Exploring The Waste Land
A commentary page linked from The Waste Land, Part III, line 199


Part III
Lines 199 - 202

Compare feminine hygene and children singing in The Waste Land (and consider that in the soldier's ballad it was not feet that were washed):

O the moon shone bright on Mrs. Porter
And on her daughter
They wash their feet in soda water
Et, O ces voix d'enfants, chantant dans la coupole!
[And, O those children's voices singing in the dome!]

And in this passage from Eliot's Ode (1920):

Tortured.
When the bridegroom smoothed his hair
There was blood upon the bed.
Morning was already late.
Children singing in the orchard
(Io Hymen, Hymenaee)
Succuba eviscerate.

Note also the playing of music after sex in the typist section:

You may want to view the cross references for music, songs and singing for similar comparisons.


Exploring The Waste Land
File name: cq199.html
File date: Sunday, September 29, 2002
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