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Modernism and “The Waste Land”
Deshaneir Mónay
Sep 17, 2016
Eliot visits various topics throughout the next four sections. The topics range between Greek mythology, lackluster sexual encounters, and death of a sailor. Throughout the three middle portions the shifts and allusions are almost impossible to follow during the first read as “the fragments merge with one another, pass into one another” (Levenson). This proves Eliot to be successful in his attempt to force the reader to be conscientious. While reading one is left with this overwhelming spinning sensation as each speaker seems to be beg to be heard. This could be a direct connection to Eliot’s personal feelings of the decline of humanity that he is witnessing. Lewis best explains this by describing:
The poem functions as an outlet for Eliot’s anxieties around the loss of cultural and moral identity. He is vocalizing his distaste for his surroundings in a post World War I society. The title The Waste Land describes his sentiments of the dry infertile world. A world that “lacks traditional structures of authority and belief” thus only containing “soil that may not be conducive to new growth” (Lewis). Section five of the poem reconnects to the initial ideas found in section one. Eliot Says:
Deshaneir Mónay
Sep 17, 2016
T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land has been regarded as one of the most important modern poems. The work addresses modernity and the lost connection to high culture and fine art. Eliot’s concept of utopia was rapidly drifting even as he created this piece. The poem has been known to perplex even the most attentive audiences.Throughout the poem Eliot alludes to classic literature which alienates many readers. The literature referenced pans across various cultures even including foreign languages. The use of a variety of works created what Pericles Lewis calls a “collage of poetic fragments to create the sense of speaking for an entire culture in crisis.” Eliot challenged the audience to critically analyze the poem in hopes of sparking a connection to a dying tradition. Lewis continues to explain how “the poet seeks to address modern problems — the war, industrialization, abortion, urban life — and at the same time to participate in a literary tradition.” The Waste Land’s coded language initially seems jumbled, however, under the obscure references is a vital message.
The poem is split into five sections and includes shifting between speakers, time, and location. The poem quickly leaves behind even the most skilled reader as Eliot seamlessly makes his transitions. The opening of the poem is called “The Burial of The Dead” and is seemingly the easiest to follow. However, the tone is somber as there is continuous referencing to death and rebirth. Nature is used as a vehicle to explain the endless cycle which seems to exhaust the speaker. Section one dives into deep childhood memories that show a clear yearning due to unmet desires. Yet even this portion that initially is simple to follow shifts into what appears to be a completely different work.
Eliot visits various topics throughout the next four sections. The topics range between Greek mythology, lackluster sexual encounters, and death of a sailor. Throughout the three middle portions the shifts and allusions are almost impossible to follow during the first read as “the fragments merge with one another, pass into one another” (Levenson). This proves Eliot to be successful in his attempt to force the reader to be conscientious. While reading one is left with this overwhelming spinning sensation as each speaker seems to be beg to be heard. This could be a direct connection to Eliot’s personal feelings of the decline of humanity that he is witnessing. Lewis best explains this by describing:
The dystopia forming around him is abrupt and unbending. Similar to great thinkers like Matthew Arnold and Theodor W. Adorno, Eliot appreciated thoroughness of thought and attention to culture and art.
The poem functions as an outlet for Eliot’s anxieties around the loss of cultural and moral identity. He is vocalizing his distaste for his surroundings in a post World War I society. The title The Waste Land describes his sentiments of the dry infertile world. A world that “lacks traditional structures of authority and belief” thus only containing “soil that may not be conducive to new growth” (Lewis). Section five of the poem reconnects to the initial ideas found in section one. Eliot Says:
The poem uses various metaphors to describe the moral degradation taking place. Eliot’s writing techniques are unmatched as he juxtaposes popular culture to ancient culture in a deliberate attempt to disorient the reader. The text is truly supercilious as only few are meant to understand and grasp the fragmented work. Eliot uses his knowledge of the literary canon to address the downfall of humanity due to greed, and the need of instant satisfaction. One could argue that Eliot is speaking directly to the public, or to no one at all. His message would likely fall upon deaf ears, or ears unable to decode his complex language. The work is truly modern as he uses an abundance of imagery, switching of characters, and intentional fragmentation. All of these techniques are used to declare his objections of an morally corrupt world. Thomas Eliot’s Utopia was rapidly slipping away as a dystopian world full of culture that now “impresses the same stamp on everything” (Adorno) emerged.
