Beyond Stolen Cards: 5 Shocking Truths About E-commerce Fraud in 2025
This blog is written as part of the CAWACH activity conducted by the Department of English, aiming to critically examine contemporary digital issues through interdisciplinary perspectives. Behind the promise of seamless online transactions lies an invisible “fraud tax” that costs organizations worldwide an average of 7.7% of their annual revenue, quietly eroding trust and profitability in the digital marketplace.
Introduction: The Hidden Tax on Our $6 Trillion Digital Shopping Spree
The global e-commerce industry has grown into an unstoppable force, with annual sales surpassing $6.3 trillion. Online shopping now defines modern consumer behavior—fast, convenient, and borderless. Yet beneath this digital boom lies a rapidly expanding shadow economy powered by fraud.
This is no marginal problem. Businesses across the world are losing an average of 7.7% of their annual revenue to fraudulent activity. This invisible “fraud tax” quietly erodes profits, damages consumer trust, and complicates the sustainability of digital commerce.
Fraud in 2025 is no longer limited to stolen credit cards or anonymous hackers. It has become personal, technologically sophisticated, and alarmingly internal. Drawing from recent global fraud reports, this article uncovers five unexpected and critical truths redefining the e-commerce fraud landscape today.
1. The Call Is Coming from Inside the House: Friendly Fraud Is Now the #1 Threat
The traditional image of fraud—a faceless criminal breaching systems from afar—is increasingly outdated. Today, the most common and costly form of e-commerce fraud originates after the purchase and often from legitimate customers themselves.
Known as friendly fraud or chargeback fraud, this occurs when customers dispute valid transactions after receiving goods or services. It includes behaviors such as refund abuse, policy exploitation, and first-party misuse.
Recent data highlights the scale of the problem:
57% of merchants report rising refund and policy abuse
62% report increased first-party misuse disputes
Economic uncertainty has only intensified this trend, as financially pressured consumers increasingly exploit flexible return and refund policies.
The operational cost is staggering. For every $100 disputed, merchants spend an estimated $35 on administrative and operational overhead alone. The biggest threat to online retailers is no longer just external attackers—but the misuse of trust within their own customer base.
2. The Real Cost of Fraud Is Nearly 5× Higher Than It Appears
The financial loss from a fraudulent transaction is only the beginning. The true damage unfolds through a cascade of hidden expenses—investigations, recovery efforts, legal fees, operational disruptions, and reputational harm.
Industry research reveals that for every $1 lost to fraud, the actual cost to a business is approximately $4.76.
In the United States, this burden is especially severe. Businesses lost an average of 9.8% of their revenue to fraud last year—a 46% increase from the year before. These losses threaten long-term viability and force companies to rethink fraud prevention as a strategic investment rather than a reactive expense.
Encouragingly, organizations that invest in modern fraud prevention technologies report strong returns—often $5 gained for every $1 spent.
3. You Can’t Trust Your Eyes or Ears: AI Deepfakes Are Redefining Fraud
Artificial intelligence has handed fraudsters a devastating new weapon: deepfake technology. AI-generated voice and video impersonations are now so realistic that human perception is no longer a reliable defense.
The numbers are alarming:
Deepfake-based identity fraud attempts increased by 3,000% in 2023
Humans correctly identify high-quality deepfake videos only 24.5% of the time
This threat is already causing real-world damage. In early 2024, an employee at global engineering firm Arup transferred $25 million after participating in a video call featuring convincing AI-generated impersonations of senior executives.
The lesson is clear: visual and auditory verification can no longer be trusted. As AI blurs the boundary between real and artificial, organizations must adopt machine-based verification systems that go beyond human judgment.
4. The Blame Game Is Over: Banks and Platforms Are Now Liable
A major regulatory shift—particularly in Europe—is reshaping accountability for fraud losses. This change responds to the rise of authorized push payment (APP) fraud, where consumers are manipulated into willingly sending money to criminals.
Under the EU’s Payment Services Regulation (PSR) and PSD3:
Banks and payment service providers may be held financially liable if fraud prevention controls fail
Online platforms can also be liable for hosting scam content that leads to consumer losses
This marks a dramatic shift from earlier models that placed responsibility largely on consumers.
By contrast, U.S. protections under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) are limited—capping consumer liability at $50 and allowing just 60 days to dispute unauthorized charges. Europe’s approach is far more consumer-centric, granting up to 13 months for disputes and forcing the entire digital ecosystem to actively prevent fraud.
5. Your Digital Body Language Is the New Security Frontier
As fraudsters bypass passwords and two-factor authentication, a new line of defense is emerging: behavioral biometrics.
Instead of relying on what users know or possess, this technology verifies identity based on how people interact with their devices—their subconscious digital behavior.
It analyzes patterns such as:
Keystroke dynamics (typing rhythm and speed)
Mouse movement behavior
Touchscreen pressure and swipe patterns
Device handling, measured through motion sensors
Behavioral biometrics enables continuous authentication, detecting fraud even after a successful login. This makes it particularly effective against session hijacking, SIM swap attacks, and remote social-engineering scams.
