A GAME OF CHESS

In the introductory part to the second part of The Waste Land, there are descriptions of the
high society. Simultaneously, there is a representation of the woman of the modern 20th
century in her private chambers, very luxurious and rich ones. There are references to
Cleopatra, with which Eliot emphasizes the essential repetitiveness of history. Then he also
describes details in the chamber, to the scene which decorates the wall above her fireplace,
above the mantelpiece, which represents the antique story about Philomel, followed by the
revenge of her sister (both of them are turned into birds later). They are later still chased by
the perpetrator. He used this story as a kind of objective correlative and as a symbol of
relations between the genders in the modern world. There relations include violence which
does not have to be rape, but metaphorically speaking that is a kind of symbol in the relations
between men and women throughout history, which has been intensified in the age of
modernity. Later on in this part, there are fragments, various kinds of conversations with
multiple voices reflecting human conditions in the 20th century related to this specific aspect
of gender. In the first fragment, there are two voices. The female voice ask questions,
quotation marks are markers of this voice, whereas the other voice, her partner, is not put in
the question marks and the words he utters are not the words he actually utters but the
words he thinks, his thoughts. There is internal monologue, he doesn't seem to be engaged in
a conversation with her, but he allows her to go on. It shows a couple not living together for a
long period of time who are completely allienated. The woman belongs to higher society; this
might be the same lady previous mentioned in her chambers. When the man enters, she
informs him that she is nervous; she is obviously very neurotic woman. Being neurotic is
more emphasised by his ignoring, not registering her. She seems to be a nagging person, tries
to make him talk to her which doesn't seem to have much effect on him. There is also a kind
of accussation; not only that he doesn't talk to her, but she wants to know his thoughts. She
feels lonely, feels frustrated because she doesn't have the connection to her husband. He is
detached and his thoughts are very gloomy. 115: he comments on their relation, but also on
general relation between genders; materialistic competition. She is preoccupied with her
own problems and he with more universal problems. She is being paranoid, noises disturb her.
However, he is being realistic and disinterested. 125 He is revolving around the idea of the
end of civilization; a gloomy, depressing issue about the inevitable death, inclination towards
death of the modern culture. 130 Shakespeherian Rag is a reference about the modern age,
the so called cultural literacy. He is indirectly passing a sort of judgement about the decay

of the modern age. Later on, the female voice is represented as someone desperately seeking
attention. She is fed up with the feeling of being isolated and wants any reaction from him,
even negative. She tries to reconnect both to her hisband and human race in general. She is
being alone in her own bubble. In 135, we means she and her husband, but also the entire
humanity. The future of their marriage is questionable, they came to the point when there is no
communication between them. Also, this question can be related with the entire humanity and
uncertainty about the future of the humanity. From 136, there are disconnected thoughts
which might be the thoughts of the man again. Pressing lidless eyes and waiting for a knock
upon the door describes a lonely person waiting for some sound. It is germane to the 5th part.
Here is the knock and in the 5th part it is the turn of the key. This evokes images of solitary
existence, people allienated from one another, being alone in his or her own microcosm. The
game of chess has many metaphorical meanings one of these meanings is a game of
seduction. Women are playing chess, they are playing the game of seduction. However, that
game here is over; it has to be interpreted in a pessimistic tone. From 139, there is a shift of
theme, of voices. Here we have a conversation between two women belonging to the lower
class, probably working class. One is trying to give to the other smart advice. They are in
some pub because of the words in capital letters HURRY UP PLEASE IT'S TIME, indication
of closing time. New modern woman is free to drink alcohol in the public, to be in the pub,
not accompanied by men. This can be also a prophetic message which has a more universal
meaning. It is a warning - the end of the culture is near end of the world. Mak Dizdar
Kameni spava can almost be interpreted in the same manner. However, we have clear
reference to WWI. The woman should make herself beautiful for her man, to bring herself
into shape, otherwise he will find another woman. There is a kind of hostility between these
two women. They pretend to be good friends, but they are not; it's always about men. Even
love is being reduced to the sexual act, only physical beauty is important. It is very
questionable whether she wants him to come back, she seems to be exhausted. What to do
with the next pregnancy? She doesn't want to have more children. Despite the contraception,
women are still coping with the issue of unwanted pregnancy. Their sexuality comes to them
as their punishment. There is no space for romantic feeling. Romanticism has been expelled
by both men and women. She is trying to find some sort of understanding from other woman
who pretends to be her friend. However, she shows a very dubious kind of understanding. The
last part may be understood in two ways. These goodnights mean they're leaving the bar
saying goodnight to some guys, they are leaving the bar. The last stanza the words of
Ophelia just before she is going to commit suicide. This is the image of entire culture which is

heading towards its suicide because it does not want to change its habits (failure of
communication, relation between sexes disturbed, there is no love). Everything needs to be
reformed. No matter which class is being represented, real profound emotions seem to be
lacking.