"The Wasteland"-Thinking Activity

 Thinking Activity on T.S Eliot's The Wasteland.

Hello Readers!

I am Daya Vaghani,a student of the Department of English,MKBU.This blog is the part of my classroom activity that is given by our Prof. Dr.Dilip Barad sir.

To see the teacher's blog click here.

First of all I would like to give a brief introduction about this poem.

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?

Nietzche talks about Ubermensch means Superman or Superhuman. according to him, in every decade there is/has been some people came out with strong will power, with more mental ability, more enthusiasm and became great through their revolutionary ideas among the ordinary people.

On the other side T.S Eliot talks to look backward into the past because anyhow past is connected with the present time. 'The Wasteland' by Eliot also tries to compare the myths or past incidents with contemporary time's issues.

In comparison to Neitzche's thought, yes Eliot is regressive but it doesn't mean that he only raises questions on his contemporary society, he also tries to give way of solution rather than the answers. Cycle of time always moving and when History start repeating one must have to look back and try to learn that what are mistakes our ancestor did and now when time comes to us how we will deal with it?It is certain and right that new questions's answer we couldn't find in Upanishad, Buddhism and christinity but the way of living,understanding towards any situation one can develop.

So we can conclude that it is also right that problems of contemporary crisis' solution are in faith and self but, the level of faith and understanding of self must be necessary. It comes from reading mytho-historical and religious thought. Eliot achieved that universality of thought.

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' leads us to a happy and satisfied life? or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'?

                                               T.S. Eliot and S. Freud

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.

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

There is an image or central theme of poem is death in life is eastern philosophy in wasteland, rebirth and the continuation pf an endless cycle of suffering in a world, and many other references are there...

1.The Fire sermon

The fire and sermon is name of sermon given by Buddha. Gayasisa is the place where buddha preaches the fire sermon about achieving liberation from suffering through detachment from the five senses and mind, by that Eliot also wants to convey a message tp stay detached from all body and sense's desire.

2.What the Thunder said

There is reference of Upanishad in this Prajapati Spoke in thunder 'aakashvani' to devotees are pointed out the way of salvation. Eliot shows the way of spiritual rebirth on the basis of wisdom of India. 

"Rock and no water and the sandy road

The road winding above among the mountains"

 Climbing a painful mountain passes through pain and agony and after that you reach your destination the feeling of Air is Shantih.

3.River Ganga and Himalaya

Eliot refers to Wisdom of India for spiritual salvation of modern humanity. Holly river Ganga is known for its purity and also for purification , and Himalaya is known for spirituality and peace.

"Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves

Waited for rain, while the black clouds

Gathered far distant, over Himavant".

4.Three Da

Datta.. Give

Dayadhvam... Sympathize

Damyata...control

Da..Da..Da.. As a reminder to practice self control, giving and compassion.

5.Shantih Mantra

Path of knowledge is always painful and peace comes after knowing something that is the real Shantih. Thus Eliot ends Wasteland with hope.

So, according to me Eliot took Indian thoughts in his poem because he believes that peace is in the air of India and India is spiritually high, so it might be the indication of getting the revelation from the sexual perversion and spiritual degradation from the philosophies of India .