T.S Eliot in his essay "Tradition and Individual Talent", explains how tradition is not static, but is dynamic. Every new work, engages with the vast tradition of literary works written before and hence, alters it. Eliot puts emphasis on historical consciousness of poets, which means that a buddingRead more
T.S Eliot in his essay “Tradition and Individual Talent”, explains how tradition is not static, but is dynamic. Every new work, engages with the vast tradition of literary works written before and hence, alters it. Eliot puts emphasis on historical consciousness of poets, which means that a budding poet must interact and be aware of the rich literary tradition of his past, so write something new and interesting. According to him, individual talent cannot exist on its own. It necessarily draws from tradition and hence changes it by entering the literary canon. In this essay, he also gave the concept of impersonal theory of poetry, which essentially means that a poet’s personal emotions and passions should be distanced while writing a work of art. There must be a continuous surrender of the “personal self” to write better poetry.
He employed the same theory in his practice of poetry as well. If one examines his classic poem “The Wasteland”, they are bound to find fragments of various literary works and tradition. For instance, it has references from Shakespeare, ancient Greek literary texts as well as Indian scriptures like Upanishads. It has the words, “Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata.,” which are directly taken from the Upanishads.
Marxist literary criticism interprets the relationship between literature and society through the lens of class struggle, economic disparity, and the socio-economic forces that shape both. In George Orwell's "1984," these themes are evident in the rigid class structure and the pervasive control exerRead more
Marxist literary criticism interprets the relationship between literature and society through the lens of class struggle, economic disparity, and the socio-economic forces that shape both. In George Orwell’s “1984,” these themes are evident in the rigid class structure and the pervasive control exerted by the Party. The society depicted is divided between the ruling Party and the oppressed proles. The Party, especially the Inner Party, represents the bourgeoisie, controlling resources, information, and power, while the proles are kept in ignorance and poverty, rendering them powerless. Economic disparity is a central theme, with the proles living in deprivation and the Inner Party enjoying luxuries, highlighting the unequal distribution of wealth and resources. This disparity underscores the Marxist critique of capitalism, where the ruling class thrives at the expense of the working masses. The Party’s manipulation of language and truth through doublethink and Newspeak, along with the use of surveillance and ideological control, reflects Marxist ideas about how ruling classes maintain dominance. Winston’s failed rebellion and the Party’s control over supposed revolutionary groups illustrate the difficulties of overthrowing entrenched power structures. Through a Marxist lens, “1984” critiques totalitarianism and explores power, control, and resistance within a stratified society.
See less