Rehistoricising of 12th century in Tale-Danda

         The play Tale-Danda by Girish Karnad is undoubtedly the portrayal and re-historicizing of the 12th century history. The play portrays the dark aspect and stain of the contemporary Hindu-society of that century. It re-historicizes the various social, political and religious conditions with great emphasis over the religious turmoil and upheaval that was at peak during that century. The drama further highlights in a subtle way the ignorant conditions of women, regardless of their caste or social strata. And last but not least it also shows the failure of reformative movement due to inefficiency of the volunteers that participated within the movement.

       Karnad uses several representative characters to enlighten the past through them. The major representative character was Basavanna. He’s been represented as a reformer who started a movement named Sharana aiming at bringing social equality. The major issue that has been re-historicized by Karnad is of caste inequality. He has shown all the prevailing castes of that period viz. Brahmans, tanners, cobbler etc and highlighted very clearly and the existing inequality and discrimination amongst them. The opening of the play is amply evident and representative of the prevailing cast inequality during that period when Malliboma a tanner reluctantly brought into the Brahmin colony by his Brahmin friend Jagadeva who even takes him into his house, as a pre-condition of seeing his ailing father. Thus representing not just the caste inequality but also a radical attempt towards its eradication; especially through the Sharana movement that brought in all the caste people together under one group Sharana, making them equal. Moreover, through Amba ‘s helplessness as of her absent son and Jagadeva’s anger on seeing his wife back home, Karnad has also thrown some light over the poor and ignored condition of women in that century.

       Karnad with the gradual progress of the play has presented the more enhanced level of caste conflict which began taking a political turn. The prince of Kalyan develops enmity against the treasurer Basavanna after being failed to prove his deceitfulness. Which develops more after his public mortification by his father and the king Bajjala after his treacherous act. Here as well Karnad has shown the pauper womanly condition of that period through King Bajjala’s rebuking the queen and accusing her of making him (prince sovideva) a spoiled royal eunuch.  King, himself being a diplomatic, favours the Sharana movement because Basavanna respected him despite knowing his being cobbler by caste. But at the same regard them (Sharanas) incapable of solving any issue. Karnad through Bajjala’s words of calling caste being skin on body has shown the extent to which caste was widespread throughout in that century. Furthermore, king’s diplomacy has been shown by his opposition of casteless society arguing that,

       “People will merely sputter about like a fish on the sand and die.”,

showing the political condition of the time.

       The social and political scenario of the century is further re-historicized by Karnad through Jagadeva’s suspicion over Basavanna's spreading rumours of miracle at the treasury and calls him a manipulator; showing mutual mistrust despite being associated with such a great reformative movement. Karnad has further shown the drastic social turn; despite Basavanna’s being the leader of the Sharana movement couldn’t stop the marriage of the Brahmin girl with the cobbler boy. A drastic political turn takes place; the king is overthrown by his son Sovideva and Sharanas refuse to support the king who supported the marriage.

       Further Karnad presents the devastating political and social impact of the caste system and diversions through the violence that spreads throughout the Kalyan city on account of both Sharanas and Sovideva’s soldiers who barbarously kill thousands of Sharanas along with the young couple. In lieu of it, innocent king Bajjala is also killed by Jagadeva who suicides in guilt.

       Thus, through this Karnad has presented the massive onslaught that took place on the streets and houses of Kalyan during the 12^th century because of the prevalent caste inequality ruling the time. He has also shown in his play the probable causes that were greatly responsible for such a mishap to’ have occurred; of which lack of proper leadership in the Sharana movement which led to the mutual-conflict of thoughts, ideas and ideals dividing the group into younger and elder Sharanas. The other prominent reason shown for the movement’s failure in that century is involvement of such volunteers like Jagadeva and Basavanna who themselves had the diving relationship with their family and they went on to attempt leading such a great movement which was obvious to fail.

       All these factors played a crucial role in the future of the reformative movement as shown by Karnad through his play. Hence it can be fairly concluded that Tale-Danda is the true re-historicizing of the 12^th century social and cultural revolution.