Its rapid adoption reflects its importance, with the market projected to grow from $1.65 billion in 2022 to over $7.3 billion by 2030.
2025 में ई-कॉमर्स फ्रॉड के 5 बड़े खतरे: क्या आपका बिजनेस सुरक्षित है?
Conclusion: Thriving in an Era of Digital Distrust
E-commerce fraud in 2025 is more complex, more personal, and more costly than ever before. The biggest risks now come from trusted users, AI-powered deception, and systemic weaknesses across the digital ecosystem. At the same time, responsibility for fraud prevention is shifting toward banks, platforms, and merchants alike.
In an economy where digital trust is currency, security has become a core customer experience. With 80% of consumers likely to abandon a brand after an account takeover, fraud prevention is no longer a backend function—it is a frontline promise.
As technology continues to blur the line between reality and illusion, one question defines the future of digital commerce:
When seeing and hearing are no longer believing, how will we prove who we truly are?
Courage and Closure: Pilar and the Ending of For Whom the Bell Tolls
As part of a thinking activity assigned by Prof. Megha Ma’am, this critical analysis reflects upon the ending of Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. The purpose of this exercise is not merely to summarize the conclusion of the novel, but to engage critically with its thematic, philosophical, and emotional dimensions. Hemingway’s ending is deliberately understated, yet it leaves a lasting impact by confronting readers with questions of duty, mortality, love, and human responsibility within the context of war.
1) Critical Analysis of the Ending of For Whom the Bell Tolls?
Introduction: A Quiet Yet Powerful Conclusion
Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls ends not with dramatic triumph but with silence, restraint, and moral depth. The final image of Robert Jordan lying wounded beneath a pine tree, waiting for the enemy, brings the novel to a close that is emotionally intense and philosophically resonant. This ending encapsulates Hemingway’s central concerns—death, duty, love, and human interconnectedness—while rejecting romanticized notions of war and heroism.
Completion of the Mission and Moral Responsibility
The destruction of the bridge marks the fulfilment of Robert Jordan’s assigned duty. Although the mission is strategically questionable and costly in human terms, Jordan does not reject its necessity. His injury prevents him from escaping with the guerrilla group, yet his choice to stay behind is deliberate rather than forced. Hemingway presents duty not as blind obedience but as a conscious moral commitment. Jordan’s decision underscores the idea that meaning lies in responsibility and action, even when outcomes are uncertain or tragic.
Facing Death with Dignity and Control
A defining feature of the ending is Jordan’s calm acceptance of death. Hemingway avoids melodrama and instead presents death as an inevitable reality that must be faced with courage and self-control. Jordan’s thoughts are practical and disciplined, reflecting Hemingway’s concept of the “code hero”—a figure who confronts suffering with stoicism and inner strength. His composure transforms the moment from despair into a statement of existential courage.
Love and Farewell: The Role of María
The farewell between Robert Jordan and María forms the emotional heart of the ending. Their love, though brief, is intense and meaningful, symbolizing hope and renewal amid destruction. María represents life beyond war, and Jordan’s insistence that she leave without him reflects selfless love rather than romantic escape. Hemingway suggests that love does not negate death but gives life its fullness. Jordan’s acceptance of separation affirms that love can coexist with sacrifice and loss.
Individual Death and Collective Humanity
The novel’s title, drawn from John Donne’s meditation, gains its fullest significance at the end. Jordan’s impending death is not an isolated event; it resonates with the lives of María, the guerrilla fighters, and humanity as a whole. Hemingway reinforces the idea that every human loss diminishes the collective. Through Jordan’s death, the novel emphasizes the interconnectedness of human existence and the shared cost of war.
The Anti-Romantic Vision of War
Hemingway deliberately denies the reader a heroic or victorious conclusion. The bridge explosion does not change the course of the war, and Jordan’s sacrifice does not guarantee success. This refusal to glorify war exposes its futility and moral ambiguity. The ending challenges traditional war narratives by showing that individual bravery rarely leads to meaningful political outcomes, emphasizing instead the human cost of ideological conflict.
Minimalist Style and Emotional Impact
The power of the ending is heightened by Hemingway’s minimalist prose style. The language is spare and controlled, avoiding emotional excess. This restraint allows the reader to feel the weight of the moment without authorial guidance. The simplicity of the narration mirrors Jordan’s inner composure and reinforces Hemingway’s belief that profound meaning often lies beneath understated expression.
Conclusion: Meaning Beyond Survival
The ending of For Whom the Bell Tolls transforms Robert Jordan’s death into a meditation on the value of life itself. Hemingway suggests that life’s worth is measured not by longevity or victory, but by integrity, love, and conscious choice. Jordan dies not as a triumphant hero, but as a complete human being who has lived with awareness and responsibility. The bell that tolls for him ultimately tolls for all, reminding readers of shared mortality and collective human experience.
2) Write your Views on the very brave character, Pilar.
Pilar as a Very Brave Character in For Whom the Bell Tolls
Introduction
Pilar is one of the most powerful and memorable characters in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. Though she is not a soldier in the conventional sense, her bravery is deeper and more complex than physical courage alone. Pilar represents emotional strength, moral authority, leadership, and resilience in a world devastated by war. Her courage lies in her ability to confront fear, violence, and loss without surrendering her sense of responsibility toward others.
Moral Courage and Leadership
Pilar’s bravery is most evident in her role as the true leader of the guerrilla group. Although Pablo is the nominal head, it is Pilar who exercises moral authority and decisive judgment. She does not hesitate to challenge Pablo when his actions threaten the group’s safety or mission. Standing up to Pablo, despite his violent and unpredictable nature, requires immense courage. Pilar risks conflict and even death to protect the collective interest, demonstrating bravery rooted in responsibility rather than power.
Psychological Strength and Endurance
Unlike many characters who are overwhelmed by the brutality of war, Pilar confronts it directly. She carries the psychological burden of past violence, especially the horrifying massacre she narrates in her village. Recounting such traumatic events without emotional collapse shows her mental resilience. Pilar’s bravery lies in her ability to remember, reflect, and still continue fighting, proving that courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity to endure it.
Fearlessness in the Face of Violence
Pilar shows exceptional courage during moments of physical danger. She participates actively in guerrilla operations and does not withdraw when faced with enemy threats. Even during the bridge mission, when chaos and fear dominate, Pilar remains alert, practical, and determined. Her courage is not reckless; it is controlled and purposeful, making her a stabilizing force within the group.
Protective and Maternal Bravery
Pilar’s bravery also appears in her protective instincts, especially toward María. She saves María from sexual violence and emotional destruction, acting as both a guardian and a mother figure. In doing so, Pilar confronts not only external threats but also the psychological damage inflicted by war. Her nurturing courage highlights a form of bravery often overlooked—compassion in a cruel environment.
Spiritual Strength and Intuition
Pilar possesses an intuitive and almost mystical understanding of people and events. Her ability to sense danger, foresee emotional outcomes, and understand human weakness gives her strength that goes beyond physical bravery. She accepts fate without passivity, maintaining inner strength even when circumstances are beyond her control. This spiritual courage allows her to face loss and uncertainty with dignity.
Contrasting Pilar and Pablo
Pilar’s bravery becomes clearer when contrasted with Pablo’s moral decline. Pablo begins as a strong leader but gradually succumbs to fear and selfishness. Pilar, however, grows stronger as the narrative progresses. While Pablo avoids responsibility, Pilar embraces it. This contrast emphasizes that true bravery is not dominance or violence, but moral clarity and endurance.
Symbol of Female Strength in War
Hemingway presents Pilar as a challenge to traditional gender roles. In a male-dominated war narrative, Pilar emerges as one of the bravest figures. Her strength is not limited to physical action but includes emotional intelligence, leadership, and ethical judgment. Through Pilar, Hemingway suggests that courage is not gendered and that women play crucial roles in sustaining resistance and humanity during war.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pilar is a very brave character because her courage is multidimensional. She demonstrates moral strength, emotional resilience, leadership, compassion, and unwavering responsibility. Unlike conventional heroes, Pilar’s bravery lies in her willingness to bear pain, confront fear, and protect others without seeking recognition. She stands as one of Hemingway’s most powerful representations of human courage in the face of war’s destruction.
Aspect
In Short
Role
Moral and emotional leader of the guerrilla group
Bravery
Moral, emotional, and psychological courage
Leadership
Challenges Pablo and protects the mission
Strength
Mentally strong; endures trauma
Protective Nature
Acts as a mother figure to María
View of War
Realistic and unsentimental
Here is Video for this blog
References
Wagner, Linda Welshimer. “The Marinating of ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls.’” Journal of Modern Literature, vol. 2, no. 4, 1972, pp. 533–46. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30053207. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Brenner, Gerry. “EPIC MACHINERY IN HEMINGWAY’S ‘FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS.’” Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 16, no. 4, 1970, pp. 491–504. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26279232. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
When the Centre Cannot Hold: War, Chaos, and Moral Responsibility in W. B. Yeats’s Poetry
This blog is part of a thinking activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad Sir and explores W. B. Yeats’s poems The Second Coming and On Being Asked for a War Poem. Through video lectures, a Hindi podcast, critical analysis, creative writing, and comparison with other war poets, the blog examines Yeats’s modernist vision of war, moral disintegration, and the ethical responsibility of poetry in times of crisis.
1) Video 1 Analysis
The Second Coming – W. B. Yeats
Introduction
According to the video lecture, The Second Coming is a powerful modern poem written in the aftermath of the First World War. Yeats expresses his deep anxiety about the condition of the modern world, where traditional values, religious faith, and moral order have collapsed. The poem reflects a historical moment marked by violence, political unrest, and spiritual confusion.
