On the surface T.S. Eliot'sThe Family Reunionlooks like an ancient Greek
drama; there is a story of a disintegrated family which is going to be reunited after many
years. But close analysis of the play reveals that, by using the mode of irony, Eliot has
aimed to portray the life and life style of the modern waste landers of the twentieth
century living between two destroying World Wars. Most of the characters of the play
symbolized modern waste landers and by presenting such characters and plot by the
means of irony, Eliot has attempted to show the situation of modern life and society:
spiritual barrenness and disintegrated family value among modern waste landers.