Cynthia Simmons
ENG 102
February 16, 2009
25F=(G)(m)(Jesus)/(distance/5)^2
People who live in sin are decaying like the city in “Preludes.” The poet, T.S. Eliot, states that his reader is somebody struggling with sin and regrets. As Eliot talks directly to his reader, Eliot attempts to give hope to her. Eliot states that Jesus is willing to forgive, love, and save the reader despite her decay. The reader is forced to feel an array of emotions to realize her brokenness and faults. Relying on logical and emotional appeals, Eliot is able to convince his reader that only Jesus is able to save her.Using logos, Eliot’s first purpose is to explain the spiritual decay of his reader. Through symbolism, he compares his reader to a city covered in trash and a prostitute with “yellow soles of feet” and “soiled hands” (37-38). Eliot makes this comparison logically. The city dwellers are constantly littering their streets with newspapers and scraps. The city symbolizes the relationship between the reader and Jesus. Eliot argues that the reader is destroying her relationship with Christ. The prostitute in stanza III, represents the sinfulness of the reader. Eliot points that the reader is living a life similar to the prostitute. These two symbols are effective as they allow Eliot to condemn his reader indirectly. The reader is left to study her sins while she examines her relationship with Jesus. Logos is used effectively as it’s difficult for the reader to disagree with Eliot. By appealing to logos first, Eliot is able to strengthen his credibility.
Eliot has to prove his credibility in order to lead the reader into Christianity. He displays his understanding of Jesus to establish his credibility as an evangelist. First, he uses light motif to explain Christ’s omnipresence. As Jesus is light (John 8:12), sunlight appears in stanza II and III. Christ is willing to accept and save anyone who comes to him. Second, Eliot explains Christ’s omnipotence. Eliot compares Jesus with the man in line 39-40. Jesus can conquer nature and save the city. Through these comparisons, the reader is able to trust Eliot. Eliot perfects ethos as he presents the “good news” without bias or error.
As he establishes ethos and logos, Eliot is able to manipulate his reader through emotional appeals. Through pathos, Eliot shames and disgusts the reader by depicting the city she lives in. Like the prostitute, the reader cannot be loved or saved. Like the decaying city, she is in need of help. To describe his reader, Eliot uses words associated with filth such as grimy, scrappy, muddy, and blackened. Thus, Eliot manages to create an atmosphere of desperation. His reader starts to feel desperate for redemption and a savior. Without Jesus, she will decay and die shamefully. In stanza IV, Eliot changes his use of pathos. He gives emotional hope to the reader. Simply, the reader’s shame can be abolished if they accept Christ. Eliot manages to persuade his reader that she needs Christ. Emotionally unstable, the reader will accept anything that Eliot says. By line 47, the reader is moved with awe and thankfulness. She learns that redemption is possible in a wrecked city. By line 52, Eliot asks a rhetorical question to his reader – will you accept Christ’s forgiveness? The use of erotesis strengthens Eliot’s claim as the reader realizes Christ is her only source of redemption.
Eliot works throughout the entire poem to build a kairotic moment in the last three lines. During the poem, Eliot builds logos, ethos, and pathos to bring his reader to Christ. While discussing his admiration for Christ, he takes a sudden pause. This gives his reader an opportunity process what she has read. During this rhetorical pause, the reader is given time to see how special Jesus is. It also gives her time to answer the erotesis of the poem. The reader wants to accept Christ, but she is not sure if she wants to give up her lifestyle. Eliot capitalizes on this moment. In the last three lines, an objection arises – the reader will never accept Jesus. Loud and powerful, Eliot speaks to his reader. Eliot doesn’t offer a counterargument. Instead, he laughs and agrees with the reader. He announces that the reader will reject her only savior. As the tone changed unexpectedly, the reader has to absorb every word in the last three lines. The author and reader come to a consensus: there’s no hope for sinners. This unexpected conclusion thrusts the reader into fear, vulnerability, and confusion. Using a simile to compare the reader with “ancient women” (53), Eliot forces his reader to realize the meaninglessness and worthlessness of her life. The kairotic moment creates a need for healing and hope. By the end of the poem, the reader fully realizes that no one can save her except Christ. Eliot has successfully convinced the reader to accept Christ.
T. S. Eliot has a simple purpose. He wants his reader to understand her state of decay and her need for Christ. Giving hope, Eliot states that Christ offers a life and purpose. Using this poem like a song or a “prelude,” Eliot wants his reader to grow interested in Christ’s love. After the prelude of a concert, the masterpiece is played for an audience. Eliot used this poem to bring the reader to another masterpiece – God. Through the three appeals, symbolism, imagery, motifs, word choices, and kairos, Eliot has achieved his purpose.
Works Cited
Eliot, T.S. “Preludes” Bartleby.com. 10 February 2009.
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