This blog is a response to the task assigned by Yesha Bhatt ma'am. This task is a reflection of the group activity done in the classroom where we wrote and presented our views on the respective poem. In this blog, I am going to write about my views on the themes of poems.
Vultures by Chinua Achebe
Inhumanity: The poem paints a stark picture of the immense inhumanity and cruelty of the evil in the world. The poem begins by describing two vultures perched upon a dead tree, “nestled close to each other”. The image of the vultures symbolizes death and destruction and serves to illustrate the immense cruelty in the world. Then, when discussing the Commandant at Belsen Camp, this theme of inhumanity is further reinforced. The Commandant, who has “fumes of human roast clinging rebelliously to his hairy nostrils” is still capable of performing an act of tenderness and showing his “tender offspring” empathy. This image serves to illustrate how even those committing such great evil still hold a capacity for love and compassion.
Good and Evil: Achebe furthers the idea of good and evil by contrasting the “fumes of human roast” to that of the Commandant’s “glow-worm tenderness”. Through this juxtaposition, Achebe is suggesting that within even the cruelest of people, there lies the capacity for love, compassion, and kindness. This theme is further reinforced through the image of the vultures and their tender relationship.
Perpetuity of Evil: Achebe also speaks to the idea that the perpetuity of evil lies within the “germ of kindred love”, suggesting that despite the good that is nestled within even the cruellest of people, it often does not prevent them from perpetuating the evil. In this poem, Achebe conveys that despite the human capacity for good, evil still finds its way into the world and persists.
Redemption: The poem ultimately implies that redemption from evil can be found in the power of love and understanding. Achebe suggests that although the Commandant at Belsen camp could have easily been just another symbol of evil and cruelty, there is still hope in the fact that he was capable of performing an act of tenderness and expressing his love for his “tender offspring”. The poem implies that no one is beyond redemption and that in the very face of evil, love and kindness will always prevail.
Live Burial by Wole Soyinka
The main themes of this poem are injustice, power imbalance, oppression, and the search for truth.
The poem begins by describing the oppressive tactics used to drill into a person’s sanity. The idea of a “siege against humanity and truth” is present, showcasing the power imbalance between the oppressor and the oppressed.
The poem then mentions Antigone, which suggests a theme of injustice, as Antigone is a character known for her pursuit of justice in spite of its ramifications. The mention of “manure of present-birth” further evokes the theme of injustice, as it links back to the notion of power imbalance by emphasizing the inequity that the oppressed are forced to endure.
The poem then goes on to describe the dismissal of truth and justice that the oppressors impose. This is highlighted by the metaphor of “banking his poetic licence”, referring to the neglect of truth and knowledge to be replaced with lies and propaganda.
The poem then mentions Galileo and the story of how his pursuit of truth and refusal to recant led to his being persecuted by the church. This reinforces the themes of oppression and unfairness, as despite being punished for his search for knowledge, Galileo is also seen as a hero for standing up for what he believed in.
Finally, the poem mentions the voyeur, who “times his sly patrol” for the hour upon the throne. This serves to reiterate the theme of power imbalance and oppression, as the voyeur searches for those who do not comply with the oppressive rules that are imposed by those in power. Overall, the poem of "Burial" by Wole Soyinka is a powerful commentary on the injustices that the oppressed face, and the search for truth and justice in a world of oppressive power structures.
You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed
Gabriel Okara
The primary theme of Gabriel Okara's poem “You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed" is one of cultural relativism. Through his use of dialogue and imagery, Okara paints a vivid picture of the clash between two ways of life. On one hand, the speaker is presenting his “mystic inside”: a traditional, communal style of living which emphasizes connection with the natural world, resonant with music, and is less familiar to the modern western world. On the other hand, the listener is presented with technology, materialism, and individualism, personified in the figure of the driver of a car. The speaker reflects on the ways in which their traditional culture has been eroded and replaced by Western culture, and the sadness and confusion they feel as a result. This is seen in lines such as "You laughed and laughed at my nakedness" and "And you laughed and laughed at my screams."
The poem emphasizes the importance of respecting cultural differences, as well as the healing power of connection. In the beginning, the poem conveys a sense of disappointment in the listener's laughter at the speaker's seemingly “inhuman” ante-natal walk. Okara goes on to explain how laughter only serves to “freeze” the listener's “inside,” further conveying a feeling of sorrow at the clash of cultures.
However, in the second half of the poem, Okara conveys a message of hope. After the speaker offers the listener a glimpse of the “living warmth of the earth,” he notices a change in the listener's attitude. The line “a meek wonder held your shadow and you whispered ‘Why so?’” suggests a newfound appreciation of the two different ways of life. The poem ends with the speaker offering the listener understanding, instead of criticism.
Ultimately, “You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed” conveys the idea that different people and cultures should not be judged by different standards. Instead, Okara encourages readers to recognize cultural differences and strive for understanding and acceptance. He sends a message of hope, emphasizing that mutual respect and dialogue can lead to connection, despite our varying backgrounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment