Question

You have perhaps concluded that people are not objects to be valued for their qualities or riches rather than for themselves. But elsewhere Yeats asks the question: How can we separate the dancer from the dance? Is it possible to separate ‘the person himself or herself’ from how the person looks, sounds, walks, and so on? Think of how you or a friend or member of your family has changed over the years. Has your relationship also changed? In what way?

Answer 1

We can’t compartmentalise a person; it’s true. We always consider them in their entirety. We cannot claim to appreciate someone’s dance while detesting the dancer. We fall in love with someone because we admire their appearance and other attributes. If we observe a change in the person we love, our connection will inevitably change. We are unable to analyse love since it is a complex phenomenon.