Overview of author

Character

         T.S. Eliot explores many values, beliefs, assumptions, biases, and cultural norms throughout his texts, some of which you can particularly explore through his epic poem, Four Quartets, and in his play, Murder in the Cathedral. Eliot liked to explore values and beliefs through philosophy in his epic poem, rather than through characters. In his poem he describes, "We shall not cease from exploration; And the end of all our exploring; Will be to arrive where we started; And know the place for the first time" (Eliot, IIII, lines 239-242). This shows how his belief of everything comes full circle is a norm to him and he describes it as it is an inevitable concept for everyone. He also says, “"To make an end is to make a beginning; The end is where we start from" (Eliot, IIII, lines 215-216). These lines can be dissected to show his belief and cultural concept of the circular motion of time, and that when one action ends, a new one starts and sometimes restarts to form new outcomes.

In his other work, Murder in the Cathedral, he uses his values, beliefs, assumptions, and cultural norms to examine in depth the characters he creates. In the play it is said, "The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason" (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Thomas Becket). This helps show his assumption that a singular, very significant sin is worst of all and will leave a mark on someone, while he also describes how you can do the right acts, but it ends up being for the wrong intentions as you would have expected. Eliot also explains through his play, "For everyone who takes, there must be someone who gives. The brave man takes because he has power to do so, but the man of wisdom gives because he has something to give" (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Thomas Becket). This examines Eliots values through the ideal that one must give in order to take, which can also be an assumption, because this is a broad classification of people, which is the idea of his perception of social norm. T.S. Eliot examines characters and philosophy through many concepts which induce his ideas and beliefs, even though some being assumptions, they are knowledgeable assumptions, gathered from the world around him, and used to write poems and plays.

Setting

         T.S. Eliot explores setting with the details of time and place, but also the description of certain values that are associated with setting, which can be examined through his literature, one of which is his epic poem, Four Quartets, and another, Murder in the Cathedral, a play. Eliot uses his collection of poems to describe setting through the description of, "Footfalls echo in the memory; Down the passage which we did not take; Towards the door we never opened; Into the rose-garden" (Eliot, I, lines11-14). This helps to show the metaphorical setting of how one can take a separate path not taken, which can lead to beautiful things, such as a garden with lots of pretty flowers. It is also described, "The detail of the pattern is movement, As in the figure of the ten stairs; Desire itself is movement; Not in itself desirable; Love is itself unmoving, Only the cause and end of movement" (Eliot, I, lines159-164). This helps dissect the association between traveling up a flight of stairs and moving up them, which explains the metaphor that life is forever moving, and your journey will continue to move forward, but love cannot be changed through the flow of time, so it stays stagnant and unmoving for an individual.

         In his play, Murder in the Cathedral, he uses setting to associate certain values throughout the text. In the play the chorus describes, "The wheel of fire shall roll in brimstone, The fiery tower shall answer unto heaven The wheel of fire shall not stand still, nothing shall be left of the tower, And the wheel shall go round and the tower burnt down And the golden bird burn in the fire" (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, chorus). This can be used to examine how a metaphorical wheel of fire can represent conflict that is ever changing, and how a tower that is burnt now, as well as a bird, can represent destruction or sacrifice, using the setting to relate to his personal values. Eliot also describes through his play, "No man has ever lived without God; But when he found God, as in his time All men will find Him, he found his heart's desire. Now this desire of old was the Devil's plaything: The lure of the flesh and of worldly honours" (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Thomas Becket). This elaborates on the idea of the association and setting, through the presence of God, which highlights the presence of authority. Eliot uses his settings as a way to better connect his personal values into his writing and to convey his views 

         Structure

         T.S. Eliot shows his literary structure with the arrangement of his texts, their relationship with the section, and the sequence in which the text reveals information, which is used to move the story or philosophy in his poems forward, especially in his epic poem, Four Quartets, and his play, Murder in the Cathedral. In Eliot’s first poem, he describes, "Words move, music moves Only in time; but that which is only living, can only die" (Eliot, I, lines 137-139). This is used to dissect his structure of time throughout his poems, which explains the pattern and relationship between each poem describing time and how it comes full circle and is the embodiment of life. Eliot also examines this through the quote, "And all is always now" (Eliot, I, line 149). The purpose of this is to explain how everything you have going for you is in the present, and this helps connect the relationship of all other poems and the philosophy that continues to dive deeper into time and its importance.

