T.S. Eliot – A Literary Titan and His Verse Drama
Introduction T.S. Eliot (1888–1965) remains one of the most influential figures in modernist literature. A poet, critic, and dramatist, Eliot’s works explore themes of existential despair, spiritual redemption, and the fragmentation of modern life. This newsletter delves into his life, influences, contributions to verse drama, and his masterpiece, Murder in the Cathedral . Eliot’s Life and Influences Early Life and Education Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Eliot was raised in a strict Unitarian family. Studied at Harvard University, where he immersed himself in Greek, Latin, Renaissance literature, and French/German philosophy. Key influences: Philosophers George Santayana and Irving Babbitt, who shaped his anti-Romantic views and emphasis on tradition. Philosophical and Literary Influences Studied at the Sorbonne in Paris under Henri Bergson, whose ideas on time and consciousness impacted Eliot’s work. Doctoral research on F.H. Bradley’s idealism, though he never completed th...