T.S Eliot’s, The Wasteland, was published shortly after World War I. One of the most important pieces of modernist literature, Eliot’s poem was part of this revolution in poetry. The poem’s fragmented style and numerous speakers essentially portray the chaos of society after the war. The poem is divided into five sections with all the speakers telling their own short story. They range from heroes to ordinary people and change while reading without warning. In The Wasteland, multiple speakers and the fragmentary nature causes the poem to lose the creation of “characters” and create confusion, but is brought together by an important speaker creating a psychological landscape. The speaker of The Wasteland is depersonalized because there is not
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In section three, “The Fire Sermon”, the voice of Tiresias is heard. He says, “I Tiresias, old man with wrinkled dugs perceived the scene, and foretold the rest” (Eliot 832). Tiresias is the only speaker in the poem who has knowledge of circumstances around him. The other speakers are telling their own experiences that are happening. Eliot’s note reads, “Tiresias, although a mere spectator and not indeed a character is yet the most important personage in the poem, uniting all the rest” (Eliot 832). Tiresias is observing a women and man’s dinner that ends in dismay. He says, “I too awaited the expected guest” (Eliot 832). Tiresias has the power to foresee events. Eliot uses Tiresias for readers to gain a further understanding of the use of all the different voices. Readers are able to see the idea to look at the voices impartially rather than based off that particular speaker’s …show more content…
In comparison to his poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, it is much more difficult for readers to understand. Both of these poems have psychological meanings, but the The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock is more straightforward. It is a monologue of a man named Prufrock who is conveying his struggles with a possible lover. The poem is a metaphor for the modern man in society facing problems. The monologue allows reads to gain insight on all of Prufrock’s personal issues. Prufrock says, “My morning coat my collar mounting firmly to the chin, my necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin- they will say: But how his arms and legs are thin!” (Eliot 823). A single speaker provides a more personal view and creates a character unlike The Wasteland. The Wasteland’s fragmentary style is reflective upon the physiological issues after World War I. The fragmentation is used to symbolize the turmoil the modern world was facing. While it may cause confusion to readers, it also provides a deeper meaning to the poem. Also, the different voices were used to portray the worldly issues people in the modern day were getting caught up in. In section IV, “Death by Water”, Phlebas the Phoenician dies by drowing. The speaker says, “Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you” (Eliot 834). Eliot uses this for people to reconsider their mortality and realize what is
In section three, “The Fire Sermon”, the voice of Tiresias is heard. He says, “I Tiresias, old man with wrinkled dugs perceived the scene, and foretold the rest” (Eliot 832). Tiresias is the only speaker in the poem who has knowledge of circumstances around him. The other speakers are telling their own experiences that are happening. Eliot’s note reads, “Tiresias, although a mere spectator and not indeed a character is yet the most important personage in the poem, uniting all the rest” (Eliot 832). Tiresias is observing a women and man’s dinner that ends in dismay. He says, “I too awaited the expected guest” (Eliot 832). Tiresias has the power to foresee events. Eliot uses Tiresias for readers to gain a further understanding of the use of all the different voices. Readers are able to see the idea to look at the voices impartially rather than based off that particular speaker’s …show more content…
In comparison to his poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, it is much more difficult for readers to understand. Both of these poems have psychological meanings, but the The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock is more straightforward. It is a monologue of a man named Prufrock who is conveying his struggles with a possible lover. The poem is a metaphor for the modern man in society facing problems. The monologue allows reads to gain insight on all of Prufrock’s personal issues. Prufrock says, “My morning coat my collar mounting firmly to the chin, my necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin- they will say: But how his arms and legs are thin!” (Eliot 823). A single speaker provides a more personal view and creates a character unlike The Wasteland. The Wasteland’s fragmentary style is reflective upon the physiological issues after World War I. The fragmentation is used to symbolize the turmoil the modern world was facing. While it may cause confusion to readers, it also provides a deeper meaning to the poem. Also, the different voices were used to portray the worldly issues people in the modern day were getting caught up in. In section IV, “Death by Water”, Phlebas the Phoenician dies by drowing. The speaker says, “Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you” (Eliot 834). Eliot uses this for people to reconsider their mortality and realize what is