Summary and Analysis of 'The Fear of Life and Death' by Sri Aurobindo.

The Fear of Life and Death- Sri Aurobindo

About the Poet:

                Sri Aurobindo born on 15^th August, 1872, dies on 5^th December 1950.  He joins the Indian movement for Independence from British rule.  He founds the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.  His famous philosophies are Integral Yoga, Involution, Evolution, Integral Psychology, Intermediate Zone and Supermind.  His disciples are Champaklal, N.K. Gupta, Amal Kiran, Nirodbaran, Pavitra, M.P. Pandit, A.B. Purani, D.K. Roy, Satprem and Indra Sen.  His famous literary works are The Life of Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, and Savitri.

Summary and Analysis:

                Death resides with everyone, it is inside us. It wishes to encounter us one day.  Death lives every moment of our life and feels the same way as we do.  The poet questions the reader,

‘Why do you fear her?’

Her refers death.  Why does poet think death must be a woman?  It is just because, a woman can give and take lives.  The poet refers death as Lovely Maiden, she is beautiful, smiling face, cheerful. The Lovely Maiden is culling flowers in beautiful bower, which denotes that the Death is taking away the lives (soul) of people.  As we all know, death and birth are the common cycle of life.  Death takes the life and nature gives it back.  Therefore, embrace with love and do not fear of her.

“A kind and lovely maiden culling flowers

In a sweet garden  fresh with vernal showers,”

The Portress, once again the poet refers death as woman.  The lovely woman opens the gate of another world in where no one going to meet her again.  The poet asks again do not fear of death, it is not painful at all.  It approaches mildly. You cannot feel her when she touches you with her tender hands.  He raises another question, do you bother about your appearance? Yes, you may look horrible.  People look at you, they step away from you.  Of course, you are really dirty when she picks up you and leaves your body behind. 

“Is it because the flowerless stalk droops dull

And ghastly now that was so beautiful?”

 Afraid of your destiny?, Poet asks.  When Death meets, she takes you along with her.  To the eternity, where there is no beginning and end.  Do you (soul) scared of eternity?  It happens when people approaches something that they never feared of.  Therefore the poet asks the readers not to afraid of destiny after death.

“Or is it the opening portal’s horrid jar

That shakes you, feeble souls of courage bare?”

 Aurobindo answers all the questions that death moves the soul from one vessel to another.  He emphasizes the rebirth of the soul when he mention the robes (vessels).  Death is just a shifting agent, she knows what lies in the other side of the gate.  So, she dresses you with wedding garments for the grand entering. 

SYMBOLS:

            The poet constructs the poem with ample symbols and implied meanings.  These symbols are related to death and eternity.  He has used these kinds of mild and soft symbols to eradicate the fear of death that lies inside the people’s heart as a terrible thing.

1.      Lovely Maiden and Young Portress: Death

2.      Flower: Soul

3.      Stalk: Human body

4.      Horrid Jar: Eternity.

5.      Robes: human body.

Figure of Speech:

Oxymoron: The figure of speech, in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

            ‘Sweet Death’.

Personification: The figure of speech where non-living things are described to seem like people.  It represents a non-human thing as if it were human.

            ‘Lovely maiden’, ‘Young Portress’.

            Thus the poet advise the readers not to fear of death which is inevitable, it is common to Prince and Paupers.  Therefore do not be scared of death and ruin the present.

Summary and Analysis of Nissim Ezekiel's "Goodbye Party for Miss. Pushpa T.S"

Goodbye Party for Miss. Pushpa T.S

                                                                                     -Nissim Ezekiel

About the poet:

          Nissim Ezekiel, born on 16^th December, 1924, Bombay, British India.  He dies on 9^th January, 2004 (aged 79), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  He is a  poet, playwright, actor, art critic and editor.  He is a father of Indian English Poetry.  His genre is modern Indian English Poetry.  He is inspired by the writings of Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot.  He has implemented new techniques and innovative ideas in his works.  His notable works are Night of the Scorpion, Later Day Psalms.  He has won Sahitya Academy Award for the work Later Day Psalms in 1983.  He has received Padmashri in the year 1988.

About the poem:

This poem by Ezekiel is an attempt to expose the English language efficiency of Indians, it also highlights the postcolonial effects on the life of Indians.  People of Indian society are highly attracted towards the culture and language of Britishers.   While they attempts to speak English they commit mistakes in the form of syntax, grammar, etc., without their knowledge.  Native speakers are feeling high when they speak English and they think that it will gain them social respect.  Yet being a second language errors in English are quiet common. 

