In the Waste Land, T.S.Eliot

In The Waste Land, T.S.Eliot reveals the socio-cultural scenario of post-war Europe which was in dire need for a revival. People at that time sought replacements in magic, Science, sexual relationships and other ways for a regeneration .He speaks about the plight of life of individuals, the environment, human relationship, family and also he touches upon other lands away from Europe during that era. There are many references to death, destruction and decay which have made Richards to make the above observation.
Firstly, Eliot speaks about the depression of women in the poem. In the first section The Burial of the Dead Marie is unhappy about the change of the seasons. She calls April ‘the cruelest month which breeds Lilac out of the dead land’. She describes the memories of

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winter-sledding with her royal cousin and the warmth given during winter covering earth in forgetful snow. In my opinion, the gloom and depression of Marie about the seasonal change and its outcomes show the theme of the difficulty in rousing oneself from the death in life in which the people of Waste Land live. People are afraid to live in reality. It is a common situation to the present as well as future generation. Marie represents a whole generation of sufferers due to the number of lives which are taken away for the war.
The next woman in the poem Lil describes in The Game of Chess , is distressing and also refuses to get groomed for her husband who comes after four years being in the Army. Lil is forced to get some teeth to look well to satisfy Albert. Further, she is being told to do so as there are others waiting to pick him up. Sadly she refuses as she is not ready to have any more children. She is 31, looks worn out and

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has five children so far; also knows that Albert will not end it up by then.
“Well if Albert won’t leave you alone there it is, what you get married if you don’t want children?”
Also, there is an idea of Lil is closer to her death .This can...