T. S. Eliot Impact On Society

Thomas Stearns “T.S.” Eliot is one of the most inspiring authors in American history. Eliot’s contribution to society was more than words. Eliot’s authorship sits upon a pedestal that will stand the test of time. He is one of the few authors of the 1920s who had the poetic talent that is reflected on to this day. T.S. Eliot’s literature, which greatly impacted the 1920’s, was influenced by his early life, collegiate career, jobs, love life, and authoring career.

Eliot was born September 26, 1888 to Henry Ware Eliot, a successful brick manufacturer, and Charlotte Champe Stearns, a former teacher, social work volunteer, and aspiring poet. Eliot, youngest of seven children, was raised in St. Louis, Missouri; however, he had strong family ties
Eliot lived his freshman career in a fashionable dormitory often referred to as the “Gold Coast”, joined a social club, and met the love of his life Emily Hale (Garraty 2). By 1910 Eliot’s calling had been confirmed. Searching through Harvard’s library, he came across Arthur Symons’s The Symbolist Movement in Literature. Sequentially, the book led Eliot to the poetry of Jules Laforgue who utilized the combination of “ironic elegance and psychological nuance”. Eliot’s passion led him to becoming the secretary of Harvard’s magazine, the Advocate, for a brief period. Eliot’s collegiate career would be extended for a while longer after a close call with the scarlet fever, prevalent at the time . In the fall Eliot had recovered enough to take postgraduate year in Paris (Garraty
Eliot’s success earned himself the privilege to edit a well-known literary journal. Eliot’s works placed at the front of London writing. Unfortunately, Eliot’s personal life was corrupting his talent. Vivienne’s mental state was continuing to deteriorate and Eliot was suffering along with her. Eliot saw his opportunity to escape when Geoffrey Faber, owner of a new publishing firm offered him a job as a literary editor. Tiring of his parents’ Unitarianism customs, Eliot turned to the Anglican Church. Eliot began to write strictly on spiritual situations. Eliot spent the the latter half of his career writing dramas and experiencing with other methods in attempt to attract a more diverse audience. Eliot’s drama career gradually declined until he successfully combined the same ideas to a much greater proportion with great success. He enjoyed a brief period of success of Broadway, but his next two plays were far less of a success (5). Eliot lived a melancholy life until meeting and living out a happy marriage with Valerie Fletcher. “He died in London and according to his own instructions , his ashes were interred in the church of St. Michael’s in East Coker.”