Throughout history, the inequitably of women in relation men has been a sensitive topic of debate. In an effort to safely accentuate their views upon the public, authors have taken to their writings as a means of influence. In T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland, each woman in the poem must make a decision whether to challenge the authority of her male oppressor or quietly conduct a life in accordance to man’s expectations. Either option ultimately results in confinement and abuse. On the other hand, The Love Song idealizes women, and suggests that they are almost sacred creatures unattainable to the common man. Had Virginia Wolfe read these poems, she would argue that the extent in which men subjugated women to enhance their ego in The Wasteland is
…show more content…
Elliot demonstrates the great extent to which society suppressed female expression. In the bar scene, Lil’s friend says, “I swear, I can’t bear to look at you. / And no more can’t I, I said, and think of poor Albert, / He’s been in the army four years, he wants a good time, / And if you don’t give it him, there’s others will, I said” (Wasteland, 142-149). Her story relates to the relationship between a solider and his wife. Lil is depicted as a sexual object not only to her husband, but also to her female friend, and to a larger degree, the society in which they are part of. Lil claims that she does not look as young as she used to because “It’s them pill I took, to bring it off” (Wasteland, 159). After having five abortions, Lil’s body must have deteriorated significantly. However, in a society where marriage is a contract that binds a woman to the exploitation of her husband, a woman’s desires are irrelevant. They were considered property, easily replaceable when fertility or beauty wane. The friend later asserts, “What you get married for if you don’t want children” (Wasteland, 163-164). This section of the poem implies that the primary responsibility of a woman is to produce children and look pretty for their husband. Lil represents one of the many women in Eliot’s novels that demonstrate resistance towards a male dominated society. However, the resistance is futile. “[That] Sunday Albert was home, they had a hot gammon” (Wasteland, 166). In the …show more content…
The wealthy female in the chapter is shown suppressing thoughts of a meaningless existence with perfume and jewelry: “In vials of ivory and coloured glass / Unstoppered, lurked her strange synthetic perfumes, Unguent, powdered, or liquid—troubled, confused And drowned the sense in odours; stirred by the air” (Wasteland, 86-89). Eliot’s careful use of the word “synthetic” suggests that these perfumes are symbolic of a manufactured reality created for and approved of by men. Although she is repulsed by the fragrances, she places high value in them due to its ability to entire her male companion. She is trapped within a confused world where her mind exists only as a mirror to that of man’s. In the room hangs an image of Philomel, a mythical hero who had broken free from her imposed silent existence. However, the image only appears in “withered stumps of time”, suggesting that the woman has forgotten the groundbreaking achievements of her role model. What was once a work of art used to inspire is now a superficial decoration. Although the woman later utters “glowing” words, they are “savagely still”. While her ideas may be meaningful, her voice only takes shape in appearance and disappears before it is ever seriously acknowledged. Because her thoughts hold no value, the woman willingly accepts a life within the confines of a
Elliot demonstrates the great extent to which society suppressed female expression. In the bar scene, Lil’s friend says, “I swear, I can’t bear to look at you. / And no more can’t I, I said, and think of poor Albert, / He’s been in the army four years, he wants a good time, / And if you don’t give it him, there’s others will, I said” (Wasteland, 142-149). Her story relates to the relationship between a solider and his wife. Lil is depicted as a sexual object not only to her husband, but also to her female friend, and to a larger degree, the society in which they are part of. Lil claims that she does not look as young as she used to because “It’s them pill I took, to bring it off” (Wasteland, 159). After having five abortions, Lil’s body must have deteriorated significantly. However, in a society where marriage is a contract that binds a woman to the exploitation of her husband, a woman’s desires are irrelevant. They were considered property, easily replaceable when fertility or beauty wane. The friend later asserts, “What you get married for if you don’t want children” (Wasteland, 163-164). This section of the poem implies that the primary responsibility of a woman is to produce children and look pretty for their husband. Lil represents one of the many women in Eliot’s novels that demonstrate resistance towards a male dominated society. However, the resistance is futile. “[That] Sunday Albert was home, they had a hot gammon” (Wasteland, 166). In the …show more content…
The wealthy female in the chapter is shown suppressing thoughts of a meaningless existence with perfume and jewelry: “In vials of ivory and coloured glass / Unstoppered, lurked her strange synthetic perfumes, Unguent, powdered, or liquid—troubled, confused And drowned the sense in odours; stirred by the air” (Wasteland, 86-89). Eliot’s careful use of the word “synthetic” suggests that these perfumes are symbolic of a manufactured reality created for and approved of by men. Although she is repulsed by the fragrances, she places high value in them due to its ability to entire her male companion. She is trapped within a confused world where her mind exists only as a mirror to that of man’s. In the room hangs an image of Philomel, a mythical hero who had broken free from her imposed silent existence. However, the image only appears in “withered stumps of time”, suggesting that the woman has forgotten the groundbreaking achievements of her role model. What was once a work of art used to inspire is now a superficial decoration. Although the woman later utters “glowing” words, they are “savagely still”. While her ideas may be meaningful, her voice only takes shape in appearance and disappears before it is ever seriously acknowledged. Because her thoughts hold no value, the woman willingly accepts a life within the confines of a