Theme of Night of the Scorpion

            The poem Night of the Scorpion by Nissim Ezekiel is drenched in rural background reflecting high rural superstitious beliefs and ritualistic practices; here for a specific, vital and concern worthy purpose of scorpion bite. The poem in general appears to be a simple narrative of a tragic incident of scorpion bite. But the in-depth analysis of the poem reveals deeper meanings and themes that the poem operates upon. There are a number of themes and sub-themes prospering within the poem in a terse and inter-woven manner which makes the judgement of the main theme quiet complicated. Various themes that simultaneously operates within the poem are superstitions, pauper village conditions, motherly love, helplessness etc. Of these themes motherly love is amongst a significant theme; but helplessness seems to be a more prospering one, throughout the poem.

            Right from the beginning of the poem one can clearly witness the helplessness prevailing at various levels which continues to go on till the end of the mother's suffering along with the poem. Poet's mother after being stung by the scorpion was in immense pain. The scorpion who was helpless of the out-pour of the rain was forced to in-shelter itself in poet's house where it got mother's foot and then had to risk the rain again. Meanwhile the bite drew several houses of the village consisting of a large number of helpless peasants. Helpless because in-order to stop the mother's suffering they were all enchanting and murmuring God's name thousand of time to paralyze the scorpion so that it's movement wouldn't move the poison in mother's body. Although they were wishing well on their part in concern of the mother but were yet helpless in curing mother;s trauma owing to their superstitious and orthodoxical beliefs and methods that they put in use which was amply insufficient for the purpose. Then the villagers for the very same purpose carried out the search for thee scorpion to kill it and subdue its movement and consequently mother's pain; but alike the scorpion, they too were helpless before drastically out-pour of rain. Thus they helplessly fail in their attempt, as stated in the poem itself.
                   "...he was not found.
                     They clicked their tongues.",
showing their despair.

            They are further shown helpless by, although meaningful, but futile words of past, present and future; through this they try to console the mother by stating that the pain she was undergoing would not just balance the sins of the previous birth and decrease the misfortunes of the next life, but would also balance the good and bad deeds of the present. Although these words were an attempt to pacify mother's pain but practically were entirely futile.  Peasants after this sat helplessly around her, being done with whatever they were capable of, because it only satisfied them an not the purpose they said and did all this for, as stated in the poem,
                   "My mother twisted through and through
                     groaning on the mat."
It also shows how helpless the mother herself was, surrounded by a troop of other helpless people, that, neither they nor she herself was able to help herself.

            Even poet's father too has been presented as helpless. Being amongst those who loved mother the most, he himself tries curing the mother through the rational means being a skeptic and rationalist. Thus he used all the herbs, powders and mixtures over mother's toe; trying not just the boons and curses but also rational means and yet he too couldn't subdue her pain and tame the poison. The kids too couldn't do anything but watch the mother helplessly, groaning in pain, without having any means and way to help her. At last  mother, the embodiment of love is shown expressing her love but helplessness too. She thanks God of being fortunate enough to have faced such pain instead of her children because she knew that had it been to any of her children she was completely helpless to have suffered this voluntarily in lieu of her children.
           Hence it can be fairly concluded that a widespread helplessness prevailed throughout the poetic narration. Be it peasants or villagers, father or mother, they were all helpless in one way or the other. Despite their best possible efforts they could only see the mother suffering and despite their best effort they had no choice but to watch her pathetic condition until she was fully cured. Henceforth, the poem truly represents the theme of helplessness throughout it.

THE LORD OF THE FLIES (SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE NOVEL)

                   Introduction

Two boys are seen on a solitary island unknown to each other; enquire about each other and their whereabouts. Exploring the place they discover a conch and blow with the consequence of gathering all the other present over the island. After concise introduction they begin their expedition of the place for food and discovering some elders and thus the story progresses.

       Chapter 1: THE SOUND OF THE SHELL

Ø  Two boys shown on a solitary place.

Ø  Unaware of each other’s background, names etc are introduced to each other through the situation.

Ø  One is Ralph, fair haired, in school dress. A boy of 12 years and a few months, wide and heavy shoulder and undevilish eyes.