Collapse of Order and Civilization
The video explains that the central idea of the poem is the breakdown of social and moral order. Yeats captures this chaos in the line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.” This suggests that the forces which once held society together have weakened. War, revolution, and moral decay have destroyed stability, leaving humanity directionless and divided.
Yeats’s Theory of Gyres
A key concept discussed in the video is Yeats’s theory of gyres, which explains history as moving in cycles. Each era grows, reaches its peak, and then collapses to give rise to another. The “widening gyre” in the poem symbolizes the present age moving away from control and harmony. As one historical cycle ends, a new one begins, often violently.
Loss of Spiritual Control
The image of the falcon losing contact with the falconer represents humanity’s separation from spiritual and moral guidance. According to the video, this metaphor shows how humans no longer listen to divine authority or ethical values. As a result, chaos and violence dominate the world.
The Rough Beast and Apocalyptic Vision
Instead of the hopeful Christian Second Coming, Yeats imagines a frightening “rough beast” slouching towards Bethlehem. The video emphasizes that this symbol represents a new age that is brutal and inhuman. Yeats replaces the idea of salvation with fear, suggesting that the future will be darker and more destructive.
Conclusion
As explained in the video, The Second Coming is a prophetic poem that warns readers about the collapse of civilization. Yeats presents a world on the edge of disaster, where moral confusion and violence dominate human life.
2) Video 2 Analysis
On Being Asked for a War Poem – W. B. Yeats
Introduction
The video explains that this poem was written when Yeats was asked to compose a patriotic poem during World War I. Rather than glorifying war, Yeats questions whether poetry should serve political or nationalistic purposes. The poem reflects his mature and thoughtful response to war.
Rejection of Patriotic War Poetry
According to the video, Yeats refuses to write a conventional war poem because he believes that such poetry often promotes false heroism. He argues that poetry cannot prevent war or change political decisions. Instead of emotional propaganda, he chooses honesty and restraint.
Focus on Human Suffering
The poem emphasizes the personal cost of war rather than public glory. Yeats refers to simple and painful images, such as an old wounded man, to show the suffering caused by conflict. The video highlights that Yeats values compassion and truth over national pride.
The Poet’s Moral Responsibility
The video stresses that Yeats believes a poet has a moral responsibility to remain truthful. He does not see poetry as a tool for encouraging violence. His refusal itself becomes a form of ethical protest against war.
Tone and Style
The poem is written in a calm and controlled tone. According to the video, this restraint reflects Yeats’s belief that silence and understatement can be more powerful than emotional exaggeration. The quiet voice of the poem contrasts sharply with loud patriotic slogans.
Conclusion
As explained in the video, On Being Asked for a War Poem presents Yeats as a poet who prioritizes humanity, truth, and moral integrity. He rejects the glorification of war and insists that poetry should reflect reality rather than political demands.
Overall Understanding
Together, as shown in both videos, these poems reveal Yeats’s deep concern about war, history, and the future of civilization. The Second Coming presents a global vision of chaos, while On Being Asked for a War Poem offers a personal and ethical response to violence.
Hindi Podcast
Poem 1: The Second Coming – W. B. Yeats
In the Hindi podcast, The Second Coming is explained as a poem that reflects Yeats’s deep fear and anxiety about the future of humanity. The speaker describes the poem as a response to a world shaken by war, violence, and moral breakdown. According to the podcast, the famous line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” shows how society has lost balance and control. Old beliefs, traditions, and religious values no longer guide people, resulting in chaos and confusion.
The podcast explains the image of the falcon and the falconer as symbolic of humans losing touch with moral and spiritual authority. The widening gyre represents increasing disorder in the modern world. Special emphasis is given to the “rough beast” slouching towards Bethlehem, which the speaker interprets as a symbol of a frightening new age. Instead of Christ bringing peace, a violent and soulless force is approaching. Overall, the podcast presents the poem as a prophetic warning about the collapse of civilization and the uncertain, dark future of humanity.
Poem 2: On Being Asked for a War Poem – W. B. Yeats
In the Hindi podcast, On Being Asked for a War Poem is discussed as Yeats’s calm but firm refusal to glorify war through poetry. The speaker explains that Yeats was asked to write a patriotic poem during World War I, but he chose not to support violence or nationalism. According to the podcast, Yeats believed that poetry should not be used as propaganda or emotional manipulation.
The podcast highlights that Yeats focuses on the human cost of war rather than heroism. By referring to simple images like suffering and wounded individuals, he shows the reality behind war. The poet feels that shouting slogans or praising sacrifice does not reduce pain or loss. His tone remains quiet and thoughtful, which the podcast interprets as a sign of maturity and moral responsibility. The poem suggests that a poet’s duty is to remain truthful and humane, not to encourage destruction.
