The Elder Statesman

The Elder Statesman

"The Elder Statesman" is a play in verse by T. S. Eliot first performed in 1958 and published in 1959.

Overview

T. S. Eliot once quipped: “A play should give you something to think about. When I see a play and understand it the first time, then I know it can't be much good.”

It was a self-adopted method for Eliot to start from the known and the familiar and work his way into the unfamiliar and the unknown. Eliot realized that the modern man, in the daily hustle-bustle of his existence, is unknowingly gasping for breath, looking for an escape from the quagmire of daily life, which is devoid of all meaning. Eliot’s drawing room drama "The Elder Statesman", is the last of his drawing room plays in which he attempts to give a final expression to his vision of life. In many ways, therefore, "The Elder Statesman" marks the culmination of Eliot’s philosophy of life. "Murder in the Cathedral" deals with the theme of spirituality. "The Cocktail Party" deals with the theme of misplaced priorities and skewed spiritual visions. "The Family Reunion" shows us the process by which a man, pre-disposed to sainthood, is made aware of his destiny. In the last drawing room drama, Eliot shows us how no man is rich enough to buy his past, how no one can escape the memories of things gone by. One cannot flee from a guilt-ridden past and can only gain salvation from the same through admittance, contrition and expiation.

"The Elder Statesman", as a play, is not particularly poetic or dramatic. But it’s written in powerful verse, which is apt for Eliot’s theme and expression. What Eliot wishes to tell us is something profoundly true and important: that we cannot flee the past or ‘retire‛ from responsibility. At best, we can off-load it by contrition. And that to find ‘the truth that shall set you free‛ you must strip yourself of all pretense, all ‘acting‛ and become again, a little child. Eliot also shows us that to enter into reality is only possible through others; so that totally shared love is the supreme road to reality, and that as such, love is capable of being self-sufficient, provided it is love which is founded on true confession, resignation and trust.

ynopsis

When the play opens, the setting is that of Lord Claverton’s drawing room. Lord Claverton is man of distinction, who is well-known and well-respected in society, where he exerts considerable influence. As the play opens, we see Claverton’s daughter Monica, bantering with her beau, Charles Hemington. From their conversation, it becomes evident that Lord Claverton is fiercely possessive of Monica- a fact that Charles grudges. Through the course of the play, we see that Claverton has been forced to retire for medical reasons. He is hounded by revelations from his past - a man (Gomez), who as a student he led into bad company, a singer (Mrs.Carghill), with whom he had an affair and who was bought off by his father. These people, unexpectedly make a comeback in Claverton’s life, and bring with them all the memories that Claverton has conveniently chosen to forget or overlook. Claverton and Monica’s first impression is that Gomez and Mrs.Carghill have returned to claim money from the wealthy Claverton. But it is made abundantly clear to the reader that Gomez and Mrs.Carghill are well enough off on their own account, and have not come back to blackmail Claverton for his money. They only want to spend their time with Claverton. Eliot’s underlying message is that these two people are the twin agents of conscience that have come back to constantly remind Claverton of his guilt, of how his public image does not match the real man underneath it. Back in his college days, Claverton had a hit and run incident, a fact which Gomez is privy to. As for Mrs.Carghill, she was the love of Claverton’s life but she was bought off by Claverton’s disapproving father. As a result, Claverton could not make good his promise of marrying Mrs.Carghill. Gomez, who has made a fortune since then and Mrs.Carghill, who is now a wealthy widow, have both come back to Claverton’s life as agents of Eliot’s message.

As the play progresses, we see that Gomez manages to lure away Claverton’s son Michael, according to whom his father never understood him. It is only Monica, who stands beside her father, offering all the support he needs. She is indeed the spiritual guide who brings Claverton to the light of self-knowledge. It is only by shamefully confessing to Monica that her father is able to gain salvation. Claverton confesses that he never told her about the past as he always wanted Monica and Michael to admire him. Monica assures him that her admiration for her father is irrespective of his past. As for Michael, he is given a farewell so that he may go with Gomez and chart his own destiny. They are both hopeful that Michael will either be successful in his pursuits, or will return home eventually, like the prodigal son.

After his confession to Monica and her re-assurance to her father, Claverton expresses his desire to go for a walk. And it doesn’t take the reader too long to realize that Claverton dies off-stage, leaving Monica to Charles- a couple, who will together lead and be led towards the goal of spirituality and illumination.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • elder statesman — n. 1. Historical in Japan, any of a number of retired statesmen who served informally as a group of advisors to the emperor 2. any elderly retired statesman who continues to be consulted unofficially on governmental matters …   English World dictionary

  • elder statesman — 1. an influential citizen, often a retired high official, whose advice is sought by government leaders. 2. any influential member of a company, group, etc., whose advice is respected. 3. Japanese Hist. any of the political leaders who retired… …   Universalium

  • Cato the Elder — Marcus Porcius Cato Maior, Cato the Elder Marcus Porcius Cato[1] (234 BC, Tusculum – 149 BC) was a Roman statesman, commonly referred to as Censorius (the Censor), Sapiens (the Wise), Priscus (the Ancient), or Major, Cato the El …   Wikipedia

  • Pitt, William, the Elder — later 1st earl of Chatham born Nov. 15, 1708, London, Eng. died May 11, 1778, Hayes, Kent British statesman and orator, twice virtual prime minister (1756–61, 1766–68). He entered Parliament in 1735 and provoked controversy with his maiden speech …   Universalium

  • Henry Vane the Elder — Sir Henry Vane, the elder (1589 1655), was an English politician and secretary of state.Origins and educationVane was born on 18 February 1589, the eldest son of Henry Vane or Fane of Hadlow, Kent, by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Roger… …   Wikipedia

  • Pier Paolo Vergerio, the Elder —     Pier Paolo Vergerio, the Elder     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Pier Paolo Vergerio, the Elder     Humanist, statesman, and canonist, b. at Capodistria, 23 July, 1370; d. at Budapest, 8 July, 1444 or 1445. He studied rhetoric at Padua, canon law …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Marino Sanuto the Elder — Marino Sanuto or Sanudo the Elder of Torcello (c. 1260 – 1338) was a Venetian statesman and geographer. He is best known for his life long attempts to revive the crusading spirit and movement; with this object he wrote his great work, the Secreta …   Wikipedia

  • Pier Paolo Vergerio the Elder — Pier Paolo Vergerio (the Elder) (b. at Capodistria, 23 July1370; d. at Budapest, 8 July, 1444 or 1445) was an Italian humanist, statesman, and canon lawyer.LifeHe studied rhetoric at Padua, canon law at Florence (1387 89) and at Bologna (1389 90) …   Wikipedia

  • Sten Sture the Elder — Infobox Monarch name = Sten Sture, den äldre title = caption = Statue of Sten Sture reign = 1470 1497, 1501 December 14, 1503 coronation = predecessor = Charles VIII interregnum = Johan II successor = Svante Nilsson consort = Ingeborg Tott issue …   Wikipedia

  • Per Brahe the Elder — (1520 ndash; 1590) was a Swedish statesman.Brahe was the nephew of King Gustavus Vasa and was among the first members of the Swedish nobility to be created a count when titles of nobility were introduced by King Eric XIV on the occasion of his… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”