Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is never taken seriously enough, especially in a major war like World War 1. In T.S. Eliot's poem "The Waste Land", the audience is subjected to a very vague story about the aftermath of WW1 and its effects on Europe. Many people have tried to interpret what is happening in this poem, as well as the reasoning behind it. Most scholars (myself included) believe the true meaning of this will never be interpreted, but this is still my best shot.
In my opinion, this poem follows two main points of view, a woman awaiting her husband who is off to war, and a husband returning after the war. As far as I can tell, the woman's perspective only exists in the man's mind, however, because the time period is set after the war. The man sees that everything that he ever knew, his home, his wife, his city, is gone. Therefore, still reeling from the emotional shock, he proceeds to row out into the middle of the Thames and drown himself.
This is a very convoluted poem; by the time you finish reading, you don't know up from down. However, I think that a reader can get the general feeling of shock and betrayal from Eliot's words. He seems to be crying out to God, asking Him why this tragedy has struck. What do you guys think?
I commented on Jacob's and Rebecca's posts.
In my opinion, this poem follows two main points of view, a woman awaiting her husband who is off to war, and a husband returning after the war. As far as I can tell, the woman's perspective only exists in the man's mind, however, because the time period is set after the war. The man sees that everything that he ever knew, his home, his wife, his city, is gone. Therefore, still reeling from the emotional shock, he proceeds to row out into the middle of the Thames and drown himself.
This is a very convoluted poem; by the time you finish reading, you don't know up from down. However, I think that a reader can get the general feeling of shock and betrayal from Eliot's words. He seems to be crying out to God, asking Him why this tragedy has struck. What do you guys think?
I commented on Jacob's and Rebecca's posts.
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