The Waste Land by T S Eliot

   "The Waste Land" is a poem by T S Eliot, widely regarded as one of the most important poem of 20th century. It is published in 1922, the 434 lines.

◆ Significance of the title " The Waste Land" :-

The waste land refers to the spiritual and intellectual decay of the modern world. The land is barren and dry. Nothing grows from it and decay is the common theme.
The full of barrreness or futility of modern world & also the downfall shown in this poem.

 

● The poem devided into 5 sections:-

1. The Burial of the Dead

2. A Game of Chess

3. The Fire Sermon

4. Death by Water

5. What the Thunder Said

   

   In this poem the major idea we can see that Sexual sins, perversion of sex have always led to degeneration & decay.

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?

" Progressive, radical or even revolutionary change has always come from below.

- Tom Morello

The above phrase is tell that the time is always changing or a progressive. The time is always dynamic , not static.The growth of society is always like climbing the mountain. If we want to reach at top we have to keep moving on. 

Yes I believe that Eliot’s idea of going back to Holy scriptures for finding solution of present malaises is regressive. As he himself given many examples of past myths and we have seen that what the problems we are facing in contemporary time same problems are existed in past and if there is permanent solution for these problems in scriptures, the problems would have been solved, but as the problems are still alive we should look for another way to solve it rather going back to the past.

In this matter I find Nietzsche’s concept of “Ubermensch” appropriate. As this concept talking about to have our own morality for the betterment of humanity and our self. The morality which generally accepted and not harmful for society. To have faith in our self make us more powerful to fight against the problems around us and to control our self. So as per my thinking it is better to find new solution rather than going back to the old ones as they will not work for contemporary time same as they didn’t work for old time.

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'?

I am disagree with Eliot. By suppressing the desires or by controlling it the desire get more strong and it also affect at psychological level. It is better to give free vent to primitive instincts as Freud suggest to do. 

Here I want to give the example of Indian Saints.
Who suppressing their all desire by becoming a GURU.

So the desires which all normal human beings naturally have should not be suppressed. It is better to give free vent to the desires which leads to the happy and satisfactory life.

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) The Fire Sermon

“The Fire Sermon” is also the name of one of sermon given by Buddha. Gayasisa or Brahmayoni hill, is the place where Buddha taught the fire sermon, in which Buddha preaches about achieving liberation from suffering through detachment from the five senses and mind.

Here Eliot gave same name to the third part of his poem. The whole poem describe the theme of sexual perversion and by referring to this sermon of Buddha because he also wants to convey a message to stay detached from all the senses.

2) River Ganga and Himalaya

"Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves

Waited for rain, while the black clouds

Gathered far distant, over Himavant."

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

3) The Thunder

In Upanishad the Prajapati spoke the message of salvation through thunder which called “Akashvani”. Here Eliot also give reference to Thunder to convey that now the solution of all problems will be given by Thunder, that is the reason he gave name to his 5th part of poem “What the Thunder Said”.

4) Three Da

1) Datta

2) Dayadhvam

3) Damyata

These three Da is spoken by Thunder. Which means this is the way of salvation. The first Da “Datta” means to give. Give sacrifice for others, and help each other. The second Da “Dayadhvam” means sympathies and empathies with others. Third Da “Damyata” means self control, control over the senses. According to Eliot this is the way one could get salvation.

5) Shantih mantra

The Shantih mantra is for inner peace, peace that passes understanding. Eliot ends his poem with this mantra and with hope. The hope of re-birth, end of modern malaises, and growth pf spirituality. To show the hope he ends this poem with Shantih mantra.

Thank you.