Eliot's quoting of the teaching of Hinduism in The Waste Land could be interpreted as a case of "romantic orientalism" leading to a sort of colonial exploitation or vampirism taking life force from the non-Western. Aware of the easy pitfalls of post-colonialism as a "prejudice" against a prejudice of the West or "resentment" at and vengeance on the West, a post-colonial reading of the Western cannons dealing with non-Western sources should be done not in a tribunal of the non-Western accusers but in a fair and third tribunal. In Eliot's case, a thorough reading of the commands from Hinduism (give, be compassionate and control) in 'What the Thunder Said' will reveal that he is free from any charges of orientalism. "Shantih"(peace) coming at the end of 'What the Thunder Said' will determine the character of the commands from Hinduism. If it is interpreted as a reward, the commands are hypothetical ones―'if you do these, 'peace' will be given as a reward for your act'. But if it is interpreted as a gift, the commands are absolute and categorical ones in the Kantian sense―'just act, 'peace' may come as a gift, but not necessarily.' As ethical commands, they are absolute and categorical ones. And different interpretations of 'the Thunder' by its addressees demonstrate that the ethical command addresses each individual singularly. Absoluteness and singularity characterize the the ethical commands of 'the Thunder.' The ethical commands of Hinduism are applied to everybody in contrast to the command of the vegetation ceremonies applying to kings alone. In a time of vegetation ceremonies and the Grail quest, kings and knights are supposed to take all the responsibility on situations on behalf of people, who can sit back to watch the development and demand the sacrifice of kings if things go wrong. It is a time of heroes. But in the present when all heroes disappear, everybody can be a hero taking in charge of whatever happens. Nobody is exempted from the ethical command addressing not only inert and inactive people in 'the Waste Land' but Eliot and Tiresias, the seer of 'the Waste Land' and the readers. Whatever rebirth in the West or elsewhere will depend on faithful embodiments of the ethical command.

Ⅰ. 오리엔탈리스트로서 엘리엇
 Ⅱ. 황무지의 삶과 재생의식
 Ⅲ. 힌두교의 가르침
 Ⅳ. 윤리적 행위
 인용 문헌
 Abstract

• 구자광(고려대학교) | Ja-kwang Gu