Overall Understanding from the Podcast
According to the Hindi podcast, both poems reveal Yeats as a poet deeply concerned with humanity, history, and moral values. The Second Coming presents a global vision of chaos and fear, while On Being Asked for a War Poem offers a personal and ethical response to war. Together, they show that Yeats uses poetry to question violence, warn society, and uphold truth rather than comfort or glorify destruction.
Discussion Questions:
1.) How does Yeats use imagery to convey a sense of disintegration in The Second
Coming?
Introduction
W. B. Yeats’s The Second Coming is a poem written in the aftermath of World War I, reflecting the poet’s deep anxiety about the state of the modern world. Yeats portrays a civilization in chaos, where political, social, and moral structures are collapsing. Through striking and symbolic imagery, he conveys a sense of disintegration, showing both the external turmoil in society and the internal spiritual confusion of humanity. The poem presents a prophetic vision of a world moving toward uncertainty and fear rather than order and stability.
Loss of Control and Order
Yeats begins the poem with the image of a falcon flying in a widening gyre and losing contact with the falconer. This symbolizes humanity’s separation from moral and spiritual authority. The widening spiral represents the increasing chaos in society, suggesting that the structures that once guided civilization are no longer effective. Through this image, Yeats conveys the sense that the world is spiraling out of control.
Violent and Apocalyptic Imagery
The poem uses vivid and shocking images such as the “blood-dimmed tide” and the drowning of the “ceremony of innocence.” These images depict both physical violence caused by war and revolution, as well as moral decay. The line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” emphasizes the collapse of social, political, and spiritual stability, reinforcing the theme of disintegration.
Inversion of Values
Yeats highlights the breakdown of moral order by contrasting “the best lack all conviction” with “the worst are full of passionate intensity.” This imagery portrays a world turned upside down, where virtuous people are powerless and destructive forces dominate. It emphasizes that the moral compass of society has disintegrated.
The Rough Beast and a Frightening Future
The image of the “rough beast” slouching towards Bethlehem is one of the most striking symbols of disintegration in the poem. Traditionally, Bethlehem represents hope and salvation, but Yeats replaces it with a dark, threatening force. As the beast slowly approaches, it symbolizes a terrifying new era that replaces order and peace with fear, violence, and uncertainty.
Conclusion
Through the use of these vivid and symbolic images, Yeats effectively conveys a world in collapse. The falcon, the blood-dimmed tide, the moral inversion, and the rough beast together create a powerful sense of societal, moral, and spiritual disintegration. The Second Coming presents a prophetic vision of a chaotic and uncertain future where traditional values and stability have crumbled.
2) Do you agree with Yeats’s assertion in On Being Asked for a War Poem that
poetry should remain apolitical? Why or why not?
Introduction
In On Being Asked for a War Poem, W. B. Yeats responds to the public demand for patriotic poetry during World War I. Instead of glorifying war or stirring nationalist sentiment, Yeats refuses to write such a poem. He believes that poetry should remain true to human experience and moral reflection rather than serving political purposes. His stance raises an important question: should poetry remain apolitical, or is it acceptable for poets to use their art for political ends?
Yeats’s Argument for Apolitical Poetry
Yeats asserts that poetry should not be a tool of propaganda or political persuasion. According to him, a poet’s responsibility is to express truth, emotion, and ethical insight. In the poem, he emphasizes the human cost of war—suffering, fear, and vulnerability—rather than heroic patriotism. By focusing on reality instead of political excitement, Yeats ensures that poetry maintains its honesty and universality.
Why Apolitical Poetry is Important
I agree with Yeats’s assertion because poetry that serves political agendas often loses its subtlety, ethical integrity, and timeless appeal. Propaganda simplifies complex realities and manipulates emotions, whereas apolitical poetry reflects deeper human truths. Yeats’s approach demonstrates that poetry can be powerful and morally responsible when it observes reality, questions violence, and emphasizes human experience over nationalistic fervor.
Counterpoint: Poetry and Social Responsibility
Some might argue that poetry can influence public opinion and inspire change in times of injustice or oppression. While this is true, its effectiveness depends on the poet maintaining ethical honesty. Even politically engaged poetry succeeds only when it communicates universal truths rather than serving as mere propaganda.
Conclusion
Yeats’s insistence on apolitical poetry highlights the poet’s duty to truth, morality, and humanity. By remaining detached from political demands, poetry preserves its emotional depth, ethical purpose, and timeless relevance. On Being Asked for a War Poem demonstrates that the highest power of poetry lies in its ability to reflect human reality honestly rather than glorify power or politics.
Why Poetry Should Remain Apolitical (Agree with Yeats)
Why Poetry Need Not Remain Apolitical (Why Not)
1. Poetry should not function as propaganda or political persuasion.
1. Poetry can influence public opinion during injustice or oppression.
2. Political agendas often reduce poetry to emotional manipulation.
2. Politically engaged poetry can inspire awareness and social change.
3. Apolitical poetry preserves honesty, moral integrity, and universality.
3 .Poetry has historically responded to political crises meaningfully.