This poem also highlights the cultural and social concepts of India.   These aspects are given in a cheerful way.  This is an interesting poem in a humorous English i.e., Babu English of native Indians, who have English as their second language and their English has influence of Hindustani.

Summary and Analysis:

           The poem Goodbye Party of Miss Pushpa T.S., explains Miss. Pushpa’s farewell party in jovial manner.  The poem has seven stanzas, each stanza illustrates the Indian culture.  Every sentence, particularly vile humor.   The poem portrays typical Indian farewell function, where one can watch the unnecessary praising, greetings, pretenders and imposters.  The stanzas have maximum of seven lines and minimum of three lines. 

Nissim Ezekiel writes the poem in Indian English which is known as Babu English.  He leaves mistakes uncorrected on purpose to show the readers the way Indians are speaking.  Though it is a kind of attack on Indian English speakers, the author’s intention is to make the readers to enjoy his work. 

In first stanza, Miss. Pushpa’s friend speaks in farewell meeting.  He is addressing the gathering, calling them friends and sisters.  Miss. Pushpa leaves the country in two or three days.  Her colleagues wishing her bon voyage (happy journey).  Here he addresses the gathering as friends and sisters.  It is the typical Indian way of addressing the gathering.  Treating everyone as friends, especially ladies as sisters.  In the next line, the sentence ‘in two three days,’ has grammatical mistakes to expose Indian English.

In second stanza, the speaker’s speech goes on.   He talks on Miss. Pushpa’s sweetness and her smiling face.  Pushpa’s character is explained by the speaker.  The speaker divides Pushpa’s sweetness into two kinds, internal and external sweetness.  Here the internal sweetness refers her character and the external is her appearance.  In speaker’s view, Pushpa is a sweet package and he also comments that Pushpa smiles for no reasons while meeting people.

            “I don’t mean only external sweetness

              but internal sweetness.”  

In third stanza, he speaks on Miss. Pushpa’s wealthy family, her father’s profession, her place.  This stanza conveys that, Indians are more concerned about the family rather than the person.  They are so keen in knowing the person whether he is wealthy or not.   If the person is wealthier he would be respected and given attention, the poor gets rejected everywhere.   Therefore the wealthier Pushpa gets the farewell party.  The speaker is not sure about what he is going to talk.  It is notable that the speaker is not fully prepared for this meeting.

            “Miss. Pushpa is coming

              from very high family.”

In Fourth stanza, the speaker remembers the place Surat and he also recollects the memories of his own family with whom he has spent his early days in the same place.  He proudly mentions his uncle’s friends cooking, which is no way related to the Miss. Pushpa.   

            “of my uncle’s very old friend-

              his wife was cooking nicely…”

Fifth stanza contains three lines, the speaker remembers Pushpa and refers her as popular lady not only with men but among ladies also.  Here the speaker divides the society into two, men and ladies.  It seems they have societies of their own.  So, being popular in each society is something remarkable.  This stanza shows the gender discrimination in Indian society. 

The sixth stanza explains the obedience of Miss. Pushpa.  She always does the work, assigned to her.  She response her colleagues like ‘Just now only I will do it’.  The speaker calls it good spirit and appreciates it. 

In the final stanza, the speaker says Miss. Pushpa never said no to anyone.  She accepts anything that comes from her fellow mates.  Today, she is going to improve herself, let us wish her happy journey.  At the end, he invites Miss. Pushpa to give a speech.  Miss. Pushlpa is appreciated by everyone in her office.  All of them are wishing her bon voyage.  At last the speaker ends his speech and lets others to speak.  It is obvious that visiting foreign countries is more prestigious and makes the person respectable in Indian society. 

The goodbye party of Miss. Pushpa T.S. describes the farewell party, which is not really organized, speeches that is not prepared, errorful, discussed the irrelevant things in formal proceedings. 

Summary of Francis Bacon’s 'Of Revenge'

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, popularly known literary figure. He has written number of essays with remarkable philosophical suggestions to lead successful life.

At the age of twelve, he goes to Cambridge University. He has no interest in promoting culture and speculates about human life. He disgusts with regular studies. He comments, “produced no fruit, but only jungle of dry and useless branches”.

