking. The pilgrim soul represents an individual's quest for spiritual enlightenment and a departure from the mundane concerns of the physical world. Yeats, a prominent figure in the Irish Literary Revival, was deeply interested in mysticism, symbolism, and the intersection of the earthly and the divine.
By portraying the pilgrim soul, Yeats expresses his love for the mystical and the eternal. The pilgrim's journey becomes a metaphor for the poet's own pursuit of higher truths and his fascination with the timeless aspects of human existence. Yeats' use of symbolism and spiritual themes reflects his belief in the significance of the soul's journey beyond the temporal and material aspects of life.
Understanding Yeats' poetic language and symbolism allows readers to appreciate the depth of his affection for spiritual themes. His portrayal of the pilgrim soul illustrates a yearning for a realm beyond the ordinary, emphasizing the enduring power of the spiritual quest in the face of a changing and tumultuous world.