The Wasteland" by T.S. Eliot which is modern epic poem. It is divided in five parts.
- The Burial of the Dead
- A Game of Chess
- The Fire Sermon
- Death by Water
- What the Thunder Said
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 myths historical answer to the contemporary malaise?
The growth of any society is always like climbing the mountain. If you want to reach at top you have to keep moving forward. At middle way you can't decide to go back and start again it is better to go ahead as going back is also same difficult and unrewarding.
Yes I believe that Eliot’s idea of going back to Holy scriptures for finding solution of present malaise's is regressive. As he himself has given many examples of past myths and we have seen that what the problems we are facing in contemporary time same problems were existed in past and if there is permanent solution for these problems in scriptures, the problems would have been solved, but as the problems are still alive we should look for another way to solve it rather going back to the past.
In this matter I find Nietzsche’s concept of “Ubermensch” appropriate. As this concept talking about to have our own morality for the betterment of humanity and our self. The morality which generally accepted and not harmful for society. To have faith in our self make us more powerful to fight against the problems around us and to control our self. So as per my thinking it is better to find new solution rather than going back to the old ones as they will not work for contemporary time same as they didn’t work for old time.
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'?
I am disagree with Eliot. By suppressing the desire 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. Sometimes suppressing the feelings may be good for a period of time in eyes of people, but at longer run when the desires aren't under control at that time something very wrong happens by one that the regret is for lifelong. I believe that by giving freedom one can find thy self and thy self in much more better way. So the desires which all normal human beings naturally have should not be suppressed. It is better to give free vent to the desires which leads to the happy and satisfactory life.
3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'. (Where, How and Why are the Indian thoughts referred?)
There are many reference to Indian spirituality in “The wasteland”. Some of them are here.
1) The Fire Sermon
“The Fire Sermon” is also the name of one of sermon given by Buddha. Gayasisa or Brahmayoni hill, is the place where Buddha taught the fire sermon, in which Buddha preaches about achieving liberation from suffering through detachment from the five senses and mind.
Here Eliot gave same name to the third part of his poem. The whole poem describe the theme of sexual perversion and by referring to this sermon of Buddha because he also wants to convey a message to stay detached.
2) River Ganga and Himalaya
"Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves
Waited for rain, while the black clouds
Gathered far distant, over Himavant."
River Ganga is known for its purity and also for purification. While Himalaya is known for spirituality and peace. Eliot finds the solution of all contemporary problems in spirituality. That is the reason he referrers Ganga and Himalaya here.
3) The Thunder
In Upanishad the Prajapati spoke the message of salvation through thunder which called “Akashvani”. Here Eliot also give reference to Thunder to convey that now the solution of all problems will be given by Thunder, that is the reason he gave name to his 5th part of poem “What the Thunder Said”.
4) Three Da
1) Datta
2) Dayadhvam
3) Damyata
These three Da is spoken by Thunder. Which means this is the way of salvation. The first Da “Datta” means to give. Give sacrifice for others, and help each other. The second Da “Dayadhvam” means sympathies and empathies with others. Third Da “Damyata” means self control, control over the senses. According to Eliot this is the way one could get salvation.
5) Shantih mantra
The Shantih mantra is for inner peace, peace that passes understanding. Eliot ends his poem with this mantra and with hope. The hope of re-birth, end of modern malaise's, and growth of spirituality. To show the hope he ends this poem with Shantih mantra.
No comments:
Post a Comment