"Hysteria" by T S Eliot (poetry reading)

from Prufrock and Other Observations. 1917.

I have no doubt that this refers to a real dilemma in which Eliot found himself. He was a shy young man and embarrassed in public by his female companion who was laughing immoderately. The waiter is afraid that the woman's behaviour will offend other customers and he wants them to move into the garden.

The situation has acquired a sense of unreality and Eliot is looking for some measure of sanity. He decides to focus on just one element, the shaking of the woman's breasts, as an indicator of whether he is being successful at controlling what is happening.

The picture is a German postcard, about 1925. In my imagination his companion was larger and older than the girl in this picture.

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• Hysteria
• Eliot

[TheWretch]

I disagree with most of the analyses i've read, that surmise that the subject is uncomfortable or upset in any way. The imagery perfectly decribes the avenues a man's mind wanders through, if he were sitting at a table with a woman he desires greatly. There are moments when you are appreciating the physicality of a person, that you DO become lost in their face, seeing glints off their teeth as they laugh, and ultimatlely descend to the throat and chest. What she says is incidental.

[SpokenVerse]

@TheWretch Why then is it entitled "hysteria" and why is the waiter alarmed too?

[otaku123bekah]

@SpokenVerse Maybe hysteria just refers to her loud obnoxious laughing and the waiter doesn't want them to disturb the other patrons, since fancy places don't really like you making loud noises?

[SpokenVerse]

@otaku123bekah I agree with you. In fact I think that's what I said in my notes.

[thallassocracy]

Vivienne had serious issues with substance abuse, so I think your postcard may be more acute than you give it credit for.

[SpokenVerse]

Written in 1915, it's unlikely to refer to Vivienne.

[mistacramer]

Great reading, sir!

[tiarnan76]

@SpokenVerse because hysteria sums up her laughter and also his passion, the waiter repeats himself because the man is lost in her and not paying attention - anyway dont look for definitives within poetry....but fair play for posting it nonetheless

[caesarshogun]

@TheWretch Keep in mind that Eliot often chooses to put uncommon or academic overtones into his work. This was a man who based poems off of obscure interpretations of Mithraic lore ("Sweeney Among The Nightingales") and Grail legend. To title it a single word, obviously points to the poem being some sort of definition. The uncontrollable laughing woman, the aporia of entire poem, points to original ancient believed condition of a woman going insane, "Hysteria" (from Greek "hustera": uterus).

[caesarshogun]

@TheWretch Keep in mind Eliot almost always uses words, quotes, and allusions connoting a deeper meaning, usually academic and uncommon. This was a man who based images in his poems off of Mithraic lore ("Sweeny Among the Nightingales") and Grail legend. Titling the poem with a single word, "Hysteria", Eliot is obviously exploring the meaning of the word. The uncontrollable laughing woman, Eliot's aporia, the waiter's alarm, seem to point to point to the words origins and older meaning.

[TheWretch]

@ SpokenVerse Hysteria is defined as "an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc" I believe they are both intoxicated. I believe the waiter is upset because he would rather have the loud drunks away from the other patrons. If the speaker is using 'careful subtlely' I don't believe he is hysterical, unless you stretch the meaning a bit to include his yearning to stop "them" from shaking. God knows, most desires are irrational.