Wasteland by T.S.Eliot

Hello readers...

This blog is the part of my classroom thinking activity which Is given by Dr.Dilip sir. In this blog I talk about on' The Waste Land' is the masterpiece of T.S.Eliot. And as per my understanding I try to give answers which is mentioned here.

About poem:-

  'The Waste Land' is the masterpiece of T.S.Eliot. Eliot describes rotten state of human life in 20th century. The waste Land is the land where is nothing can be grown. The waste land is the Land of fertile, fruitless, and hollowness of human Beings in Modern age.  The Waste Land first appeared in the United Kingdom in the October issue of Eliot's " The Criterion " and in the United States in the November issue of " The Dial."

we all know that the poem ' Modern Epic ' divided into five parts. Each part is juxtaposes fragments of various aspects and it is just like episodic events which seems like 'Story within Story.' 

Central theme of the poem:-

In the poem we find many themes like:-

1)Death

2)Rebirth

3)The Seasons

4)Lust

5)Love 

6)Water

7)History

I find that The poem is based on the major theme of " Sexual Perversion and spiritual degradation." Eliot's wasteland resembles myths to show that how in modern wasteland even this kind of sin is committed by the people, and how people have lost faith in spirituality.

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?

Frederic Nietzsche was a German philosopher who gave the term ' Übermensch', which means superhuman, a human being with remarkable abilities. Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzsche, he have used many myth in his poem waste land, there is nothing wrong in being regressive because people learns from past. If people have done something wrong in past they can recover or learns not to repeat same thing in present. Eliot gave example of myth in the context of present.Nietzsche believe in human power as 'superman', he is not believe in supernatural things and tradition, for him The God is dead and he says that man can survive and make better future himself.Through the mythical views like Upnishada ,logic, supernatural power and various cultures, Eliot wants to evoke the people that past is very good lesson to make better future, people can learn through past and from supernatural things.

I gave first priority to Eliot's view. Because it's considered more realistic than Nietzsche.Nietzsche gave priority to future and other side Eliot gave priority to past.

22) 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'?' 

Frued is believed in individuality and talk about "primitive instinct" where as Eliot believed in preservation of cultural traditions which means all together. 

Frued was wrote that for progress of any individual primitive instinct was needed but in order to preserve tradition Eliot says that their is need for to grew together, for that example of Buddha was perhaps suitable. 

 If we look both side and think that  Eliot has powerful ideas rather than Sigmund Freud Another thing is that We all are lives our lives with specific perspective, with discipline and with moral rituals. Although life became more appropriate and enjoyable. Thus here i don't agree with idea of Freud.We are human beings and we all have desires but it's take right place when it's depending on our happiness. So it is true that giving free vent to the repressed 'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life. In this context I would like to support the frued's statement. 

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

There are many reference to Indian spirituality in “The wasteland”. Some of them are here.

1) River Ganga and Himalaya:-

River Ganga is known for its purity and also for purification. While Himalaya is known for spirituality and peace. In poem we find that  Eliot finds the solution of all contemporary problems in spirituality. That is the reason he referrers Ganga and Himalaya here.

Ganga was sunken, and the limps leaves

waited for rain, while the black clouds

gathered far distant, over Himvant

The jungle crouched, humped in silence."\

2)Three Da:-

Eliot gives three 'Da':-

1)Datta(be a giver)- to give not only charity but giving oneself for some noble cause.

2) Dayadhvam(Empathize)- Sympathies yourself with the sorrows and suffering of others, come out of your isolation and love into others.

3)Damyata(self control)- Self control, control over one's passion and desire.

3)Shantih mantra:-

The poem complete with the word " Shantih." He used the word in the context of the peace of the world. here we can say that Indian thoughts about peace in every universal things.This can be considered as universal human law.

Thank you....