TS Eliot's poem The Waste Land passes through many characters, several of whom are women. Each of the characters has their own story and their own voice. They each contribute something unique to the overall meaning of the poem. Women in particular vary greatly in age, life stage, education level and socio-economic status. Their voices are unique and distinctive, and it is usually easy to tell them apart when they appear in the poem. However, despite their differences, Eliot pointed out that women are actually all manifestations of one woman. Two women from the poem who illustrate this thought appear in the second part: “A game of chess”. These women appear to be complete opposites, but they work together in the poem to express Eliot's view on modern sexuality. The first woman introduced in the second part of The Waste Land is a wealthy, upper-class woman, seated in a chair that is described as being "like a burnished throne" (8). The setting described in the poem indicates the woman's position in life. She sits in her armchair surrounded by marble, a candelabra, jewelry, satin and perfumes. These words set a regal tone, but they also evoke a certain feeling of coldness. This feeling comes from the fact that the woman is wearing jewelry and perfume and is sitting at a table with candles as if waiting for a guest, but there is no indication that her guest has arrived. There is a strong feeling of detachment. Even the light in the room is even described as being “sad” at one point in the poem (8). The setting gives the impression that the woman is waiting for someone important, perhaps even a lover. Eliot alludes to a lover with the inclusion of references to Middleton's play, Women Beware Wom...... middle of paper.... ..and for reasons other than producing children, she became crazy. She became desperate and unstable. It is likely that Eliot views these consequences as a direct result of his actions. The second wife seemed to do everything according to Eliot's philosophy, but her husband couldn't stop touching her, implying that the couple had sex for reasons other than just procreation, and that she had aborted. Abortion breaks the chain of nature and therefore contributes to the mental and emotional decline that Lil faces. Despite their very different lifestyles and situations, Lil and the first wife have the same problem in Eliot's eyes. Their lack of respect for what Eliot considers the correct way to think about sex earns them a place in The Waste Land. Works CitedEliot, TS The Waste Land. Ed. Michel Nord. New York: WW Norton, 2001. Print.