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IV. Death by Water by T. S. Eliot — Analysis & Translation

2 min read English

Original Poem

IV. Death by Water Phlebas the Phoenician, a fortnight dead, Forgot the cry of gulls, and the deep sea swell And the profit and loss. A current under sea Picked his bones in whispers. As he rose and fell He passed the stages of his age and youth Entering the whirlpool. Gentile or Jew O you who turn the wheel and look to windward, Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.

Translation (English)

IV. Death by Water Phlebas the Phoenician, dead for two weeks, Forgot the sounds of seagulls and the movement of the ocean And the idea of gain and loss. An underwater current Quietly stripped his bones. As he moved up and down He went through the stages of his life Entering the swirling water. Whether you are Gentile or Jew You who steer the wheel and look to the future, Think about Phlebas, who was once as handsome and tall as you.

About the Poet

T. S. Eliot (Modernist)

Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888–1965) was a leading figure in modernist poetry, known for his innovative use of language and verse structure. Born in the United States, he moved to England in 1914 and became a British subject in 1927. Eliot's notable works include 'The Waste Land' and 'Four Quartets'. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Historical Context

Literary Form
Modernist poetry
When Written
1922
Background
The poem is part of 'The Waste Land', a reflection on the disillusionment and fragmentation of post-World War I society. It explores themes of death, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of life.

Sources: https://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=41747, https://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/the-waste-land/full-text/section4/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._S._Eliot

Detailed Explanation

This section of T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land' is a meditation on the inevitability of death and the transient nature of life. Phlebas the Phoenician, a figure who has died, is described as having forgotten the sounds and movements of the world, symbolizing the finality of death. The sea, often a symbol of life and rebirth, here becomes a force that strips Phlebas of his identity and past, emphasizing the theme of decay and the passage of time. The mention of 'Gentile or Jew' suggests a universal message, urging all people, regardless of background, to reflect on their mortality. The poem warns against the hubris of those who 'turn the wheel', a metaphor for those who control or direct life, reminding them that they too are subject to the same fate as Phlebas. The imagery of the whirlpool suggests the cyclical nature of life and death, reinforcing the idea that life is a series of stages that ultimately lead to the same end.

Themes

  • Mortality
  • Transience
  • Reflection on Life

Literary Devices

  • Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the sea and Phlebas's decay.
  • Symbolism: The sea as a symbol of life and death.
  • Metaphor: 'Turn the wheel' as a metaphor for controlling life.
  • Allusion: References to cultural and religious identities with 'Gentile or Jew'.

Word Dictionary

Word Meaning Translation Transliteration
Phlebas a character in the poem a dead Phoenician man Flee-bas
fortnight two weeks 14 days fort-night
swell rise and fall of the sea the up and down movement of the sea swel
whispers quiet sounds very quiet sounds whis-pers
whirlpool spinning water spinning water current whirl-pool
Gentile non-Jewish person someone who is not Jewish Jen-tile
windward facing the wind where the wind comes from wind-ward
consider think about think about carefully con-sid-er

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