DA 410 by T. S. Eliot: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This brief excerpt from T.
This brief excerpt from T. S. Eliot's *The Waste Land* (Part V, "What the Thunder Said") derives its title from a Sanskrit syllable that translates to "give." Eliot employs the thunder's age-old command to explore the true essence of giving — not in terms of money or gifts, but in surrendering control and being open to another person. It reflects on the difficulty of true generosity and how infrequently we achieve it.
Tone & mood
The tone feels serious and introspective — akin to a confession shared in hushed surroundings. No comfort is provided. The speaker candidly acknowledges failure and how infrequently people embrace the vulnerability that thunder calls for. Beneath this heaviness lies a sense of yearning: the poem suggests that surrender *can* happen, even if it remains uncommon and daunting.
Symbols & metaphors
- The thunder / DA — The thunder comes from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, where the syllable *DA* is understood in three different ways for three distinct audiences. In this context, it serves as a divine or cosmic command that pierces through the distractions of modern life and calls for something genuine from within the self.
- The moment of surrender — Surrender represents true intimacy and selflessness — a stark contrast to the guarded, transactional relationships that populate the rest of *The Waste Land*. It’s frightening because it’s something that can’t be undone.
- The obituary — Obituaries capture the public record of a life — its achievements, roles, and the respect earned. Eliot uses them to illustrate how the official narrative can completely overlook what truly mattered about an individual.
- The beneficent spider — The spider crafting its web over memories symbolizes how time and nostalgia can blur and soften our perception of the past. The term 'beneficent' carries irony; while the spider's actions seem gentle, they ultimately conceal the truth.
Historical context
*The Waste Land* was published in 1922, shortly after World War One, when many writers perceived European civilization as a wreck. Eliot drew from a vast array of sources — including Sanskrit scripture, Arthurian legend, Shakespeare, and Dante — to create a poem that explores spiritual emptiness and the chance for renewal. "DA" appears in the final section, "What the Thunder Said," where the poem looks to ancient Eastern wisdom as a potential remedy for the West's fatigue. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad presents the syllable *DA* as a lesson imparted by the god Prajapati to gods, humans, and demons, each receiving a different message. Eliot focuses on the human instruction — *datta*, which means give — and examines it with the same unwavering honesty that permeates the entire poem. At the time of writing, Eliot was living in London, working at a bank, and facing personal and psychological challenges; the question of what it truly means to give oneself to another person was deeply personal for him.
FAQ
*DA* is a Sanskrit syllable found in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. The text describes it as a sound produced by thunder and offers three interpretations: *datta* (give), *dayadhvam* (sympathize), and *damyata* (control). This part of *The Waste Land* emphasizes the first interpretation.
Eliot intentionally sought to move beyond Western tradition, which he considered spiritually empty after the war. Eastern philosophy provided an alternative perspective on the self, desire, and redemption. His use of Sanskrit also suggests that the poem's questions are universal, extending beyond just European contexts.
It is Eliot's definition of genuine giving: a moment when you let down your guard and fully open yourself to another person. He describes it as 'awful' because it can be terrifying—you lose control over what happens once you’ve surrendered—and 'daring' because it requires true courage.
The address is intentionally vague. It might refer to a particular person the speaker once loved, a general audience, or even the speaker talking to himself. This ambiguity is key: the moment of surrender is both profoundly personal and a shared human experience.
The 'beneficent spider' spins a web of cozy, altered memories about the past. While it sounds kind — *beneficent* implies doing good — it ultimately obscures the truth of what really occurred. Eliot suggests that nostalgia and time work together to conceal the significant moments.
It’s a straightforward take rather than a simplistic one. The speaker recognizes that true generosity is uncommon and daunting, and that much of life doesn’t leave a significant mark. However, the existence of these moments — that "by this, and this only, we have existed" — suggests the poem carries a sense of hope. It simply doesn’t offer hope on a silver platter.
The entire poem centers on spiritual and emotional emptiness — individuals who are unable to connect, feel, or give. 'DA' appears toward the end as a sort of diagnosis and solution: the wasteland exists due to the failures of giving, sympathy, and self-control. The command of the thunder serves as the poem's response, even if the characters find it difficult to adhere to.
No. Eliot gives plenty of context within the poem itself, and the emotional core — the question of what it costs to truly give yourself to another person — is clear even without any background in Sanskrit scripture. While knowing the source can enhance the reading experience, it's not necessary.