Oneness of Literature and The Waste Land
Literature celebrates multiplicity. Probably this is the reason why it has a universal appeal. No matter in what language it is written, literature addresses the human condition. This is justified by works like The Waste Land by T.S Eliot. Eliot's epic poem refers to not just the Eurocentric sensibilities but also to the human sensibilities across cultures and nations. This is the reason why it appears relevant even after so many years of its composition. Though the contexts have changed, but the socio-cultural decay it hints at has continued to exist in the post-modern era as well. Even today humanity finds itself in a spiritual crisis not just when a war breaks out but whenever a socio-cultural issue comes up.
Other than the subject matter The Waste Land also uses many motifs from various cultures and religions. For example, the use of Upanishadic preachings in What The Thunder Said, Buddhist philosophy in the Fire Sermon, use of German, Spanish and Greek examples and language, so on and so forth. Further, the work also contains various universal themes such as:
Fatal Love
Hospitality as an accepted virtue across cultures and societies
Nostalgia as a powerful force
The life in death of the modern times ,etc
The work is also a great blend of classical and modern texts. This is evident by the examples of Greek myths and characters such as Tiresias, Shakesperean plays such as Tempest, references to the German opera, etc. The poem is also full of intertextuality which helps the poet to intensify the effect of his work and also to add more and more layers of interpretation of the work.
Thus, The Waste Land portrays the universality as well as personal appeal in its unique way. It can either be read as the poet's personal expression or as the impersonal picture of the modern humanity and its spiritual decay.
Other than the subject matter The Waste Land also uses many motifs from various cultures and religions. For example, the use of Upanishadic preachings in What The Thunder Said, Buddhist philosophy in the Fire Sermon, use of German, Spanish and Greek examples and language, so on and so forth. Further, the work also contains various universal themes such as:
Fatal Love
Hospitality as an accepted virtue across cultures and societies
Nostalgia as a powerful force
The life in death of the modern times ,etc
The work is also a great blend of classical and modern texts. This is evident by the examples of Greek myths and characters such as Tiresias, Shakesperean plays such as Tempest, references to the German opera, etc. The poem is also full of intertextuality which helps the poet to intensify the effect of his work and also to add more and more layers of interpretation of the work.
Thus, The Waste Land portrays the universality as well as personal appeal in its unique way. It can either be read as the poet's personal expression or as the impersonal picture of the modern humanity and its spiritual decay.
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