Thomas Sterns Elliot Influences

Thomas Sterns Eliot, an influential poet and literary critic that caused massive change with his work in social and cultural theory. According to the article “T. S. Eliot” in Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Elliot had such a unique view on the social and political world that he was able to create many works of art that caused a cascading rush of new ideas that have survived well through the 20th century and into the 21st century. His superbe education and philosophical view of the world made him an ideal character to charge the minds of people who were more open to change after the end of World War II (“T.” Encyclopedia). Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Thomas Eliot lived in London after he graduated from Harvard. He studied philosophy for a while
S. Eliot” in Authors and Artists for Young Adults “While a student at Oxford, Elliot met the vivacious but troubled Vivien Haigh-Wood.” They married soon after they met and this sent shock waves through Eliot’s family and made many people unhappy. Eliot and Vivien were totally different people, but they realized this after they were already married. She lived such a different lifestyle she would either be good or bad when it was all over with, this was Russell’s thoughts on Vivien (“T.” Authors). Eliot was distrustful of her at some point in their marriage, because of the influence on his works. There was distrust about the sex and romance and this pointed to Eliot's own marriage so this caused suspicion. Many accusations were said about Vivien even that she like the drug ether and she used it often. This brought Eliot much despair and was one of the main influences on Eliot's writing and this made his view become more crucial of the word and started to develop his unique view of perfection in the world. Later Eliot returned to the United States to visit his parents and this lead to him settling down with Vivien, in Russell’s two bedroom apartment while Eliot saved up some money to provide for his family. They eventually moved out of Russell’s place into quarters of their own. Eliot decided to take a job teaching and later at a bank working as a linguist. These experiences keep the money flowing while he wrote poetry on the side. These jobs as
S. Eliot” states in EXPLORING Poetry “In 1948 Eliot received both the Nobel Prize for literature and the Order of Merit by King George VI, both honors-- along with his newfound popularity as a dramatist-- augmenting his stature as a celebrated literary figure which he maintained until his death in 1965.” His death shook the world because the idea that a man that conveyed such a pivotal message about the time a person is given and the meaning of life the can get from that time could just not exist anymore was a sad moment. He had a hard life filled with ups and downs, but near the end of his life he was able to relish in his achievements and see his life as a whole and not in fragments like is said in the “Four Quartets” (“T.” Encyclopedia). But this may seem like all his achievements went to his head, they did not, “‘He was above all, a humble man,’ claimed the Times obituary; ‘firm, even stubborn at times, but with no self importance; quite unspoilt by fame; free from spiritual or intellectual pride’” (“T.”