one man experienced. In the opening of the poem begins with a quote from Greek mythology: “Alas, I am struck with a mortal blow within.” Here he is showing the permanence of the past. The mythology of Greeks is permanent that events that people believed in thousands of years ago are still being thought of. Then Eliot moves to landmarks that still exist today: “Gloomy Orion and the Dog”(9). These are constellations of stars that still can be seen today, showing a need for permanence. People have counted on them in the past, and some still count on them today. All this is relevant to the times that Eliot wrote, because like Hardy he wrote during a time dominated by wars and political turmoil. He seems to be longing for that type of permanence. He expresses his thoughts about the current politics of Europe through the use of the relationships that the shady Apeneck Sweeney had. Sweeney, in general, represents politics. Politics was about as permanent as the relationships that Sweeney had with women. The first mistress that is encountered in the poem is a mess and destroys almost anything she touches. “…Tries to sit on Sweeney’s knees / Slips and pulls the table cloth / Overturns a coffee-cup, / Reorganized on the floor / She yawns and draws a stocking up;”(12-16). This is symbolic that the politics in Europe are falling apart. While still with the other woman, another come along and they all eat various fruits. Finally he felt that some was wrong: “She and the lady in the cape / Are suspect, thought to be in a league; / Therefore the man with heavy eyes / … / Leaves the room…”(25-29). The women are not what they are presenting themselves to be and so he made a wise decision to leave. This shows that the women who seem to be trying to seduce him that they are not permanent, and no relationship should be persued. He leaves the room and look and the wind...
