With help of these points that are on ward “What is theory of impersonality ?, What is impersonal theory of poetry by TS Eliot?, How According to Eliot a writer can achieve impersonality?, What is depersonalization?, negative capability according to T.S Eliot?”, we will narrate “Theory of impersonality by T.S Eliot” in details. Eliot has presented the depersonalized theory about the inheritance of art. His main focus is on the tradition of the art and not on the personality of the artist. He says that that the tradition of literary art should be discussed about the creation of that artist should remain aloof from that artistic piece. He is of the view that the artist should be capable to surrender himself before the continuation of the tradition. He considers the tradition more valuable than the existence of the poet or artist himself.
Theory of impersonality or impersonal, depersonalization, negative capability by T.S Eliot or according to T.S Eliot
Modification by the past:-
He considers the value of past and tradition with reference to the modern work of artists. He sees the artistic creation with reference to the past. To him, the literary work must follow the tradition of the past. He says that there should be a glimpse of the past in the literary work. The present work should be modified by the past. He is of the view that the poet should work as an objective artist. He must not include personal details in the work. He must remain to the background of the literary work.
The mind of the poet as working as a catalyst as helps out suggesting the theory of impersonality or impersonal, depersonalization, negative capability by T.S Eliot :-
T.S Eliot has developed and introduced the theory of impersonality or negative capability, it means a poet keeping away from his work, in the second part of the essay Tradition and individual talent. He presents a scientific example in order to convey his idea of impersonality. He takes the mind of the artist and the poet as the catalyst agent with relation to the artistic work. He says that the mind of the poet is like the element platinum and the emotions and feelings of the poet are compared. He compares the perfection of the poetic work with relation to the impersonality of the poet. The personality of the poet should remain aloof from the creative work. as in the chemical reaction, the Sulphur and carbon dioxide unite to make Sulphurous acid and the Platinum works as the catalyst and remains unchanged. The same is the idea implied in the poetic process. The poetic work is created by the poet and he himself does not involve in the process and remains in the background of the work. it is fundamental to depict emotions and feelings in a poetic creation because these are the essence f the poetic work. but the emotions should not derive the inner desire of the poet to react accordingly. He could not feel disgusted and disconsolate while narrating an incident. He cannot incorporate his own feelings to the poetic creation.
Rejection of romantic subjectivity
Eliot presents the idea that there is a store of emotions and feelings in the mind of the poet. These feelings and expressions are present in the unorganized and chaotic form. All these emotions and feelings unite to make the new poetic work and idea. There is a collaboration of thousand expressions in order to create a single poetic work. He rejects the idea that poetry is an inspirational concept it is about the attachment and organization of disconnected thoughts and dispersed feelings. He does not evaluate and consider the magnitude of emotions for the creation of the poetic work. He considers the magnitude and intensity of poetical work for its success.
Difference between the personal and the artistic emotions and feelings
Eliot is of the view that sometimes the poetic expressions have nothing to do with the personal life of the poet. He may incorporate several incidents and events which he may have not undergone ever. He may have not witnessed such events which demanded by his poetic work. he will try to include all these details in his poetic work which has no significant place in his real life. In the famous Ode by Keats, the nightingale is full of emotions and personal experiences but there is no connection with the life of the poet. It is only a medium of poetic expressions. The emotions exercised in the poetry and the poetic works are more crude, complex and refined. But the expressions felt in the real life may be simple and universal. There is no need to introduce findings in the process of poetic creation. It only employs the existing ideas. Its main focus is on the interpretation of the existing ideas. The poet may incorporate such ideas and feelings which he has never witnessed or expressed in his real life.
Eliot rejects Wordsworth’s theory of poetry
Theory of impersonality or impersonal, depersonalization, negative capability by T.S Eliot or according to T.S Eliot Rejects to romantic subjectivity. He is of the view that poetry is not about the emotions recollected the emotions in the tranquility. He does not consider the origin of the poetry from tranquility. He has presented a different idea for the origin of the poetic process. He thus compares the poetic mind to a jar where numerous feelings and expressions are found. These feelings and expressions are collected and organized in a systematic way in order to initiate a poetic process. He considers the process of poetic creation as the passive one. He differs between the good and bad poets on the basis of their consciousness. He considers the poet to be good if he unconscious about the certain poetic work and the bad poet will always be conscious about his poetic creation. If a poet remains conscious while making the poetic work, he will include his personality to the work. it will not fulfill the demand of the poetic work. if the poem shows the personal concern it will not meet the requirement of the theory of impersonality. He sees the maturity of the art in the form of impersonal art. If the port and the Artist remain impersonal the work will be mature and significant.
Poetry is not a turning loose of emotions
Eliot concludes the discussion with the famous definition of poetry. He does not consider poetry about the depiction of feelings and expressions. He is of the view that poetry must show the escape from poetry in order to fulfill the demand of the theory of impersonality. He says that the poet should not express his own emotions and ideas while creating a poetic work.
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