Ø  Minor details of their arrival revealed viz. a plane, a pilot and an atom bomb.

Ø  Plane got crashed, no one survived except for the few boys.

Ø  The other boy Piggy, shorter than the first, fat, spectacled, suffering from asthma.

Ø  They find a conch which Ralph blows and gathers all the boys present comprising of a group of small boys, another group of choir boys led by Jack, twins named San n Eric.

Ø  Summon up of boys through the blown conch represents the totem of civilization.

Ø  Ralph being the bower of the conch is somewhat chosen by default the leader of the group out of him and Jack (Jack wanted to be the leader as he could sing in C Sharp). But is allowed to keep the control of the choir boys.

Ø  Ralph, Jack and another boy Simon go on for exploring the island.

Ø  Jack who prefers his choir boys to be hunters misses killing a pig as of slight hesitation and resolves of being merciless the other time.

Chapter2: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Ø  Meeting is carried on to narrate all the discoveries to everyone else with all having something or the other to say.

Ø  No grownups present so they got to look after themselves.

Ø  Jack narrates his killing attempts with everyone having aggregates to say.

Ø  Ralph declares Jack’s hunters would go on in quest of food and none will speak until conch is given to him with others silently listening.

Ø  Piggy taking the conch tells about the unsettled and uncounted condition of the boys along with interpreting the words of a littluns who despite holding the conch couldn’t speak; discloses of sighting snake like thing ‘beastie’ introducing terror in the group.

Ø  Ralph refusing such words sets the goal of having fun and being rescued.

Ø  Ralph’s father being in nave and the presence of island’s map in queen’s palace provides sooth for the boys.

Ø  Through Piggy’s glasses they light up the fire to attract the passes (in case anyone passes by).

Ø  Jack makes his hunters the in charge of keeping on the fire.

Ø  At the end Piggy discovers and discloses about the missing boy amongst littluns.

Chapter 3: HUTS ON THE BEACH

Ø  Closer look at Ralph, Jack and Simon, with Jack trying out his first hunt but fails; Ralph and Simon struggling to make shelter in absence of other boys.

Ø  A small conflict occurs amidst Ralph and Jack where Ralph complaining of hunters and other boys indulgence in trifles with only Simon halting to help him.

Ø  Simon abandoning Ralph and Jack goes for the forest exploration discovers overgrown vegetation and at the end discovers a cabin like space, sealed off the view from the covers of leaves and filled with sensuality of the nature.

Chapter 4: PAINTED FACES AND LONG HAIRS

Ø  Chapter deals with boy’s description along with the age and power domination gap i.e. a descriptive differentiation of the boys.

Ø  Henry, Jonny and Percival the exemplary littluns engaged in making sand castle.

Ø  Maurice and Roger the two big boys threaten them to disrupt their castle; Roger even begins throwing threatening stones as well.

Ø  To his hands Golding describes as “Roger’s arms were conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins.”

Ø  Further Jack summons two boys to witness his pig hunt without any idea of     the compensation they will further have to bear.

Ø  The shift of concern towards hunting results consequently to the downfall of the uncertain world.

Ø  All people viz. Jack, Ralph, Piggy, Simon, Jack’s hunters were busy in something or the other when Ralph gets a glimpse of the ship.

Ø  He further realizes about the extinguished fire during his sunbath in the pool and runs in vain for the Piggy’s glasses; meanwhile Jack return off a successful hunt.

Ø  The obvious conflict occurs amidst Jack and Ralph with former refusing the confrontation diminish his triumph grabs off Piggy’s glasses with the intension of hurting both Piggy and Ralph but ending up with apologizing publicly.

Ø  Later on after the relit of the fire all gather up eating and listening up hunt’s exploit when Ralph intervenes through an assembly call with conch in the hand.

Chapter 5: BEAST FROM THE WATER

Ø  A chapter of change; witnessing various unexpected changes

Ø  Ralph calls up the meeting reminding of worrying situations and rules of hygiene, shelter; fire being more prominent thing than pigs etc.

