The Wasteland..by T.S.Eliot

"The Waste Land" 
        -by T.S.Eliot.....

My answers of three questions about contradiction of Eliot with Nietzsche and Freud and the use of Indian thoughts in “The Waste Land”:


1)  What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzsche's views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling mytho-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

     

# T.S.Eliot and Friedrich Nietzsche both are totally different or they are opposite in their views...but both can be considered right on their place...

Nietzsche is like an atheist,he believes that their is no God or he believes in human power,he says,that only man can help themselves and “God is dead”.He was convinced that traditional values represented a “slave morality”.Nietzsche believes in superhuman who has strength and believe in own self...

In Nietzsche's "Ubermensch",we find morality."The Ubermensch", which means ‘beyond man’.....Nietzsche's point is about superhuman and Eliot's point is about backward looking.Both are right on their  own view but they are different from each other.

In the poem Eliot believes in God , spirituality and religion.Eliot believes in supernatural power and he wanted to evoke that supernatural instinct in the heart of people for better future, he has taken the old mythical ideas from past with the help of Upanishads and various Cultures.


The view of Eliot can be considered as more realistic than Nietzsche. Nietzsche is finding the solution of present in future, and Eliot is finding the solution of present and future in past. Nietzsche believes in assumptions while Eliot has proved it universally correct, by examine all the cultures.



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'?





# Yes, it is true that giving free vent to the repressed “primitive instinct”can lead us to happy and satisfied life, but only individually.According to Fraud, Primitive instinct leads us to happy & satisfied life. While Eliot believed that salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition.

Fraud argued that freedom has scope to live life with enjoyment or live it with enough satisfaction.But when it goes beyond to it, it may hard to control afterwards.It may mislead too.

"Industrialism",Industrial aspects are permitted to develop our growth or economy. It provides us all possible-require facilities.but when it turns to hardships of survive in competitive world.Pollution that grows due to such industrial development.

Same way in The Waste Land how sexual perversion referred & it's outcome Eliot tries to point out is important here.

Eliot tries to reconstruct the society for that he suggested to acquire limited freedom. Faith in God is more important to lead towards it.Cultural traditions are the best way to deal with such possibilities of society that happens due to our sense of attitude of living. To be free from sexual degradation he choose the path of spirituality. Even at least one can control self from such affected situation.We can say,Eliot stands for spiritual way to make ideal society.


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

     

# In “The Waste Land” Eliot has presented various cultures and languages to connect the world with one universal thought. In first four parts Eliot has described that how sexual perversion has overpowered the spirituality of humans..

In the last part “What the thunder said” he described the solution of spiritual degradation by referring in Indian culture and Upanishads.

Eliot refers to Wisdom of India for spiritual salvation of modern humanity by giving the reference of

"Ganga was sunken, and the limp leavesWaited for rain, while the black clouds Gathered far distant, over Himavant.The jungle crouched, humped in silence.
Then spoke the thunder”

In this lines Eliot used Ganga which considered as holy river in India. Also used Himalayas as Himavant. So both are mythically and spiritually connected to India.


Eliot uses three Da in the fifth part of the poem in


1)Datta - To Give

2)Dayadhwam - Sympathies

3)Damyata - Self control




1) Datta : to give: not only charity but giving oneself for some noble cause,passionate participation, not mere mechanical,devote oneself for noble deeds and for that he has given an example of  "Daan-vir Karna", "Bhamasha".

 2) Dayadhvam: sympathise – empathize yourself with the sorrows and suffering of others, come out of your isolation and live into others.

3) Damyata: Self Control, control over one’s passions and desires. This all are the deep rooted philosophy of Indian culture which Eliot wants to be followed by Waste lander.

Shantih shlok :


          " Shantih    shantih    shantih "...

These lines are taken from"Brihadaaranyak Upanishad"so that is Indian reference is there.

The last lines,"Shantih   Shantih   Shantih"..
suggests, 'the peace which passeth understanding’. The word ''Shanti" is used for peaceful life in most of the chants of Indian Vedas and Upanishads and Eliot has also used it to end his poem and to give the message of peace.

Eliot refers to Wisdom of India for spiritual salvation of modern humanity. So by used this Indian thoughts Eliot wanted to resolved the problem like sexual perversion and spiritual draught.  He wanted to gave message about  " The way of life which is spiritual."

Thank You...