Comment on TS Eliot's Use of Myth in 'The Waste Land'.

 

T.S. Eliot's modernist masterpiece, "The Waste Land," is a complex and fragmented work that draws on a wide range of mythological and literary sources. The poem is divided into five sections, each of which explores different aspects of the modern condition, from the breakdown of traditional values and the alienation of the individual to the search for spiritual redemption. In this essay, I will explore the various ways in which Eliot uses myth in "The Waste Land," and how it contributes to the poem's overall themes and meaning.

One of the most prominent mythological motifs in the poem is the Fisher King, a figure from Arthurian legend who is associated with the land's fertility and well-being. In "The Waste Land," the Fisher King is presented as a broken and wounded figure, whose kingdom has been reduced to a barren wasteland. Eliot uses the Fisher King myth to symbolize the spiritual emptiness and decay of modern civilization, and the desperate search for redemption and renewal.

Another mythological reference in the poem is the story of the fertility goddess, who is associated with the cycles of nature and the renewal of life. In "The Waste Land," this mythological figure is represented by the character of Tiresias, a prophet who is both male and female. Tiresias appears throughout the poem, offering fragmented glimpses of hope and redemption, while also reflecting the poem's themes of fragmentation and disconnection.

In addition to these mythological references, Eliot draws on a wide range of literary sources, from Shakespeare and Dante to the Bible and Hindu mythology. For example, in the section titled "The Fire Sermon," Eliot draws on the story of the Buddha, who is said to have achieved enlightenment while meditating on the banks of a river. In "The Waste Land," this story is transposed to the banks of the Thames, which is presented as a polluted and degraded river, reflecting the spiritual decay of modern civilization.

Throughout the poem, Eliot's use of myth serves to highlight the spiritual emptiness and decay of modern civilization, while also pointing towards the possibility of renewal and redemption. The poem is a fragmented and complex work, reflecting the uncertainty and dislocation of the modern condition. In the words of Eliot himself, "these fragments I have shored against my ruins," suggesting that through the use of myth and other literary sources, the poet can begin to piece together a new sense of meaning and purpose in the face of the wasteland.

In conclusion, T.S. Eliot's use of myth in "The Waste Land" is a central element of the poem's themes and meaning. Through the use of the Fisher King myth, the story of the fertility goddess, and other literary sources, Eliot highlights the spiritual emptiness and decay of modern civilization, while also suggesting the possibility of renewal and redemption. The poem remains a powerful testament to the enduring relevance of myth and literature in the face of the dislocation and fragmentation of the modern world. As Eliot himself wrote, "the communication of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living."