Ø  His non threatening agenda and contradictory words against hunting leads to an obvious repulsive response from Jack. Thus ’fire’ and ‘hunting’ represents the power symbol amidst both.

Ø  Ralph’s role and conch are challenged for the role of leader and power symbol respectively making him bring the beast fear at night.

Ø  It results in Phil’s recount of the nightmare, Percival forgetting his name, littluns begin crying.

Ø  Jack although lessens the fear by carelessness and this is regarded as the loose of control of Ralph and is challenged by Jack as leader.

Ø  Consequently Jack and his gang runs off leaving Simon, Piggy and Ralph in dark and playing together when interrupted by Percival’s wailing.

                                               Chapter 6: BEAST FROM THE AIR

Ø  Being asleep no one notices the parachutist dropping from the sky.

Ø  Samneric (Sam & Eric) tend to light the fire and were awaken by its fabric moment.

Ø  Aghast, they run off to Ralph who calls up the meeting and disclosure of the same fact freaks the boys.

Ø  After Jack’s call for hunting Ralph reminding of the fire formulates a plan for figuring out the beast.

Ø  Ralph first alone explores the island and later is joined by Jack as well (exploring the yet unexplored portion).

Ø  With no beast found they take a sigh of relief and thus indulge in fun.

Ø  Ralph’s control over the group is on rapid decline

                                   Chapter 7: SHADOWS AND TALL TREES

Ø  Ralph’s acquiesces to Jack’s wish to ignore and forget the beast for a while.

Ø  Simon consoles Ralph they’ll all be rescued and goes to inform Piggy of other’s continuing their search.

Ø  Out of the grown-ups who were carrying the pig run to the mountain, Jack challenges Ralph to climb up the mountain which he reluctantly does taking along Roger.

Ø  On the top they figure out the beast apparently through head and knees (of the parachutist); with winds blow it lifts its head provoking all the boys in the darkness and back below.

                                   Chapter 8: GIFT FOR THE DARKNESS

Ø  Sight of the beast leads to a profound confrontation between Jack and Ralph where Jack similes (compares) Ralph with Piggy calling him (Ralph) an improper chief.

Ø  This time Jack openly asks vote against Ralph’s leadership and is disgraced by deadly silence against him; sting by the betrayal he walks away with tearful eyes issuing mutinous invitation to those who wish to accompany him.

Ø  The choir boys along with few others join him secretly while Ralph and others were collecting fire; Simon retreats to his discovered place deep in the forest.

Ø  On Jack’s command they prepare for the pig hunt and intend stealing fire for cooking.

Ø  Jack and his boys were busy in hunting with some fearing and Jack and two other remain for it. Piggy on the other side reminds Ralph of fire being their priority.

Ø  Simon sees the beast which in actuality was the offered pig by Jack to the beast.

Ø  It takes the shape of the Lord of the Flies and talks to him tauntingly; consequently Simon struck by the silence falls down in faint.

                                   Chapter 9: A VIEW TO DEATH

Ø  Simon makes a vital discovery; climbing up the mountain he discovers the beast to be dead parachutist.

Ø  Simon gets good look at death getting sick at its sight but then comprehends the need of conveying it.

Ø  Jack, with his band revealing their hunt offers Ralph and others the meat to encourage their joining hunters with Jack and along with taunting him.

Ø  Being fervour by Jack all hunters provoking further frenzy in which they ignorantly throw the spear over something coming out of the jungle which on being fiercely wounded falls on the sand.

Ø  All hunters after their furious attack discover it to be Simon.

Ø  On the mountain the parachutist’s body is taken by stormy wind to sea. The dead ‘beast’ beached and water carries it to sea.

                                  Chapter 10: THE SHELL AND THE GLASSES

Ø Ralph and Piggy couldn’t control their thoughts over the last day’s dreadfully furious incidence and try ignoring its thought but were still haunted by it.

Ø Jack ruling the Castle Rock as hunters’ fort also avoids any kind of discussion over it and rather justifies it as the killing of the disguised beast.