4.It allows poets to focus on human suffering rather than patriotic glorification.
4.Silence in political matters may appear as moral withdrawal.
Creative Activity:
Write a modernist-inspired poem reflecting on a contemporary global crisis,
drawing on Yeats’s themes and techniques. [Generate with the help of Gen AI
like ChatGPT or Google Gemini or Meta WhatsApp or Microsoft Co-pilot]
The Age of Falling Skies
The center cannot hold—
Cities drift like falcons in widening gyres,
Their glass towers trembling
Under the weight of unseen winds.
Smoke rises from oceans,
A tide of plastic and fire,
And the ceremony of silence
Drowns beneath the hum of dying machines.
The best we knew
Stand idle, uncertain,
While the worst surge forward
With fervent clicks and empty promises.
A rough beast prowls in the headlines,
Slouching through the feeds,
Not to Bethlehem, but to our screens,
Feeding fear in the hollow spaces
Where hope once whispered.
We clutch our masks,
Scroll our sorrows,
Counting the lost and the vanished,
As history pivots
And the old world tilts toward an uncharted dawn.
Techniques & Yeatsian Influence:
Imagery & Symbolism: Modern disasters (climate change, pandemics, technology) are depicted through symbolic “falcons,” “tides,” and the “rough beast.”
Apocalyptic Tone: Reflects a world in moral, social, and environmental disintegration.
Inversion of Values: Ordinary people are passive while destructive forces dominate, echoing The Second Coming.
Cyclical History / Modern Gyre: Suggests that human crises are part of ongoing historical spirals.
Analytical Exercise:
1. Compare the treatment of war in On Being Asked for a War Poem with other
war poems by Wilfred Owen or Siegfried Sassoon.
Introduction
In On Being Asked for a War Poem, W. B. Yeats reflects on the role of poetry during war and refuses to glorify conflict. He emphasizes that poetry should remain truthful, ethical, and focused on human suffering rather than patriotic propaganda. In contrast, war poets like Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, who experienced World War I directly, portray the horrors of battle, exposing its physical, emotional, and moral consequences. Comparing Yeats with Owen and Sassoon highlights differences in perspective, tone, and technique while showing a shared concern for the human cost of war.
Yeats’s Treatment of War
Yeats treats war in a philosophical and reflective manner. He refuses to write patriotic or inspirational poetry, arguing that poetry cannot influence political events. Instead, he focuses on the human cost, suffering, and moral implications of war. The tone of his poem is calm and contemplative, prioritizing ethical responsibility and truth over dramatization or graphic detail. His approach is symbolic rather than descriptive, showing war as a moral and societal failure.
Wilfred Owen’s Treatment of War
Wilfred Owen depicts war from the soldier’s perspective, emphasizing its brutal realities. In poems like Dulce et Decorum Est, he uses graphic imagery of blood, gas attacks, and death to expose the physical and emotional horrors of battle. Owen’s tone is tragic, empathetic, and at times accusatory, challenging patriotic claims that war is noble. Unlike Yeats, Owen focuses on lived experience and the immediate suffering of individuals.
Siegfried Sassoon’s Treatment of War
Siegfried Sassoon combines satire, irony, and moral outrage to criticize military leadership and societal attitudes toward war. In poems like The General, he highlights the incompetence and callousness of officers, contrasting it with soldiers’ suffering. Sassoon’s tone is often bitter or sarcastic, emphasizing the absurdity and injustice of war. Like Owen, he deals with direct wartime experiences, but with a focus on political and social critique.
Comparison
Yeats writes as an observer, reflecting on the ethical and human dimensions of war, while Owen and Sassoon write from personal or near-personal experience. Yeats’s tone is contemplative and symbolic; Owen’s is tragic and vivid; Sassoon’s is bitter and ironic. All three share a condemnation of war, but their methods differ: Yeats emphasizes ethical reflection, Owen emphasizes soldiers’ suffering, and Sassoon emphasizes critique of leadership and social hypocrisy.
Conclusion
On Being Asked for a War Poem differs from Owen’s and Sassoon’s works in approach and tone, but all three illuminate the human cost of war. Yeats focuses on moral responsibility and the limits of poetry, Owen on the graphic reality of soldiers’ suffering, and Sassoon on social and military critique. Together, they provide a multifaceted literary response to the tragedy of war, reflecting modernist concerns with truth, ethics, and human experience.
Historical Sense and Individual Talent: Reading T. S. Eliot as a Critic
This blog is written as part of the Bridge Course assigned by Prof. Dilip Barad Sir (Department of English), based on prescribed video lectures and reading material on T. S. Eliot’s essay “Tradition and the Individual Talent.”
