The Search for Salvation through T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land

Abstract

T. S. Eliot’s poem ‘The Waste Land’ delves into the theme of self-reflexivity, portraying the lives of individuals alienated and isolated due to World War I. Many suffered from paranoia, leading lives devoid of purpose. The poem paints a vivid picture of the social characteristics of people in London during this period. T. S. Eliot, influenced by Indian philosophy, drew references from Hindu texts, offering a glimmer of hope. It suggests persevering through life with compassion, extending charity, and mastering inner thoughts to attain inner peace. This philosophy is captured in the resonant word ‘DA’, symbolizing the sound of thunder. It echoes thrice, representing ‘Datta’ (charity), ‘Dayadvata’ (compassion towards others), and ‘Damyata’ (control over inner thoughts). Despite the fragmented psyche of humanity post World War I, Eliot held hope for positive transformations in the years to come, contingent on people’s faith in God and the power of prayer.