1. Dissociation of Sensibility
T.S. Eliot
(1888–1965)
Dr. P. S. Sontakke ( M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. )
Asst. Prof. of English
Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Karad,
Dist. Satara (Maharashtra)

2. Dissociation of sensibility
Dissociation of sensibility is a literary term first used by T. S. Eliot in his essay “The Metaphysical Poets”. It refers to way in which intellectual thought was separated from experience of feeling in 7th century poetry.

3. Origin of Term
Eliot used term to describe manner by which nature & substance of English poetry changed “between time of Donne or Lord Herbert of Cherbury & time of Tennyson & Browning.” In this essay, Eliot attempts to define metaphysical poet & in doing so to determine metaphysical poet’s era as well as his discernible qualities.’’

4. We may express difference by following theory : Poets of 17th century, successors of dramatists of 16th, possessed a mechanism of sensibility which could devour any kind of experience. They are simple, artificial, difficult, or fantastic, as their predecessors were; no less nor more than Dante, Guido Cavalcanti, Guinicelli, or Cino. In 7th century a dissociation of sensibility set in, from which we have never recovered; & this dissociation, as is natural, was aggravated by influence of two most powerful poets of century, Milton & Dryden.”

5. Theory of Dissociation of Sensibility
Theory of dissociation of sensibility rests largely upon Eliot’s description of disparity in style that exists between  metaphysical poets of 16th & early 17th century & poets of late 17th century onward. In “The Metaphysical Poets,” Eliot claims that earlier grouping of poets were “constantly amalgamating disparate experience” & thus expressing their thoughts through experience of feeling, while later poets did not unite their thoughts with their emotive experiences & therefore expressed thought separately from feeling.

6. He explains that dissociation of sensibility is reason for “difference between intellectual & reflective poet.” Earlier intellectual poet, Eliot writes, “possessed a mechanism of sensibility which could devour any kind of experience.” When dissociation of sensibility occurred, “poets revolted against ratiocinative, descriptive; they thought & felt by fits, unbalanced; they reflected.” Thus dissociation of sensibility is point at which & manner by which this change in poetic method & style occurred; it is defined by Eliot as loss of sensation united with thought.

7. Eliot uses John Donne’s poetry as most prominent example of united sensibility & thought. He writes, “thought to Donne was an experience; it modified his sensibility.” Eliot’s apparent appreciation of Donne’s ability to unify intellectual thought & sensation of feeling demonstrates that he believes dissociation of sensibility to be a hindrance in progression of poetry.

8. Eliot asserts that despite progress of refined language, separation between thought & emotion led to end of an era of poetry that was “more mature” & that would “wear better” than poetry that followed. Eliot, later on in his career, was challenged with thought that dissociation within literature had been caused by English Civil War in mid 17th century. He did not agree or disagree to this theory but rather stated, ‘cryptically that he thought it might have been caused by same factors as those which brought about Civil War’.

9. Alternative Literary Interpretations -
In his article “T. S. Eliot’s Theory of Dissociation,” Allen Austin describes dissociation of sensibility as a concept that “involves not only integration of sensation & idea…but also a special kind of thought—a detached intellectuality combined with passion.” Austin asserts that Eliot defines this term in order to provide a rationale for combination of wit & emotion.

10. He explains that Eliot sees dissociation of wit & emotion as not only separation of intellect & sensibility, but also separation of conceptual image from intellectual idea. Austin claims that Eliot uses dissociation of sensibility to describe more than just dissociation of thought from feeling; he asserts that Eliot also explains separation of “language from sensibility,” using Eliot’s claim that “while language became more refined, feeling became more crude” as evidence.

11. He also cites “Metaphysical Poets” & concept of dissociation of sensibility in claiming that Eliot’s appreciation of thought united with emotion is also a method of defending his own poetry, as his writing reflects metaphysical poets’ style of combining wit & feeling. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., in his essay “Writing ‘Race’ & Difference It Makes,” uses Eliot’s dissociation of sensibility in reference to presence of race in literature.

12. Gates claims that race has lost its voice in contemporary literature & that modern critics do not see race as a factor of more than intrinsic value in literary theory. He writes: “For millions who originated outside Europe, however, this dissociation of sensibility has its origins in colonialism & human slavery.” Gates goes on to infer that, in this context, dissociation of sensibility reflects way in which literature, in this sense analogous to thought, is dissociated from race & otherness.