In France, he studies practical subjects like statistics, diplomacy and becomes lawyer. He befriends with Lord Essex skillfully to advance his position in the court. King James titles him as “Baron Verulam, Viscount St. Albans”. Later he is imprisoned by the king for getting bribe. Then Bacon decides to devote his ability to literature and science.

Bacon’s first work “The Great Institution of True Philosophy” is incomplete. His other works are ‘The Atlantis, History of Henry VII, Psalms, Of Studies, Of Friendship, and Of Love etc...

        Bacon’s philosophy has been classified under three heads:

a.     Man in his relation to society

b.    Man in his relation to himself

c.     Man in his relation to God   

        Most of his essays suggest philosophical ideas include Politics, Religion, Treasure, Death, Medicine, Astronomy and History of Various Nations. 

Of Revenge:

        Revenge is not a civilized practice and creates disorder in society. People who wants to take revenge, stuck in past. There are two kinds of people. First, shows their true nature to understand easily as evil but later is in disguise to revenge people at the right time in the dark.

“It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence and forgives his enemy is magnanimous like a king” (Salomon) Quotes Bacon in his essay Of Revenge. Bacon mentions Job’s proverb like accepting good from God, must accept bad as well. As Job’s proverb goes, one must forgive the person who has done evil to feel the glory.

        It is good to have public revenge rather than private. Bacon refers historical figures Julius Caesar, Pertinex, Henry III to justify public revenge. The one who takes revenge is a witch that cannot change its nature.

Historical References of Public Revenge:

        Julius Caesar, the play written by William Shakespeare. It is one of the finest plays of Shakespeare. The play set in Rome in 44 BC. It portrays moral dilemma of Caesar’s friend Brutus.

        Caesar has friends and opponents as well. Many celebrates Caesar’s victories but few conspires against him. They want to stop Caesar from gaining more power. Somehow, they managed to convince Brutus to join the plot. At the end, they stab Caesar including his dearest friend Brutus which makes Caesar to say “you too Brutus” in shock.

         Caesar’s faithful follower Mark Antony swears to take revenge. He speaks in front of the mob to reveal the conspiracy that headed by Brutus and Cassius. Eventually, Brutus and Cassius flee and kill themselves, leaving Antony to rule.

        Pertinax, Roman Emperor who rules first three months of 193. He is the son of freed slave. He fights in wars of Rome. His success leads him high rank in military. After the death of Commodus, Pertinax rules the Rome. He reforms several methods of roman court one of them leads his assassination by the Guards.

        The Guards are killed by Septimius Severus, who rules after Pertinax. 

        Henry III king of France is killed by a catholic fanatic Jacques Clement. Henry IV murders Jacques Clement for the assassination of Henry III.

                In Bacon’s work, each word and sentence counts. Ideas are interlinked. His essays are argumentative and have number of proverbs. Thus, Bacon suggests philosophical ideas from various histories to lead successful life.

Poem Analysis & Summary of 'Lakshman' -Toru Dutt by Budding Literariants

 

Lakshman – Toru Dutt

Toru Dutt:

            Dutt’s poems have extreme essence of nature, Indian heritage, folklore, especially of mythological narration; at the same time, it explores more about the web of family relationship.  Speaking of her poem, we come across two of her collection of poetry – A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields (1876) and Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan (1882, published posthumously).  Some of her works either adopt the original work or translation of French.  When we consider her second collection of poetry, which includes poems like “Sita”, “Lakshman”, “Buttoo” “The Tree of Life”, “Our Casuarina Tree”,“Baugmaree”; these works are composed by the mixture of Indian theme, especially mythological themes (Ramayana and Mahabaratha) and looks in the outset of European poetic style and structure.

Lakshman – Background of the poem:

            Lakshman, a narrative poem, has the traces of Hindu mythology Ramayana by Valmiki.  Lakshmana, son of Dasharath is the hero of this poem; when Ram his elder brother goes for an exile with his beloved wife Sita as per the will of Ayodhya’s king; Lakshman accompany with them as their guard, this shows his loyalty and affection towards his elder brother. 

This poem Lakshman carries the one line story of Sita’s argument with Lakshman in the absence of Ram.  The poem consists of twenty-two stanzas and eight lines for each with alternative rhymes.  It is in ballad form with eight lines, yet standard ballad consists of four lines.  Direct applications of terms from the original Sanskrit text are- “Succour”, “Videhan Queen”. 