Ø Jack and his hunters attack Ralph, Piggy and Samneric and takes the Piggy’s glasses and Jack believing of having the totem of true power in hold.

                                 Chapter 11: CASTLE ROCK

Ø Everyone except Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric) join Jack’s group while the four go to re-obtain Piggy’s glasses.

Ø They meet Jack who was returning of a hunt and mocks Ralph. In turn Ralph accuses him of being a thief.

Ø Demonstrating his powers he got Sam and Eric tied up despite their cry and Ralph’s protest.

Ø In the ensuing frenzy of screaming and yelling no one notices Roger levering the rock over Piggy’s head.

Ø Before anyone could figure out anything the heavy sound in heard of rock falling over Piggy’s head and consequently killing him along with smashing the conch as well.

Ø On to the breaking of the conch Jack feels like power being free for grab and thus spear’s Ralph who after being hit escapes the onslaught.

                                 Chapter 12: CRY OF THE HUNTER

Ø Escaped Ralph seeks refuge in forest surveying his wounds and obtains a spear through pig’s head.

Ø From the foliage he cautiously calls out San and Eric who warn him to be the hunt of the hunter and disclose that they would use the signal for the purpose.

Ø Creeping into a safe spot he considered safe, wakes up next morning only to realize the betrayal of Samneric who alone knew of his hide.

Ø The hunters fall down the rock to provoke him out of the hide but on failing they fire the place.

Ø Ralph consequently is forced out of the hide before the hunters and is speared by them.

Ø Ralph running away from them makes his way to the shore and faints down with whole jungle in fire behind him.

Ø  Exhausted Ralph on waking up finds a naval officer telling that fire attracted his attention.

Ø Jack along with the hunters too reaches the shore and stares at the officer silently.

Ø Ralph being free of their terror tells of two boys being killed and realizing about Piggy, breaks into tears.

HENCHARD AS A TRAGIC HERO

                 Introduction

Tragic hero refers to such a protagonist who continually suffers the tragic consequences despite of all his works, words or conducts pursued either for eliminating them or for some other reasons. Reason being somewhere down the line these actions and words backed up with some destiny or luck are responsible for these consequences to encounter with the protagonist. Henchard was hubris’ victim and as such it became the root cause of some of the tragedies to become part of Henchard’s biography. Besides there were other factors responsible for his life’s tragedies as well as under,

Tragic Beginning

The beginning of the novel itself sounds enough to demonstrate the tragedy that marked the beginning of Henchard’s career. Henchard in a downtrodden drunken state sells off his wife and daughter Susan and Elizabeth-Jane respectively to as sailor Newson for 5 Guineas. As it’s said the importance of air is felt in its absence only; he, by the time could realize his mistake a tragedy was encrypted to his biography with he left with no family.

Envied Friendship

After a tragic start Henchard becomes the mayor of a town named Casterbridge but being pretty unsuccessful in his business he hires an honourable Scotchman named Donald Farfrae as his manager who not just helps him boost his business but also becomes his close friend. But the growing fame of Farfrae and his negligence by the people of the town becomes a cause of jealously for Henchard and he begins despising his own manager and a dear friend thus yielding a tragic consequence of his firing Farfrae and not just losing a good manager and friend but also provoking another tragic incidence in his life; consequence of which he suffers later on in the form of Farfrae’s becoming his business rival with more better skills than himself.

Solitariness

Another tragedy surpasses Henchard in the form of death of his re-courted wife Susan whom he got back again after a long span. Moreover her letter provokes Henchard to add up another tragic incidence for himself. Susan leaves off a note revealing Elizabeth-Jane’s anagorisis of being Newson’s daughter. This revelation turns astound Henchard indignant towards Elizabeth-Jane thus making her and own self estranged and alone respectively.

Re-failure of love

To Henchard’s surprise Lucetta moves in to Casterbridge and solitary Henchard intends courting her, thus proposing her for marriage. Estranged Elizabeth-Jane coincidently meets her and finally moves in with her to her house. Thus solitude Henchard proposes Lucetta for marriage with the promise of returning back her love-letters. Hence here too he suffers the tragic incidence.

