Spencer Wood
I found many parallels with the writings of Eliot and Koheleth. Starting in the first few lines, Eliot's character speaks of spring (April) being the cruelest, and how winter is better because of the covering, forgetful snow. This coincides with Koheleth speaking about those who are alive are worse off than those who are dead, and how much better it is for those who have yet to be than those who are dead.
Vacancy is another major theme in the poem. This theme starts with the first lines saying that spring comes into a vacant world bringing flowers and desire. We first really see vacancy in the people in the bar in canto 2, with the reader traveling around to different conversations, seeing the living but there is no life, the woman and husband who won't speak to her (I believe this is a soldier who is suffering from PTSD and keeps seeing the eyes of his dead brothers), and the woman who speaks of nothing (I see this as an ecclesiastical reference to man trying to outlast the bell of death, or the final call of the bar).
Also in canto 3 at the river. the character is completely alone and the Thames has no proof of life (trash). I'm reminded of that one Twilight Zone episode "All the Time in the World" where a scholarly bank teller survives the apocalypse and is able to read all the books in the world but his glasses break and he finds himself absolutely alone.
AK Drew
I found many parallels with the writings of Eliot and Koheleth. Starting in the first few lines, Eliot's character speaks of spring (April) being the cruelest, and how winter is better because of the covering, forgetful snow. This coincides with Koheleth speaking about those who are alive are worse off than those who are dead, and how much better it is for those who have yet to be than those who are dead.
Vacancy is another major theme in the poem. This theme starts with the first lines saying that spring comes into a vacant world bringing flowers and desire. We first really see vacancy in the people in the bar in canto 2, with the reader traveling around to different conversations, seeing the living but there is no life, the woman and husband who won't speak to her (I believe this is a soldier who is suffering from PTSD and keeps seeing the eyes of his dead brothers), and the woman who speaks of nothing (I see this as an ecclesiastical reference to man trying to outlast the bell of death, or the final call of the bar).
Also in canto 3 at the river. the character is completely alone and the Thames has no proof of life (trash). I'm reminded of that one Twilight Zone episode "All the Time in the World" where a scholarly bank teller survives the apocalypse and is able to read all the books in the world but his glasses break and he finds himself absolutely alone.
AK Drew
Comments