Believing the delusive cry of Maricha (a golden deer, magical form of Maricha); Sita urges Lakshman to move from the bower for the rescue of their hero, Ram.  Lakshman is spell bound, because of the order of Ram to be the guard of Sita as they are in the mid of evil surrounded woods.  Understanding the seriousness of the situation, he refuses to obey her words.  At the peak of wrath, Sita utters some allegations against Lakshman and his loyalty towards her and her husband.  Lakshman becomes helpless.  He is stuck between the words of his brother as well as the bitter allegations of Sita.

Maricha’s cry:

          As per the plan of Ravana to take captive of Sita, Maricha takes the form of deer and grabs the attention of Sita.  Without knowing the evil plan of the Rakshas, Sita demands Ram to bring her that deer and he leaves the bower for hunting that deer.  Using this situation Ravana tries to execute his plan, but it fails because of Lakshman’s presence.  To move Lakshman out of their bower Maricha starts to cry for the help of his wife and brother in Ram’s voice.  Ravan believes that if Lakshman goes for the aid of Ram, it will be easy for him to take Sita with him. 

Sita’s Allegations on helpless Lakshman:

            On hearing the delusive cries of Maricha, Sita asks Lakshman to go for the aid of Ram; her order turns to request and finally it ends as a wrathful scolding against Lakshman.  Both Lakshman and Sita appears on the poem; and other characters like Ram, Ravan and Maricha (a golden deer) are in behind scenes.  In some stanzas, we can listen to the valour of Ram through Lakshman’s argument. 

            When Sita repeatedly asks Lakshman to help and assist Ram as she believes her beloved husband is surrounded by the evil creatures, Lakshman tries to wipe out the causeless fear which exists there in her mind.  Sita herself is not willing to listen his words as love blinded her thoughts; so she threatens him that if he is not going for rescue her dear, she will go alone for her Ram.

                          “Oh no, and I must run alone,

                           For further here I cannot stay;”

Meanwhile, Lakshman tries to convince Sita by saying even divine and evil creatures have equal fear for Ram and his mightiness. It is generally seen in the venomous creatures from Serpents to Pythons.  So, Lakshman is in the position to make Sita believe that all these are magical web of plot created by their foes in the woods.

   “The lion and the grisly bear

                       Cower when they see his royal look,…

                          Erect before in hooded pride.”

 On seeing his delay to rescue his brother, Sita started finding fault with loyalty and affection of Lakshman towards his brother.  She mentions Lakshman shines only after the fame of Ram, like a star shines with the radiance of sun, and says he is worthless in the absence of his brother. 

            “But then thy leader stood beside!

                     Dazzle the cloud when shines the sun,

              Reft of his radiance, see it glide

                         A shapeless mass of vapours dun;”

She taunts him by saying one of the brothers of Ram has taken his kingdom and another tries to take his wife as an equal partition.  These allegations have a reverse effect on Lakshman, instead of making him angry, Sita’s words hurts him a lot.  Helpless Lakshman, who is not able to breaks the words of his brother at the same time braved to do so for the sake of Sita.   

             “…one brother takes

   His kingdom,-one would take his wife!

                    A fair partition!”

Lakshman decides to leave the bower, at same time he has to guard Sita from the clutches of evil.  Before leaving the bower Lakshman draws a line around their place and pleases Sita not to get out of that circle, Lakshman Rekha.  Ignoring the blames of Sita against him he seeks her blessings before leaving their bower, with the hope of speedy returning with Ram.  While getting blessings from Sita, he does not see her face.  From this point, we can understand he respects his brother’s wife. 

This poem ends with the hope of Lakshman that when he fails to guard Sita from harm, nature will do.  While leaving their bower he heard the scream of vulture, which is the symbol of ill-omen.  This signs fore-shades Sita’s upcoming struggles with the Lankan King, Ravan.

        “…Hoarse the vulture screamed,

        As out he strode with dauntless air.”

Sita is responsible for all the struggles in her life.  In this work, though Toru adopts the concept from the original text of Ramayana by giving high reference to nature, good and bad spirit but she penned Sita’s character as of an ordinary woman.  But the character of Lakshman replicates the original text, like his high qualities and helplessness.  This work by Toru is a conversion of mythical tale to poem, which is in simple narrative diction.