Write a note on the theme of salvation in “The Waste Land.”
Write a note on the theme of salvation in “The Waste Land.” [NU: 2017, 19] ★★★
Salvation means the chance of renewal, peace, and new life. The theme of salvation appears at the end of “The Waste Land” (1922). After all the dryness, fear, and despair, Eliot (1888–1965) turns to spiritual hope. The voice of thunder gives three lessons from the Hindu Upanishads. They show the path to renewal and peace. The final word “Shantih shantih shantih” means peace beyond understanding. It suggests that salvation is possible through self-control, compassion, and faith. Below are the main ideas of salvation in the poem.
Religious Imagery: Eliot uses many religious images in the poem. He writes about the Fisher King from an old legend. The king is sick, and his land is dry. His wound makes the land barren. This king is like the modern world after the war. People are hurt, and society is broken. Salvation is possible only if faith and divine help return. Eliot writes:
Spiritual Wasteland: The first section shows a land of stones, trees, and the hot sun. But there is no water, no shelter. Only the red rock gives shade. This red rock is the church. The poet says,“I sat upon the shore
Fishing, with the arid plain behind me,
Shall I at least set my lands in order?”
Eliot shows that the modern wasteland is like the Bible’s wasteland. Only Christ and true religion can give new life. Just as Christ once saved, he can save again.“Here is no water but only rock,
Rock and no water and the sandy road.”
Water Imagery: Water is a strong symbol of salvation. It can clean, purify, and give new birth. In Part IV, Eliot writes about Phlebas, the young sailor. He dies in water, but he has no spiritual hope. He lived only for trade, not for faith. So, water brings him death, not life. Let us study this in the following quote.
Eliot also links water to “The Tempest” and old gods. Through this, he shows that water can both destroy and save.“Phlebas the Phoenician, a fortnight dead,
Forgot … the profit and loss.”
Fire Sermon: In this section, Eliot writes about lust and desire. He uses Buddha’s Fire Sermon. Buddha taught that desire burns the soul. If we follow desire, we only find pain. But if we control desire, we find peace. Eliot joins this with Christian prayer:
Here, fire means human sin, and God can save. Salvation comes by leaving desire and following a holy path.“Burning burning burning burning,
O Lord Thou pluckest me out
O Lord Thou pluckest.”
Chapel Perilous: This place comes from King Arthur’s legends. It was full of danger and fear. Knights had to cross it to reach the Holy Grail. In Eliot’s poem, it shows the hard path to salvation. The Fisher King and his land are barren because of sin. Only the Grail can heal them. A brave knight must risk his life to reach it. This journey is like human life. We must fight fear and sin to find salvation.
Upanishads: At the end, Eliot uses Indian texts. People suffer from drought and famine. They pray to God. God answers with thunder: “Da, Da, Da.” Eliot explains:
At last, Eliot writes: “Shantih shantih shantih.” It means peace beyond understanding. Here, salvation is not only Christian but also universal. It can come from any true faith.First Da: Datta = Give.
Second Da: Dayadhvam = Sympathize.
Third Da: Damyata = Control.
In “The Waste Land,” salvation is a strong theme. Eliot portrays the world as broken, akin to a barren land. But there is still hope. Symbols of the Fisher King, the church, water, fire, the Chapel, and the Upanishads all point to ways of healing. Salvation comes through faith, self-control, and love.