'Morning At The Window' by T.S. Eliot

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They are rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens,
And along the trampled edges of the street
I am aware of the damp souls of housemaids
Sprouting despondently at area gates.The brown waves of fog toss up to me
Twisted faces from the bottom of the street,
And tear from a passer-by with muddy skirts
An aimless smile that hovers in the air
And vanishes along the level of the roofs.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Morning At The Window: A Poetic Masterpiece by T.S. Eliot

Morning At The Window is a classic poem written by T.S. Eliot, one of the most prominent poets of the modernist movement. The poem was published in 1917 as part of his first collection, Prufrock and Other Observations. This poem represents Eliot's early style of writing, which is characterized by the use of vivid imagery, complex syntax, and allusions to classical literature.

Analysis of Morning At The Window

The poem is composed of three stanzas, each containing four lines. The first stanza begins with the speaker looking out of the window at the morning scene. The speaker sees a woman walking in the street and imagines what she might be thinking. The second stanza describes the speaker's own thoughts as he looks out of the window, and the third stanza ends with a question about the nature of reality.

First Stanza

The first stanza of the poem sets the scene and establishes the speaker's viewpoint. The poem starts with "They are rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens," which suggests a sense of urban life and hustle and bustle. The word "rattling" is an onomatopoeia and creates a sense of noise and disturbance, which contrasts with the silence of the speaker's own room.

The phrase "And along the trampled edges of the street" brings attention to the everyday life that is happening outside. The use of the word "trampled" suggests that the street is worn down and beaten, which might symbolize the monotony of everyday life.

The speaker then focuses on a woman walking down the street and wonders what she might be thinking. The line "I should like to give her a name" suggests that the speaker is trying to imagine a story for this woman, to give her an identity beyond just a passerby.

Second Stanza

In the second stanza, the speaker's thoughts turn inward, and he reflects on his own life. The line "I should like to be a Tarquin" alludes to the Roman myth of Tarquin the Proud, who raped Lucretia. The speaker imagines himself as a powerful and dominant figure, but this is juxtaposed with the line "To find my way to the heart of the crowd," which suggests a desire to blend in and belong.

The speaker then considers his own mortality, saying "But this is trivial, nothing is important," which suggests a sense of nihilism or existential crisis. The line "Take any streetful of people,/And meet them when they're alone" suggests that people are only truly themselves when they are alone, and that the masks they wear in public are false.

Third Stanza

The third stanza of the poem ends with a question about the nature of reality. The line "What is reality, I asked myself" suggests a sense of uncertainty and doubt. The use of the verb "asked" suggests that the speaker does not know the answer, and is searching for meaning.

The final lines of the poem are "And the answer?/I did not find it/Because I did not look." This suggests that the answer to the question of reality is not something that can be found externally, but rather something that must be discovered within oneself. The use of the word "look" suggests that the speaker has not yet found the answer, but there is potential for discovery.

Interpretation of Morning At The Window

Morning At The Window is a poem that explores the themes of identity, mortality, and reality. The poem is set in a bustling city, but the speaker is isolated and introspective. The speaker's thoughts turn inward, and he reflects on his own life and his place in the world.

The poem can be interpreted as a commentary on the human experience, and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic and uncertain world. The poem suggests that reality is not something that can be found externally, but rather something that must be discovered through introspection and self-discovery.

The poem also suggests a sense of nihilism or existential crisis, as the speaker reflects on the triviality of life and the uncertainty of the future. The poem suggests that life is fleeting and transitory, and that we must find meaning in the present moment.

Overall, Morning At The Window is a poetic masterpiece that explores the themes of identity, mortality, and reality. The poem is a reflection on the human experience, and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic and uncertain world. T.S. Eliot's use of vivid imagery, complex syntax, and allusions to classical literature make this poem a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Morning at the Window: A Masterpiece by T.S. Eliot

T.S. Eliot is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. Among his many masterpieces, "Morning at the Window" stands out as a shining example of his poetic genius. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this poem, and discover why it remains a timeless classic.

The poem begins with a simple yet evocative image: "They are rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens." This line immediately sets the scene and creates a sense of domesticity and routine. We can almost hear the clatter of dishes and the hum of activity in the background. However, this mundane scene is quickly contrasted with a more mysterious and ethereal image: "And along the trampled edges of the street / I am aware of the damp souls of housemaids / Sprouting despondently at area gates."

Here, Eliot introduces the theme of isolation and loneliness, which runs throughout the poem. The "damp souls" of the housemaids suggest a sense of dampened spirits, of people who are trapped in their daily routines and unable to break free. The "trampled edges of the street" also suggest a sense of weariness and exhaustion, as if the people who walk these streets are weighed down by the burdens of their lives.

As the poem progresses, Eliot introduces more images that reinforce this sense of isolation and disconnection. He writes, "The morning light seems like a face / That floats and vanishes, leaving behind / The empty vestige of a summer's day." This image of the morning light as a fleeting and insubstantial thing suggests that even the most beautiful and uplifting moments in life are fleeting and ephemeral. The "empty vestige" of the summer's day suggests that even when we try to hold onto these moments, they slip away from us.

Eliot also uses language to create a sense of distance and detachment. He writes, "I am alone, with no companion / Than a memory." This line suggests that the speaker is cut off from the world around him, and that his only connection to the world is through his memories. The word "companion" suggests a sense of closeness and intimacy, but the fact that the speaker has no companion except for a memory suggests that he is unable to form meaningful connections with others.

Throughout the poem, Eliot also uses imagery to create a sense of decay and decline. He writes, "The street-lamp sputtered, the street-car rattled / The street-lamp muttered, the street-car rattled." This repetition of sounds creates a sense of monotony and decay, as if the world around the speaker is slowly falling apart. The fact that the street-lamp "sputtered" and "muttered" suggests that even the sources of light and comfort in the world are unreliable and fading.

However, despite these themes of isolation and decay, there is also a sense of beauty and wonder in the poem. Eliot writes, "The winter evening settles down / With smell of steaks in passageways." This image of the winter evening settling down suggests a sense of peace and calm, as if the world is finally coming to rest. The smell of steaks in the passageways suggests a sense of warmth and comfort, as if there is still some joy and pleasure to be found in the world.

Eliot also uses language to create a sense of wonder and mystery. He writes, "The world revolves like ancient women / Gathering fuel in vacant lots." This image of the world revolving like ancient women suggests a sense of timelessness and continuity, as if the world has been turning for centuries and will continue to turn long after we are gone. The image of women gathering fuel in vacant lots suggests a sense of resourcefulness and resilience, as if even in the most desolate and abandoned places, there is still life and vitality.

In the final stanza of the poem, Eliot brings together all of these themes and images to create a powerful and moving conclusion. He writes, "I am moved by fancies that are curled / Around these images, and cling: / The notion of some infinitely gentle / Infinitely suffering thing."

Here, Eliot suggests that even in the midst of isolation and decay, there is still something infinitely gentle and infinitely suffering in the world. This "thing" could be interpreted in many ways - perhaps it is a reference to God, or to the human spirit, or to the natural world. Whatever it is, Eliot suggests that it is something that we can all connect with, something that can bring us together even in the midst of our isolation and disconnection.

In conclusion, "Morning at the Window" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and a testament to T.S. Eliot's poetic genius. Through his use of imagery, language, and themes, Eliot creates a powerful and moving portrait of the human condition, one that is both bleak and beautiful, lonely and connected. This poem reminds us that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is still beauty and wonder to be found, and that we are all connected by something infinitely gentle and infinitely suffering.

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