Hysteria - A poem by T.S. Eliot

T.S. Eliot - Hysteria

As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her laughter and being part of it, until her teeth
were only accidental stars with a talent for squad-drill. I was drawn in by short gasps, inhaled at
each momentary recovery, lost finally in the dark caverns of her throat, bruised by the ripple of
unseen muscles.  An elderly waiter with trembling hands was hurriedly spreading a pink and white
checked cloth over the rusty green iron table, saying: “If the lady and gentleman wish to take their
tea in the garden, if the lady and gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden...” I decided that if
the shaking of her breasts could be stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon might be
collected, and I concentrated my attention with careful subtlety to this end.

Added: on October 18th, 2005 at 6:10 PM | Viewed: 7643 times | Comments and analysis of Hysteria by T.S. Eliot Comments (3)

Hysteria - Comments and Information
Poet: T.S. Eliot (T.S. Eliot Art) Poem: 10. Hysteria Volume: Prufrock and Other Observations Year: Published/Written in 1917 Comment 3 of 3, added on May 26th, 2009 at 2:16 AM. T.S. Eliot had a wife who was diagnosed with Hysteria, Vivienne. So this poem is a direct diagnosis of his wife and his feelings towards her constant laughter, randomness, and explicit actions Joesephine from United States Comment 2 of 3, added on April 5th, 2007 at 4:03 PM. As a "Traditional Modernist" Eliot thinks that "gender" is a mission given by society.but it is appearrant in the poem that the persona (in fact Eliot's himself) does not feel himself as a man.But he organizes a meeting with a lady but the the hesitation and anxiety overwhelms on him.At every opening of the lady's mouth he likens it darkened images.And when a waiter comes he spreads pink clothes for the woman nad the white one for the man.This makes him more disturbed and cannot concantrate on anything but he thinks that such trivial things can make his concantration better. ebru from Turkey Comment 1 of 3, added on October 18th, 2005 at 6:10 PM. This poem is loaded. The way Eliot addresses women is a direct reflection of the society which he is a product of. Women overwhelm Eliot, the speaker is being "involved", "drawn in", "lost" and finally "bruised" by the woman. It objectifies women and makes them responsible for the actions of men under their spell. This objectification is seen again at the poems conclusion in the discussion of the "shaking breasts." The woman is being described only by her seemingly nonsense laughter (the reader has no idea why she is laughing) and her body (her teeth and her breasts). Further the more the title of the poem is loaded. It is a direct reference to Freud's theories of hysteria. Yet in many ways this poem is a love poem. The ambiguity of the author is what makes the analysis so complex. Cary from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Hysteria, has received 3 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by T.S. Eliot with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: T.S. Eliot Poem: 10. Hysteria Volume: Prufrock and Other Observations Year: Published/Written in 1917 Last read: Nov 6 2009, 4:44AM Viewed 7643 times. Added on October 18th, 2005 at 6:10 PM.

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