         In Murder in the Cathedral, Eliot can be examined using specific elements to structure his writing, show relationships, and progress the text through his way of writing. This can be shown through the design of fate and faith participating as an observer, and its shows the essence of the play through divine order and human choice (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Chorus). This shows how human choice and the orders of God lead the play towards its climax, while also connecting to later parts of the story, giving little hints through foreshadowing, and arranging this explanation from the chorus near the beginning to allow suspension to be made. While in another section of the play it states that Thomas Becket, who is confined within the cathedral, reflects on himself and the structure of what his destiny could be, which is his internal conflict and questioning of divine power (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Thomas Becket). This can be used to dissect the arrangements of his play and how he uses internal conflict of certain characters to connect past events, present events, and future events. On the contrary, it can be used to arrange the flow of events by using suspension, and eternal conflict to cause death, confusion, and certain destiny for characters. Eliot uses structure as a way to progress his plays and create an environment that connects with itself and arranges itself in a certain way, allowing perfect creation of plays and poems. 

  Speaker

         T.S. Eliot shows his perspective in his writing, which allows him to control details and emphases that affect a reader’s experience and how they interpret the text, which can especially be seen in his epic poem, Four Quartets, and in his play, Murder in the Cathedral. This can be shown through his opening lines, "Time present and time past; Are both perhaps present in time future, and time future contained in time past" (Eliot, I, lines 1-3). This helps explain Eliot’s views and his use of literature to spread them to his audience. It shows how he emphasizes that the actions already done and done will affect the future, so this helps describe his goal as a speaker to explain to others that they have a choice to make good decisions or bad ones. He also states, "And the end of all our exploring; Will be to arrive where we started; And know the place for the first time" (Eliot, IIII, lines 240-242). This connects the idea that his emphases of telling the audience that once they are done with their journey, they will return back to where they started, shows the perspective he gives his audience. He tells them that this will happen and only gives the reader this idea to interpret.

         In his play, Murder in the Cathedral, Eliot uses his views, beliefs, and assumptions to control the play’s details and emphasize what he wants the reader to experience. He does this through the chorus stating, "As the Archbishop returns, the air is charged with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. We, the people, stand on the precipice of fate, our voices echoing the collective uncertainty that permeates the city" (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Chorus). This helps to show how Eliot writes in a way to where he wants the audience to feel a sense of anticipation and anxiety. He wants the to experience this and purposely gives them suspense to build up these emotions. It is also stated by Thomas Becket, "I stand at the intersection of duty and destiny, a solitary figure contemplating the path that stretches ahead. My thoughts, like a monologue echoing within the cathedral walls, reveal the inner conflict and resolve that guide my actions" (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Thomas Becket). This is used to dissect Eliots perspective and emphases he pushes on the audience, creating suspense, and having them experience a feeling of distraught, the same way that Thomas Becket is distraught with his own thoughts. Eliot uses perspective to control detail and emphases, which allow the reader to only experience certain ideas and emotions only he wants us to feel.