Video 1 explains that T. S. Eliot is a seminal 20th-century critic whose literary work is deeply shaped by his identity as a classicist in literature, a royalist in politics, and an Anglo-Catholic in religion, positioning him alongside other major critics like I. A. Richards and the New Critics.
1. How would you like to explain Eliot's concept of ‘Tradition’? Do you agree with it?
T. S. Eliot’s concept of tradition is fundamentally different from the common understanding of tradition as mere inheritance or imitation of the past. For Eliot, tradition is not something that a writer automatically possesses by being born into a particular culture or literary environment. Rather, it is something that must be consciously acquired through sustained effort, intellectual discipline, and serious engagement with literary history. Tradition, therefore, is not passive but active, demanding awareness and responsibility from the writer.
Eliot views tradition as a living and dynamic literary order in which the works of the past and the present exist simultaneously. Literature, in his view, forms a continuous system where each new work enters into a relationship with earlier works. When a genuinely new poem or literary work is created, it does not merely imitate the past; instead, it subtly modifies the existing order of literature, forcing us to reconsider earlier works in a new light. Thus, tradition is not fixed or static—it evolves with every meaningful contribution.
Another important aspect of Eliot’s idea of tradition is that it requires labour and erudition. A writer must develop a historical awareness of literature, understanding not just individual texts but the broader literary tradition to which those texts belong. This understanding allows the writer to place his or her work within a larger continuum rather than treating it as an isolated act of self-expression.
From Video i Understand that-
Tradition is not inherited
Tradition requires labour and erudition
Tradition is living and dynamic
Past and present exist simultaneously
New works reshape tradition
Tradition gives responsibility to the writer
Do I agree with Eliot?
I agree with Eliot’s concept of tradition because it offers a balanced approach to literary creativity. It discourages blind imitation of the past while also warning against careless rejection of earlier literary achievements in the name of originality. Eliot’s view makes it clear that true originality is not the absence of influence, but the intelligent transformation of that influence. By emphasizing knowledge, discipline, and historical awareness, Eliot’s concept of tradition encourages writers to create works that are both innovative and meaningful within the larger literary tradition.
2. What do you understand by ‘Historical Sense’?
T. S. Eliot explains the concept of historical sense as a fundamental quality that a serious writer must develop. According to Eliot, historical sense is not merely the knowledge of literary history, dates, or famous authors. Rather, it is a deep and living awareness of how the past continues to exist and operate within the present.
Eliot defines historical sense in the following words:
“The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past but of its presence.”
By this, Eliot means that past literature should not be treated as something dead or obsolete. Instead, it must be felt as actively present and influential in contemporary writing. A poet or writer should sense that earlier works of literature are constantly interacting with present literary creation. Every new work is written in dialogue with the works that came before it.
Eliot further elaborates this idea when he says:
“This historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal, and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional.”
Here, Eliot emphasizes that a writer must balance two dimensions simultaneously. On one hand, the writer must be aware of the temporal—the present historical moment, contemporary society, and current literary concerns. On the other hand, the writer must also feel the timeless continuity of literature, which stretches from the ancient past to the present. True tradition, therefore, is created when a writer holds both these aspects together.
In this sense, historical awareness is not passive imitation of earlier writers but an active understanding of one’s position within the entire literary tradition. It gives the writer a sense of responsibility, humility, and discipline, reminding them that their work becomes part of a larger and ongoing literary order. This historical sense is what enables a writer to be both original and rooted in tradition at the same time.
According to me
🔹 Historical sense is not mere factual knowledge of literary history, dates, or authors; it is a living awareness of literature.
3. What is the relationship between “Tradition” and “Individual Talent,” according to T. S. Eliot?
According to T. S. Eliot, tradition and individual talent are not opposing forces; instead, they exist in a relationship of mutual dependence. Eliot argues that a poet’s individual talent can be properly recognized and evaluated only when it is placed within the framework of literary tradition. No poet, in his view, writes in isolation. Every new work is influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by the literary achievements of the past, and it is through this relationship with tradition that individual talent gains depth and significance.
Aspect
Explanation
Relationship
Tradition and individual talent are mutually dependent.
Influence
New works are shaped by past literary achievements.
True originality comes from engaging with the literary past.
Challenge
Avoids excessive individualism and rigid traditionalism.
At the same time, Eliot emphasizes that tradition itself is not rigid or unchanging. When a genuinely new and original work is produced, it does not simply follow the established tradition; rather, it modifies the existing literary order, even if only in a subtle way. The introduction of a new work forces readers and critics to reassess past literature in the light of the present creation. Thus, while tradition provides a framework within which individual talent develops, individual talent, in turn, keeps tradition alive and dynamic.
In this way, Eliot presents tradition and individual talent as engaged in a continuous dialogue. Tradition shapes the poet’s creativity by providing a historical and cultural context, while the poet’s individual talent renews and reshapes tradition through meaningful artistic contribution. This balanced relationship challenges both excessive individualism and rigid traditionalism, suggesting that true originality emerges from a deep engagement with the literary past.
