T.S. Eliot and Prejudice
T.S. Eliot and Prejudice by Christopher B. Ricks, published by Faber & Faber in 1994, is a first edition that spans 290 pages. This work delves into the complexities of T.S. Eliot’s poetry and prose, particularly focusing on themes of anti-Semitism. Ricks presents an analysis of Eliot’s writings, arguing that while Eliot exhibited troubling sentiments towards Jews, he should not be hastily categorized as an outright antisemite. The book examines how some negative portrayals may reflect the views of an imagined speaker rather than Eliot himself.
Readers will find a thorough exploration of Eliot’s controversial expressions, including a critical look at his “Dirge” of the drowned Jew Bleistein, which is described as particularly disturbing. The text also discusses Eliot’s lectures in “After Strange Gods,” where he advocated for cultural homogeneity and expressed views against what he termed “excessive tolerance.” Ricks emphasizes the need to differentiate Eliot’s antisemitism from more extreme forms of prejudice, providing a nuanced perspective on the author’s complex relationship with societal attitudes of his time. This edition offers insights into literature and criticism, making it a significant contribution to the study of Eliot’s work and its historical context.
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Ch. 2 (p. 25-76), “Anti-Semitism”, analyzes Eliot’s poetry and prose writings considered to be antisemitic, arguing that although he did have “queasy, resentful feelings about Jews” he should not be summarily dismissed as an antisemite. Some of his negative expressions about Jews represent the opinions of the imaginary speaker, not the author. However, other poems are ugly and unpleasant, especially the “Dirge” of the drowned Jew Bleistein (published after Eliot’s death). In a collection of lectures, “After Strange Gods” (1934), Eliot argued for cultural homogeneity and against “excessive tolerance”, and declared “large numbers of free-thinking Jews” undesirable. Although Eliot cannot be excused by the argument that he was affected by the pervasive social prejudice of his time, and the writer and his works cannot be separated, his antisemitism should be distinguished from the type of incitement expressed by Pound.
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