April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.

Summary

This quote from T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" reflects the poet's perspective on the contrasting nature of April. He describes it as the cruelest month because it signifies the awakening of life in the midst of a desolate landscape. The mention of breeding lilacs out of the dead land symbolizes the paradoxical beauty that arises even in the face of destruction and decay. By combining memory and desire, April stirs the dormant and apathetic emotions within us, as represented by the dull roots that are brought to life by the refreshing spring rain.

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