-Explain: “Some can absorb knowledge; the more tardy must sweat for it. Shakespeare acquired more essential history from Plutarch than most men could from the whole British Museum.”
Through this statement, T. S. Eliot explains that writers acquire knowledge of tradition in different ways and at different speeds. Some writers possess a natural ability to absorb literary knowledge intuitively through selective reading, observation, and deep understanding. Others, whom Eliot calls “more tardy,” must work much harder—they must “sweat”—to gain the same level of insight into literature and history.
Eliot’s reference to Shakespeare acquiring more essential history from Plutarch than others could from the entire British Museum emphasizes that the value of reading lies not in its quantity but in its quality. Eliot does not advocate indiscriminate or mechanical reading of all available texts. Instead, he stresses the importance of intelligent absorption, where a writer internalizes what is essential and creatively meaningful. This statement supports Eliot’s belief that tradition is mastered not through sheer accumulation of information, but through deep engagement and understanding, whether achieved naturally or through sustained effort.
-Explain: “Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation are directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry.”
In this statement, Eliot draws a clear distinction between the poet as an individual and the poem as an independent work of art. He argues that genuine literary criticism should focus on the poem itself—its language, structure, imagery, and form—rather than on the poet’s biography, personal emotions, or life experiences.
Eliot believes that when criticism concentrates on the poet’s personality, it distracts from the artistic value of the work. Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation, therefore, must be text-centered, not author-centered. This approach shifts the emphasis from subjective interpretation to objective analysis. Eliot’s idea significantly influenced later critical movements, particularly New Criticism, which emphasized close reading and treated the literary text as a self-contained artistic object.
4. How would you like to explain Eliot’s theory of depersonalization? (Using the chemical reaction and platinum analogy)
Eliot’s theory of depersonalization, also known as impersonality, suggests that poetry should be free from the direct expression of the poet’s personal emotions and personality. To explain this idea, Eliot uses the analogy of a chemical reaction involving a catalyst, specifically platinum. In the chemical process of forming sulphuric acid, platinum enables the reaction to occur but remains unchanged and unaffected by it.
Similarly, Eliot argues that the poet’s mind functions like a catalyst. The poet brings together emotions, experiences, and impressions, but these personal elements are transformed into art, not directly expressed. The poet’s personality does not appear in the final poem. According to Eliot, the more perfect the artist, the more completely separated will be the man who suffers and the mind that creates. Thus, great poetry is not a record of personal feelings but the result of a disciplined artistic process.
-Explain: “Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality.”
In this statement, Eliot challenges the Romantic notion that poetry is a spontaneous outpouring of personal emotion. He does not deny the presence of emotion in poetry; rather, he argues that poetry involves the control, transformation, and objectification of emotion. Poetry is not a raw emotional release but an artistic escape from personal feelings and individual personality.
By calling poetry an “escape,” Eliot means that emotions are reshaped into something universal and impersonal through form and technique. The poet does not simply express personal suffering or joy; instead, these emotions are transformed into structured artistic expression. Eliot adds that only those who possess strong emotions and personality understand the need to escape from them. This idea reinforces his belief that poetry should aim for objectivity rather than self-expression.
-Write two points on which one can critique T. S. Eliot as a critic
1. Excessive Emphasis on Impersonality
One major critique of T. S. Eliot as a critic is his excessive emphasis on impersonality in poetry. By insisting that poetry should escape personal emotion and individual personality, Eliot tends to overlook literary traditions in which personal experience, emotional intensity, and individual identity are central to artistic expression. Literary movements such as Romanticism, as well as later feminist and postcolonial writings, value the writer’s lived experience and subjective voice. Eliot’s rigid insistence on impersonality, therefore, limits the scope of poetry and does not accommodate diverse modes of literary expression.
2. Eurocentric Concept of Tradition
Another significant criticism of Eliot is his Eurocentric understanding of tradition. His idea of tradition largely privileges Western European literary history, focusing on canonical writers from Homer to modern European poets. This approach tends to marginalize non-Western literatures and alternative literary voices, including those from colonized cultures. As a result, Eliot’s concept of tradition appears narrow and exclusionary, reducing its relevance in a global and multicultural literary context.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study of T. S. Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent” through the prescribed videos and reading material reveals the depth and influence of Eliot’s critical vision. His emphasis on tradition as a living continuum, the necessity of historical sense, and the theory of depersonalization challenges the Romantic notion of poetry as personal self-expression and foregrounds discipline, objectivity, and artistic responsibility. At the same time, while Eliot’s ideas have profoundly shaped modern literary criticism and influenced movements like New Criticism, they also invite critique, particularly for their insistence on impersonality and their Eurocentric view of tradition. Nevertheless, Eliot’s essay remains a foundational text that continues to provoke debate and encourages writers and critics alike to engage thoughtfully with the literary past while contributing meaningfully to its ongoing evolution.
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