Early Relationship (1918-1920s):
* Early Admiration: Eliot initially admired Joyce, particularly his early work *Dubliners* and the groundbreaking *Ulysses*. He recognized Joyce's artistic innovation and influence on modern literature.
* Review of "Ulysses" (1923): While acknowledging Joyce's talent, Eliot's famous review of *Ulysses* was mixed. He praised the book's ambition but criticized its "bewildering" structure and the "deliberate obscenity" he found in it.
* Personal Correspondence: They exchanged some letters during this period, with Eliot expressing both appreciation and some reservations about Joyce's work.
Later Years (1930s onwards):
* Shifting Views: Eliot's views on Joyce seem to have evolved over time. While he continued to acknowledge Joyce's importance, he became more critical of some aspects of his work.
* "The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism" (1933): In this lecture, Eliot, while acknowledging Joyce's impact on the modern novel, criticized Joyce's "lack of belief" and the way he presented "a disordered world without God."
* "Poetry and Drama" (1951): He again discussed Joyce in this essay, focusing on how Joyce's "immense artistic ingenuity" was ultimately "not wholly successful" because it failed to connect with the "common ground" of human experience.
Summary:
Eliot's relationship with Joyce's work was complex and evolving. While initially impressed, his later views became more critical, particularly focusing on Joyce's worldview and the artistic choices he made. Eliot, a deeply religious man, was troubled by Joyce's apparent lack of belief and the "disordered world" he presented in his fiction. Nevertheless, Eliot continued to recognize Joyce's significant contributions to modern literature.