Despair and Apathy

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            Despair and Apathy, to recurring themes in T. S. Eliot’s the waste land that I found myself reading over and over again. In the second part, A Game of Chess in lines 99-103, I found it very saddening after reading the footnote which states (footnote 9) that it was written in reference to this terrible story which combines both rape and murder, in essence stating (in the wasteland itself), “and still she cried, and still the world pursues, “Jug Jug” to dirty ears. This is a combination of the both, despair for what is occurring and apathy as her cries are not heard by the world, especially highlighted by the phrase “Jug Jug…” Later, in part three, another cry of despair is found starting at line 182, “Sweet Thames, run softly till I end my song…” And all the while he cries to the river, he hears at his back the rattle of bones and a chuckle spread from ear to ear. Another example of despair and apathy, the same concept, that humanity is crying out and the world is laughing, uncaringly.
                After reading and rereading Yeats, I didn’t come to a complete understanding of what he was saying, but two lines did stand out to me. “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” This struck a Chord with me, that in this society he is writing of the “best” don’t care at all while the worst are crazy about something. Some really good reads this week, can’t wait for more! Commented on Ty's and Sophia's!

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 15, 2018 at 9:14 PM

    I particularly love the line you pull out in Yeats "Second Coming". It, too, struck a chord in me. I think you are right on in its meaning; how it relates to the rest of the poem, I'm not so sure myself, however, it makes me further ponder the great revivals and justices that great men and women have fought for throughout the centuries. How I aspire to be like them- strong and passionate about standing by what is right (might we recognize today and the great man of our country that it honors). Perhaps the day that men resort to complete complacency, the end will have come. May that day be far from today.

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