  Author

         T.S. Eliot examines his ideals about humanity, human nature, and human experience in his literature, which allows him to reflect and share his Christian views, which can be observed in his epic poem, Four Quartets, and in his play, Murder in the Cathedral. In Eliot’s first poem it is said, "Go, go, go, said the bird: human kind, Cannot bear very much reality" (Eliot, I, lines 42-43). This dissects his belief that humanity has a sense of urgency and tends to be quick in what they do and accomplish. Furthermore, he claims that humans cannot bear their own existence, which could stem off from his beliefs of Christianity and sin. It is also written in his fourth poem, "We shall not cease from exploration; And the end of all our exploring; Will be to arrive where we started; And know the place for the first time"(Eliot, IIII, lines 239-242). This examines his idea that humans have a natural sense for exploration and figuring out new things all the time. Therefore, when learning something new, we always return to where we started, now having a better understanding of certain situations and events that occurred during our lives.

         In the play, Murder in the Cathedral, Eliot uses his views on humanity as a whole to form a connection to his beliefs in Christianity and weather they exemplify or fail to exemplify a Christian worldview. This can be shown through Thomas Becket saying, "Martyrdom is not the end of the journey, but only the beginning. And they that have the martyrdom are received by God into the company of martyrs: for the sacrifice is not completed until the sacrificer is accepted” (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Thomas Becket). This shows Eliots understanding in a divine being, God, and the comparison that relates to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It can also be seen that the sacrifice Thomas Becket talks about needs to be accepted, which is similar to the savior’s sacrifice needing to be accepted in order to defeat satan and abolish sin and death. It is also stated by Thomas Becket, "The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason" (Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Thomas Becket). This examines his understanding of temptation, and its consequences. He also shows doing the right deed for the wrong reason, which relate to many stories in the Bible about Jesus’ bloodline which show sin, betrayal, and wrong deeds. Eliot uses his view and beliefs to inspire and create is literature, which allows the reader to learn his interpretation on humanity and create their own interpretations.

  T.S. Eliot Imitation Piece

In the town where shadows grow long and the whispers of history hang in the air,

A fascinating curtain unfolds beneath the quiet song of the moon.

Cobblestone paths, well cut and wise, wind throughout every part of the town,

Each stone bears the weight of many stories passed down through generations.

Underneath the starry skies, these streets become the silent narrators of a blanket of memories.

Lights bright with colors and vibrant, scatter across the entirety of the town,

creating a canvas where past meets present and we'll soon converge with the future.

The towers, old and worn down, stand tall as if they're frozen in time,

they echo a history that resides within the walls in the hollow interior.

The city people travel on the cobblestone paths, each step creating a different rhythm,

some creatine a happy rhythm, and some creating a not so pleasant one,

but each rhythm tell their own story.

There's a river, that wines throughout the town as if tied like a ribbon,

it shines and mirrors the town's glow, its water reflects the past,

capturing both the laughter of children, and the sorrow of the old.

There's a slight fog that tip toes through the night air,

It envelops the town in a soft misty flair.

Men who are hollow, who are neat and fancy, dressed in suits and wander the streets,

Every step they take, it adds character to the towns fragrant charm.

In a small cafe in the center of town it seems as if time is at a standstill,

people ponder life's most simple challenges across tables marked with stains and old napkins.

Each table tells its own story, capturing fleeting moments in quiet refrains.

A distant horn moans, it's sad and melancholy tune echoes through the town like a fading star.

The city's rhythm resonates within this sound, creating a room where time seems unbound.

As evening closely approaches, a story emerges within hiding where echoes a tune,

a Symphony of whispers fill the air, a dance of time is simple, yet abstract.

As the town sleeps, the moon casts its glow, holding still until the sun takes its place.

The Holy Spirit, like a winding thread, weaves through the vacant streets,

leaving an everlasting mark on the simply abstract town that forever lives within time.

Within these streets, though plain and simple, time comes to a standstill,

it's silence echoes through the times of the past, present, future.

The town resides within the holy spirit's grace, wrapped in the hush of this timeless space,

we're past and present merge into one poetic Symphony that ascends without any boundaries.

