Analytic Portrayal of Time in the Poetry of T.S. Eliot and Adonis: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Eliot and Adonis have written about the effect of the passage of time on human life, psyche and existence in debatable ways. They have tackled time according to their perception, belief and understanding concerning its passage in the past, present, and future. Eliot deals with time culturally and historically, reflecting its inexorable passage and relentless power upon the existence of men to shape their identity and self-awareness. Unlike Eliot, Adonis embraces a mystical exploration of time and how individuals have to stand still against its destructive effect by taking advantages of it. Both of them have unveiled the implying meaning of time according to their distinctive philosophy and unique style, showing its complexities of temporality on human beings. Eliot epitomizes its flicking nature with fractured and disjointed images, while Adonis addresses the ruptures caused by time on Arab’s societies recently. The study concludes their perspectives about the theme of time as well as their critical views and treatments. Eliot believes in the significance of reaching “still point” to enrich the spiritual enlightenment against modern shackles represented by recent quick passage of time and anxieties. On the other side, Adonis underscores the crucial role of individuals’ investment of time, creating a transformative power that enables them to encounter its recent fluidity, hardships and complexities. To some degree, both of them have tried to combat the conventional ideology of mortality by exploring the concepts of timelessness and transcendence.

Keywords: Eliot, Adonis, timelessness, fluidity, temporality, transcendence.