CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE WASTE LAND

Authors: Dr. Mrs. Vibha Singh Thakur, Mr. Rohan Chouhan,

Abstract: T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" (1922) is analyzed as a profound spiritual and social commentary on the pervasive disillusionment of the post-World War I era. This study delves into the poem's deep intertextual dialogue with ancient Indian wisdom, particularly exploring its integration of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad's "Da, Da, Da" mantra (Datta, Damyata, Dayadhvam) and the Bhagavad Gita's philosophy of "death and rebirth" as a pathway to spiritual transformation. Furthermore, the article draws significant parallels between the societal breakdown and spiritual emptiness depicted in Eliot's poem and the aftermath of the Kurukshetra War in the Mahabharata, highlighting a shared narrative of loss of dharma and the enduring psychological scars of conflict. Eliot's extensive academic engagement with Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy is presented as foundational to the poem's unique synthesis of Eastern and Western thought, ultimately arguing that "The Waste Land" transcends pessimism to offer a hopeful vision of redemption through spiritual introspection. It champions ancient wisdom as a perennial guide for navigating modern chaos towards a revitalized existence, a "fresh land.

DOI: http://doi.org/