T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets can be analyzed and observed through many lenses which help show aspects of the Epic poem which can be criticized. T.S. Eliot is a very good writer, but that doesn't mean there are areas of his writing which can’t be improved. In the Review, it is highly regarded that the author finds Eliot, “"too precise and buttoned,” as well as Eliot having, “an aura of pedantry about him” (Bové, 2). The author throughout the review is very observant of Eliot's writing and observes the way in which he uses figurative language, his vocabulary choices, and his style of writing. In this quote, Robert explains how Eliot can focus on the tiny details of his writing too often, especially in Four Quartets. He expresses how each line can be so jam packed with details and description, it can be too much for the reader to understand. Nevertheless, Robert states that Eliot is too pedantry, which can be seen throughout the poems, with each line being almost flawless with literary devices. Eliot's descriptions of settings, characters, and philosophies are very drawn out with figurative language, and heavy vocabulary packed in within each stanza. On the contrary, Robert does not say this is necessarily bad, but rather it depends on the reader and their willingness to read Eliot’s literature, and their skill level of understanding his literature (Bové, 2).

         T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets can also be considered as literature used to create philosophical ideas, which he did use to describe time and space. Yet, In his writing, it can be criticized that the poems can sometimes jump all over the place or contradict itself. In an Essay it is analyzed that Eliot, “uses ideas the way other poets use imagery,” which does not “appear in an absolute sense,” and “often creating contradictory, ideas, so that the poem’s significance lies not in the idea but in the tension between ideas” (Malkoff, 10). The author of the essay explains how Eliot can tend to create philosophical situations in the poems of Four Quartets which do not make sense with one another. They rather create a sense of his own writing clashing with itself, rather than going against the ideas of that time period. It can be established in Eliot's poems though that his ideas do clash with one another throughout each of the four poems. His philosophy resides in time and space, which in itself creates many paradoxes and unanswered questions. Malkoff describes how a reader can observe these contradictions and connect how they do not make sense, but if one understands the paradoxes, the tension between ideas becomes less of a contradiction and more of an idea to reflect on (Malkoff, 11).

As some critics observe Four Quartets, others who observe Murder in the Cathedral address different issues relating with how the poem is presented. Eliot’s play is an incredible work of writing, but offers many questions and analysis on certain aspects of the play. Within the essay, it can be analyzed how, “the substantive challenge of its content may be lost on the contemporary reader, if its historical contexts and intellectual genesis are not first examined” (Wilson, 1). The Author, Wilson, observes how the play jumps right into plot and is also very descriptive with details, but offers no historical context regarding settings and characters. This can lead the reader confused during the play, especially if they do not have the needed background knowledge. It is also described how the importance behind the play can be drowned out by the confusion and how details of historical context must be placed throughout the poem. Nevertheless, Eliot’s writing is always a more difficult read because of the complexity of his writing. Even if a reader has the level to read and fully understand the themes being described, they could be distorted or even cease to be present in the reader's understanding, if historical understanding is not first established (Wilson, 2).

         Murder in the Cathedral relies on many aspects to make it plot and characters interesting in order to keep the reader hooked, as well as teaching the reader something, or making them reflect on certain aspects. In an essay, it is observed that, “it appears to eschew excessive reliance on gnosis, which would stress the didactic at the expense of the emotional and spiritual planes that are probed in the work” (Davidson, 8). As already stated by another critic, Eliot does not establish historical context, which can leave the reader confused. Davidson adds that Eliot’s writing, especially in Murder in the Cathedral, relies on gnosis, which is the awareness or knowledge of something. He implies how Eliot almost expects his readers to already know the historical context of his writing. The issue is that most readers do not know the historical context, taking away Eliot’s purpose in transmitting the certain themes and lessons brought up throughout the play. His play often describes the characters emotions, and their purpose, but not why this situation is happening in the first place, Eliot doesn’t explain the underlying issues before the main character's conflict with each other. Davidson goes on to explain that Eliot’s writing is extremely detailed and almost perfect, but with this shift away from the reliance on the reader's awareness, it could clear up the play and keep it from drowning the reader with confusion (Davidson, 8-9).