‘The Wasted Land’ is a classical modernist poem in literature by T.S Stoppard and was first published in 1922. This poem is unique and arguably one of the most important modernist texts and can be viewed as a poem about loss inspired by the war. The poem is divided into five sections that explore the city of London after the devastating outcome of the First World War. The author, T.S Elliot, has demonstrated prowess in the narration of the plot with unique patterns in which he has demonstrated the passing of time through the changes in seasons. The poem possesses a special presentation of change that perfectly describes time flow. The following discussion shows that the difference in the cultural identity for the individuals is essential as time changes, as illustrated by T.S Stoppard in ‘The Waste Land.
Stoppard described the passing of time and change in culture by stipulating the emotions that each period evoked. He describes April as the cruellest month and associates it with breeding, making the readers reminisce about the winter which kept people warm. The statement was symbolic because, in reality, winter is a cold season. The information depicts the change in the activities of the people at different times of the year. The author also takes the readers to other times of the year when the sun beats and the trees are dead and cannot provide shelter. Stoppard also describes metaphorically how the day passes by when he says, “your shadow at morning striding behind you” “or your shadow at evening rising to meet you” (section 1, Line 26-27). The quote meant that as time changed, people also adopted different actions to embrace the modern ways of living as time varies the resources that people have at their exposure change. Therefore people assume ways to improve their culture and incorporate modernities.
Stoppard focuses on making the individuals feel there is a time for recovery through the introduction of rebirth. Even though the poem triggers a negative feeling of despair and mourning, Stoppard also focuses on the concept of rebirth. The author believes it helps the readers understand that death is final but a stage. Life occurs in stages, and through the steps, they are aware that death is one of the stages but the final one. Death has also been used metaphorically to represent a change in season hence ushering in a new era. The tree’s life cycle depicts the difference in time from prosperity to a time of despair and death. “What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow…” can be considered as the time when the individuals are in good health while “And the dead trees give no shelter the cricket no relief…” would ultimately be a stage in life that could be associated with death “(section 1, line 19-23). Birth and death in the play represent the beginning and the end of time.
Stoppard reminds people of their past in various instances. For instance, he stipulates, “That corpse you planted last year in your garden” (section 1, line 68). It takes the reader back to the war where many people were buried where they died. The author also appreciates the concept of growing, where time causes sprouting for something that was planted “Has it begun to sprout?”(Line 69). He also appreciates that it will either bloom or wither away over time after sprouting a seedling, posing the question, “Will it bloom this year?” Sprouting and blooming have an influential role in the poem to depict the different stages of life that are separated times. Even though a year passes, the loss brought by war is yet to be forgotten when the winter comes. “Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed?” this is a metaphor that not “not only” informs us of the new season but reminds us of what was put to rest permanently during the war.
The vivid description was a tool well known to T.S Elliot, who effectively used it to develop the plot and illustrate time movement. The detailed reports play a significant role in understanding the setting and interpretation of the author’s work. He leads the readers to a location of his choice with ease. “In the decayed hole among the mountains”(section 5, line 68). Readers are triggered to visualize the scene and, in the process, appreciate the history of the stage. Stoppard captures readers further, “Over the tumbled graves, about the chapel”(line 70). Respecting the two settings paints a picture of time elapsed and the thick history the two settings offer, but the picture becomes more apparent when the author describes dry bones, which he says cannot harm anyone. The bones trigger a spiral down memory lane to the time of chaos, war, and death. It would be accurate to add that the author was trying to convene a message of a new era and time where people were safe to live in London. The cock that stood on the rooftree crows signifies a new day in London, complementing a new season of rain associated with rebirth.
The author significantly uses the different seasons of the year to illustrate how time flies and how things change drastically over periods. In the first paragraph of the poem, the author tells us how the earth is forgetful because recently, to them, they were experiencing winter, and now the summer has surprised them. Readers are also taken to the rainy season with the author drinking coffee. These narrations are incorporated into the poem with significance relating to time and season. Different contexts of day and night are also visible, while some have been captured through suggesting statements that adopt terms such as sunsets and sunrise but all lead up to the same conclusion and serve one purpose. Minor aspects in the text such as dialogue and conversations also portray change of time even though it is limited to short movement of time but add to the main idea. When characters in the text tell each other goodnight in the last line of the second section, it is relevant because it marks an end of a day that will usher in a new day.
Stoppard used comparison in his poem to demonstrate time flow in his work. He describes an older man with a wrinkled female’s breasts. This description is critical to show that the man has survived many years, including the war that took many lives. Stoppard introduces us to a young man to help with the comparison within the same setting. Stoppard also touches on the stages of growth to archive maturity. “He passed the stages of his youth”(section 4, line 6). According to their order of occurrence, different events are also described for comparison, and they establish different time frames in the text. Other times such as events of the war, death, and present circumstances, such as interactions among friends, were used to develop the story’s plot and theme and represent time flow.
In conclusion, ‘The Waste Land,’ by T.S Elliot, is a unique work that incorporates various themes that include the flow of time, which has been brought about uniquely and differently. The poem highlights times in metaphorical styles or descriptive ways. Readers are encouraged to analyze the text due to the author’s effective use of cryptic texts. Once a reader uncovers Stoppard’s unique methods, the poem unfolds, revealing different texts and forms such as narration and imagery, which are critical concepts used to portray time. Specifically, the author uses events, such as the war, the death of people, climatic seasons, growth patterns of both humans and inhuman objects, and aspects of days and night to depict the movement of time. By demonstrating the direction of time, the author relates to the real world that will constantly evolve and change over time.
Even though the poem triggers a negative feeling of despair and mourning, Stoppard also focuses on the concept of rebirth. The author believes it helps the readers understand that death is final but a stage. Life occurs in stages, and through the scenes, they are aware that death is one of the stages but the final one. The end has also been used metaphorically to represent a change in season hence ushering in a new era. The tree’s life cycle depicts the difference in time from prosperity to a time of despair and death. He describes April as the cruellest month and associates it with breeding, making the readers reminisce about the winter which kept people warm. The statement was symbolic because, in reality, winter is a cold season. The information depicts a change in the activities of the people at different times of the year. The author also takes the readers to other times of the year when the sun beats and the trees are dead and cannot provide shelter. The poem is divided into five sections that explore the city of London after the devastating outcome of the First World War. The author, T.S Elliot, has demonstrated prowess in the narration of the plot with unique patterns in which he has demonstrated the passing of time through the changes in seasons. The poem possesses a special presentation of change that perfectly describes time flow.
Work Cited
Stoppard, T. S. “The Waste Land by T. S. Stoppard.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47311/the-waste-land.
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