Superstition, the intruding tragedy

Henchard’s immense belief on superstition also turns out to be a great tragedy when, to know about the weather forecast he seeks the help of a soothsayer unlike Farfrae his arch competitor. This faith over superstition consequently delivered him the incorrect information pertaining to monsoon on which Henchard’s entire harvest relied upon, thus incurring enormous loss without having enough money to keep his clothes together i.e. no money to pay back to the creditors. Consequently after being declared bankrupt his entire property was sealed and used up against his debts with Henchard ending up as a labour in Farfrae’s farm who also bought most of his property.

Tragic Death

Henchard after his insolvency begins to live alone in small place; Elizabeth-Jane after Lucetta’s marriage leaves their house and Henchard reconciles her with both living up together. But again he’s overtaken by the tragedy in the form of Newson’s return and enquiring about Elizabeth-Jane whom he fibs/lies of being dead as well.

But ere Elizabeth’s marriage he turn up again asking her to meet him through anonymous letter. Realizing the truth contained in the future Henchard leaves her and the town. Later on he’s even despised off by her daughter who became well aware of the ultimate truth when he comes with a congratulatory present on her marriage with Farfrae. Traumatically distressed Henchard returns back and just before half an hour of Farfrae’s arrival he meets his tragic climax

Conclusion

Thus despite of all his temporary and fragile happiness Henchard receives ultimately leads him to add up to the previous mishap that occurred either of his misfortune or misdeeds. Throughout his life span, from his becoming mayor to his distressed decease, was the aftermath of his intimate and integral part of life called tragedy. Henceforth it can be fairly concluded that Henchard was a tragic hero.

Conch As A Symbol of Fiction in Lord of the Flies

The novel ‘Lord of the flies’ by William Golding is amongst the well-renowned symbolical novels of all times. This novel represents an identical kind of symbolism throughout, from the beginning till end. Symbolism in the novel can be witnessed not just in various things being used by the characters like conch and Piggy’s specs etc, rather the entire group of boys is represented as a civilization which is at its beginning as the consequence of the world war. Out of all the symbols used within, the Conch plays a crucial role for the presentation of the symbolism and has been used for the varied places for the varied purposes.

               Conch at first is used as the totem of civilization that marks the growth of the civilization. After its discovery by Ralph and Piggy, Ralph blows it in order to summon up all the boys present on the island thus it’s used for beginning of the civilization. Further Ralph being the blower of the conch is elected as their leader somewhat by default thus conch presented as the symbol of governance for this new civilization. Later, the conch is also used for maintaining peace and order amongst the group and such its declared that one needs to hold the conch in order to speak and would also not be disturbed by anyone. This shows the re-presentation of the conch as an object of maintaining ordinance and discipline and finally its breaking referred as the end of the civilization.

Conch which although is represented as a totem of civilization and amongst the most prominent thing the boys had on the island,but it is far off from the reality and is a sheer fiction as of its highly impractical role in the real world. The reason being, no such thing as conch did exist in the real world to guide, control and regulate the humans,in the contemporary time of the novel; and as such the representation of conch as a governing and guiding force’s symbol is fictional. The whole and soul reason being the actual cause behind the resultant crash of the plane on the solitary island i.e. the World War. The time that the novel discusses about is the time of world war, as a consequence of which the children ended up on that island. Now since the world war was the cause of such a condition so if there would have been any governing, controlling and regulatory authority or thing then surely these many consequences wouldn’t have occurred. The absence of any guiding and controlling force for the human beings indulged them into the world war and their lack of control caused such a tragedy to take place. In case there would have been any such thing as conch in the real world as conch is presented in the novel, the humans would definitely been in proper control with no such tragic occurrence as world war . So although the entire novel is the presentation of a civilization but one thing that was far away from reality was the conch; a symbol of governance and control. All the other things like fire were the symbols marking the growth of the civilization except conch, because of the absence of any peace within the human mind and outside. As a consequence of which the world war made a terribly remarkable place in the history. Thus it can fairly be concluded that, in the novel the lord of the flies, conch represents a true symbol of fiction.