The Wasteland

Today, I read the Wasteland. It is a difficult poem to understand. I read that Ezra Pound edited it, and it was twice as long as it is now. The poem shifts from one voice to another, from place to place, language to language. It seems to be a mix of satire and prophecy. The reason that I like the beginning is because it reminds me of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales that also begins in the month of April. Eliot must have been very smart because he includes so many different works of literature. I feel like I am working on a jigsaw puzzle that has lost some pieces. I think this poem is meant to be interpreted by each reader. The amount of footnotes is astounding! Like the pilgirms on the journey to Canterbury, I too am on a journey to understand The Wasteland.

The Wasteland is a continuous dialogue of bits and pieces, allusions and references that come from a variety of sources. Eliot holds a magic mirror and lets readers step into a world of imagination. Through literary allusion, he demonstrates cultural drought in The Wasteland. Eliot begins his poem with the month of April, similar to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s pilgrims were headed to Canterbury on a journey, a spiritual pilgrimage; however, the Wasteland’s protagonist has no purpose or charted course but is confused and aimless. Eliot does include in his notes the Grail legend that includes a quest for the cup from Christ’s last supper, which involves a journey.

I think The Wasteland is a metaphor for the journey that we all must take through life. If we can muddle our way through the chaos of everyday life to find meaning, purpose, and direction, then we can survive. Though bad decisions, immaturity, and unexpected circumstances may challenge and overwhelm us, just as Eliot’s references, allusions, and outside sources seem to do, we must choose what we think is truly important and focus on that. Each person is on a quest to find purpose in his/her life. Although at times I feel like I am blindly walking through a dark tunnel, I struggle to find light in the form of hope, similar to Eliot’s lilacs growing in a dead land. Hope is the driving force that keeps me going. I think if I read just a little farther, then I will be able to grasp what Eliot means. Eventually, the words end, but life goes on. At times, life seems so confusing and complicated, and I feel lost. But I know that I will find the path that is right for me if I search long enough. The one thing I have learned from T. S. Eliot is to sort through the chaos to find meaning. The Wasteland can be interpreted many ways; however, I find it reflects everyday life that is full of struggles, curves and unexpected turns.