Ash Wednesday by T. S. Eliot (Summary)

 

Ash Wednesday

by T. S. Eliot

(Summary) 

The title Ash Wednesday refers to the first day of the month of Lent-days, the period of prayer, fasting and penance, when, according to tradition, Christ fasted for forty days in the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil but with no result. During this period, Christians repent for his past actions and make an effort to walk on the spiritual path. The poet, in this poem, repents for his past sins and resolves to turn away from the world and to walk on the path of spirituality. This poem is an account of man's spiritual quest with all the struggles of human soul and the over-coming of the hurdles that lie on the way.

The poet examines his past. He is now an aged eagle, decaying gradually. He is physically, mentally and emotionally aged. The world has lost its joy for him. The glory of youth has vanished. He has come to the conclusion that pleasures of this world are transient and fleeting. He has decided to give up the woman he loves. He does not regret the renunciation of the worldly joy because he has resolved to build up spiritual life. He has given up the faculty of reasoning and questioning. Instead, he wishes to cultivate detachment, so that he may remain unattached to the things of the world. Now he wishes to devote himself to prayer. Resignation to the will of God is an important condition for selfless devotion. He, therefore, entrusts his life and everything into the hands of God. Self-surrender is the first step to spiritual progress.

The second part of the poem is about the death of the physical self. The original title of the second part was salvation. It refers to Dante's meeting with his lady. It is a kind of vision or a dream which results in the renunciation of his own flesh by the devotee. The body, which carries the sin of Adam, is an obstacle in the progress of the soul. The destruction of the body is necessary before its re-birth. The lady, mentioned in this section, is an embodiment of the grace of God. The three leopards, who eat away the body of the devotee are the agents of purgation, and purification. His scattered bones are infused with a new life through the blessings and grace of the lady. The renunciation of the flesh brought about a new life in the remains of his mutilated body. The new body is devoted and resolute in its spiritual quest. The lady is called 'the rose of the garden'. The lady of courtly love is transformed into the lady of the church. She is responsible for the salvation of the Christian community. The Juniper tree stands for God's grace for the repentant soul. The desert mentioned in this part is a holy spot, where saints assemble for godly communion. It represents the wilderness where Christ fasted for forty days in order to overcome the temptation of the Devil.

The devouring of the body by the three leopards is symbolic of the detachment of the devotee. The revitalization of the scattered bones marks the spiritual re-birth of the devotee's soul. The bones sing in praise of the Lady of Silences. The garden, "where all loves end" has a reference to the lower types of love. This part ends on a note of hope and content.

The third part of the poem talks about ‘The struggle with evil’. The poet wishes to ascend the steps of the spiritual mansion. The struggle now is with the devil of the stairs. Eliot’s three stairs are the spirit of doubt, the spirit of darkness and the spirit of sex. He has to struggle with these devils and overcome them. The poet seeks God's grace tor his spiritual effort - "Speak the word only and thy servant shall be healed". The need of absolute faith in God is reiterated.

Part four is the divine vision. In this part the poet has a vision of the divine lady. The lady is dressed in many colours - the violet of penance, the green of hope, the white of purity and the blue of celestial things. This vision of the lady reminds us of the Divine Pageant in which Dante saw the glorified Beatrice. Like Beatrice, this lady is both a real woman and a heavenly being. When she talks of trivial things, she is a real woman, when she redeems human suffering, she is a divine lady. Under her influence the desert turns into a garden. Now the love of the poet becomes sacred and holy. The movement of the golden coach of the lady is symbolic of the glory of the spiritual past. The poet comes to the lady. She stands between the two Yew trees of death and immortality. The fountain sprang up and the bird sang a prayer. It has reference to the spirit of God breathing life in dry bones as mentioned in the Bible. The last line of this part says, that the modern man has lost his spiritual treasure and he can recover it through the grace of God.

Part fifth conveys the need of silence. It refers to Christ's birth, the divine body lying speechless. The poet plays on the two words - word and world. Eliot says, that unfortunately the silent word is not respected in this world. The silent word or the Word of God can be heard only in the silence of the mind. It is only through the grace of Virgin Mary that people will be able to listen to the Word of God.

The poet seeks the grace of Mary for those who walk in spiritual darkness and who have chosen the spiritual way, but have turned against it. Then there are many, who hesitate and do not have the courage to affirm their faith. They are the people who are undecided between the secular and the spiritual. All such persons need the grace of Virgin Mary for their spiritual rebirth.

Part six is ‘the Resignation to His Will’. The poet says, that the weaknesses in the individual make him look back to the joys of the world. The world protests the rigid discipline of spirituality. The inner conflict hardens as the pilgrim renounces completely the worldly ways for the spiritual quest. The poet offers a prayer to the blessed sister, Mary, to end this inner conflict in the heart of his followers. If the holy mother extends her grace to them, the Christians will submit to the Will of God. Man's peace and salvation lies in submission to the divine Will. The final prayer is for spiritual grace and light - "Suffer me not to be separated". This personal prayer merges into the common prayer of the Christians to the blessed sister - "And let my cry come unto thee".