The waste Land

Hello views 👋

I am Kavita Chauhan, 

a student of M.A. sem-2 department of English, M.K.B.U.

Thinking Activity - The  Waste Land 

         

This blog discusses questions about T.S. Eliot's poem "The Waste Land"

-assigned by Dilip bard sir 

T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land' serves as a poignant portrayal of the deteriorating human condition in the 20th century, portraying a desolate realm where nothing can flourish. This wasteland signifies the barrenness, futility, and hollowness prevalent among individuals in the modern age.

The structure of Eliot's poem, often deemed a "Modern Epic," unfolds in five distinctive parts.

1. The Burial of the Dead

2. A Game of Chess

3. The Fire Sermon

4. Death by Water

5. What the Thunder Said

"The Burial of the Dead" in "The Waste Land" symbolizes a spiritual decline in a wasteland where people resist any change to their routines. Even though April is usually a symbol of new beginnings, for them, it becomes harsh, reflecting their dislike for spiritual renewal.

In "A Game of Chess," inspired by Middleton's play, it shows a society where love turns into lust. The mention of Philomel represents purification through suffering, but in modern times, the hope for renewal is lost

The Fire Sermon" gets its name from Buddha's sermon, highlighting the world's spiritual decay filled with hatred and desire. "Death by Water" uses water as a symbol of cleansing and new life. Phlebas's death symbolizes those consumed by worldly pursuits, losing their youth to death. "What the Thunder Said" suggests freedom from spiritual emptiness, like the knight's journey in the Fisher King myth and Christ's disciples to Emmaus, symbolizing truth and resurrection.

In short, "The Waste Land" delves into themes of brokenness, loss, distorted sexuality, and spiritual decline.

 Each section artfully juxtaposes fragments from various facets, creating a narrative that resembles episodic events—a layered "Story within Story."

As per my understanding, I try to give answers of questions which is mentioned here.

1. ) What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzche's views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling mytho-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

Answer:- 

            Nietzsche was a German philosopher, essayist and cultural critic. His writings on truth, morality, language, aesthetics, cultural theory, history, nihilism, power, consciousness and the meaning of existence have exerted an enormous influence on western philosophy and intellectual history. 

The Ubermensch, a concept in Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy, is introduced in his 1883 work "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," where Zarathustra presents it as a goal for humanity. Essentially, Ubermensch translates to "Overman," "Superman," or "Superhuman," contrasting Nietzsche's views with the otherworldliness of Christianity.

  

 • Death of God and creation of New       Values :

Zarathustra suggests that the Ubermensch, or overman, creates new values to overcome nihilism after declaring "God is dead." Nietzsche sees the Christian value system as reactive and destructive, lacking in life affirmation. The death of God signifies the end of relying on divine values. While belief in God provided meaning for a while, blindly following God without taking personal action is problematic. In tough situations, humans should have faith and hope but also engage in hard work and effort. Nietzsche beautifully describes this through the concept of the Ubermensch.

On the contrary, T. S. Eliot, in "The Wasteland," urges us to look back into the past, connecting it to the present. He uses various myths to compare past incidents with contemporary issues, emphasizing the relevance of history to current times.

2) Prior to the speech, Gustaf Hellström of the Swedish Academy made these remarks:

What are your views regarding these comments? Is it true that giving free vent to the repressed 'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life? or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'? 

Answer :-  

 Freud and Nietzsche, being contemporaries, delved into different fields. Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, explored individuality and primitive instincts, with concepts like Id, Ego, and Superego shaping human behavior.

Conversely, T.S. Eliot employed myths in "The Wasteland," arguing that looking back isn't necessarily regressive. Learning from the past allows people to avoid repeating mistakes and recover from past errors, as highlighted by Eliot using myths to draw lessons applicable to the present.  

3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'. (Where, How and Why are the Indian thoughts referred?

Answer :-

           T.S Eliot used various allusions to the Indian thoughts in " The Wasteland." Like,

• Buddha's Sermon 

• River and Mountain 

• Thunder

• Three DA

1. Da - Datta ( Be a giver )

2. Da - Dayadhvam ( Empathise )

3. Da - Damyata ( Self Control )

DA
Datta: what have we given?
My friend, blood shaking my heart
The awful daring of a moment’s surrender
Which an age of prudence can never retract
By this, and this only, we have existed
Which is not to be found in our obituaries
Or in memories draped by the beneficent spider
Or under seals broken by the lean solicitor
In our empty rooms
DA
Dayadhvam: I have heard the key
Turn in the door once and turn once only
We think of the key, each in his prison
Thinking of the key, each confirms a prison
Only at nightfall, aethereal rumours

Revive for a moment a broken Coriolanus
DA
Damyata: The boat responded
Gaily, to the hand expert with sail and oar
The sea was calm, your heart would have responded
Gaily, when invited, beating obedient
To controlling hands


Datta means to give; not only charity but giving oneself for some Nobel cause.
Dayadhvam means to sympathies yourself with the sorrows and suffering from other
Damayanta means self control, control over one’s passions and desire ( sexual desire).

 • Shantih :

Shantih shantih shantih - this last line is about ultimate peace which every human being is craving for. This can be considered as universal human law. And the poem complete with the word " Shantih." He used the word in the context of the peace of the world

4) Is it possible to read 'The Waste Land' as a Pandemic Poem?

Answer:-

             

 The poem "The Wasteland" is a powerful illustration of The fragility of life and the need for determination of difficulty. Composed in the early 1920s, it is filled with images of death and devastation, yet also of optimism and revival. When viewed through the perspective of the pandemic, we can see how the poem mirrors our current plight.

The poem begins with this line, "April is the cruellest month" In the context of the poem, this line refers to the way in which the coming of spring can bring a renewed feeling of hopelessness and despair. And In the context of the pandemic, this line takes on new meaning, as April 20202 was the month when many countries around the world began to see a surge in COVID-19 cases and death

"Unreal City"

 This line refers to the feeling of disconnection and isolation. The situation of like this many people experienced in the aftermath of World War I.

 "I had not thought death had undone so many"

 This line refers to the sheer number of people who died in World War I and the damaging impact it had on society..

 "The river's tend is broken"

 This line refers to the way in which nature is in a state of decay and decline." The waste land" as a pandemic poem 

          Thank for visiting ☺️

Refference:

Barad, Dilip. “Presentations on T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land.'” 9 November 2017,

https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2014/10/presentations-on-ts-eliots-waste-land.html

Mcleod, Saul. Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development. www.simplypsychology.org/psychosexual.html