Marriage and Homosexuality in "The Waste Land" by T. S. Eliot and "Mrs Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf


Ensayo, 2019

10 Páginas, Calificación: B+


Resumen o Introducción

In the 1920s, two pivotal literary works emerged in Britain, "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot and "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf. These novels, while sharing the same cultural milieu, diverge in their portrayal of marriage and homosexuality. This essay aims to compare how these two works explore these themes.

The 1920s witnessed two influential movements shaping marriage trends in Britain. The eugenics movement urged careful partner selection for better offspring, while the motherhood campaign encouraged marriage to address post-World War I male depopulation. This era can be characterized by a marriage paradox, where both unions and divorces were prevalent.

In "The Waste Land," specifically in its second section, "A Game of Chess," a wealthy married couple's relationship deteriorates due to ethical breakdown. Despite their opulent surroundings, the husband's fixation on physical desires erodes their connection. Eliot's vivid descriptions and the transition from a tapestry depicting Philomela's rape to a sensual encounter highlight the couple's crumbling relationship, emphasizing the theme of ethical decay in marriages.

In "The Waste Land," marriage disintegrates due to ethical degradation, particularly the selfish prioritization of sexual needs. Conversely, "Mrs. Dalloway" presents marriage in a positive light. Clarissa, married to Richard, harbors affection for Sally Seaton. Their passionate kiss is described as life's pinnacle moment. Clarissa's marriage to Richard, though pragmatic, offers support, societal success, and personal contentment.

In "Mrs. Dalloway," marriage is portrayed as a solution to personal and societal challenges, including psychological distress. This contrasts with "The Waste Land," where marriages are fraught with problems when emotional intimacy is neglected. These two works encapsulate the contrasting philosophies of 1920s Britain regarding marriage.

In terms of representation, "The Waste Land" employs explicit sexual imagery to underscore the gravity of ethical breakdown in marriages fixated on physical gratification. In contrast, "Mrs. Dalloway" presents marriage as an objective subject of societal discourse, emphasizing the importance of personal space within the union. These two iconic literary works reflect the divergent narratives that characterized 1920s Britain's perspectives on marriage and homosexuality.

Detalles

Título
Marriage and Homosexuality in "The Waste Land" by T. S. Eliot and "Mrs Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf
Universidad
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Curso
ENGE5330 Modernist Literature
Calificación
B+
Autor
Año
2019
Páginas
10
No. de catálogo
V906419
ISBN (Ebook)
9783346220288
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
dalloway, eliot, homosexuality, land, marriage, virginia, waste, woolf
Citar trabajo
Kwan Lung Chan (Autor), 2019, Marriage and Homosexuality in "The Waste Land" by T. S. Eliot and "Mrs Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/906419

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Título: Marriage and Homosexuality in "The Waste Land" by T. S. Eliot and "Mrs Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf



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