The Waste Land

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   pmiranda2857 Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

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   There are only two main themes in the poem, which in turn, generate many sub-themes. The first of these major themes is disillusionment, which Eliot indicates is the current state of affairs in modern society, especially the post—World War I Europe in which he lived. He illustrates this pervasive sense of disillusionment in several ways, the most notable of which are references to fertility rituals and joyless sex. 

    Human society is so disillusioned that it has undergone a moral death, an idea on which Eliot plays throughout the poem. Eliot also expresses disillusionment through episodes of joyless sex.  

   The other major theme, restoration or rebirth, is the opposite of disillusionment. If modern society can somehow overcome its disillusionment, it will be restored back to a state in which life once again has meaning.  Eliot ends his poem on this same noncommittal note. Restoration is possible, but so is disillusionment.

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   Posted by pmiranda2857 on Tuesday March 25, 2008 at 3:32 PM