Critically appreciate the poem ‘Or Casuarina Tree’

Our Casuarina Tree – Toru Dutt

Tree; Symbol:-

          The tree symbolizes the pot’s feeling. Her childhood is associated with a Casuarina tree, which was standing in her garden. She grows up and goes away but tree remains in her memory.

The poem is a ‘meeting point for the past and the present for time and eternity. This is the theme symbolically presented in another words. It is an admirable blend of local touches and literary reminiscences or objective description of the actual tree and the charm of association with Toru’s Childhood.

The Tree:-

          The poem is addressed to the tree. It is praised and remembered almost like a hymn. The poem opens with an account of the giant tree. Casuarina is a commonly found tree in Bengal. It grows crimson flowers. The Casuarina tree of Toru is very big and great creeper’s embrace but this tree is bold enough to stand. Crimson flowers are hung. The tree remains very busy during the day. Day and night it is a centre of busy life. Birds and bees are gathered. At night sweet songs of darkening could be heard. His puny also leaps about. Kokilas hail the day. Cows would pass from the shadow of the tree. In the early sunlight the shadow enmasses (covers) beautiful water lilies. They turn as if snow has covered them.

The tree and dear memories:-

          Because it is splendid, the poet doesn’t love the tree but because her childhood memories are associated. Years may pass but when they were young and played under this tree has remained still. It is sweeter because her companions also played under it. Remembering those days, she becomes sad, even cheeks turn wet because of tears. The tree seems to be weeping as well. As if it is shading trees and wailing. It becomes spirited (unnatural). It turns horrible. The un-nerving and unusual feeling of the poet suggests some things supernatural. It is an effort of the poet perhaps that through the tree she wants to find sympathy. She imagines pain and pity may reach to unknown land. Toru had lost her brother and sister very early so their memories are referred here. Look how beautiful she puts these feelings : -

          “O sweet companions, loved with love intense,

          For your sakes shall the tree be ever dear!”

          “The unknown land’ refers her going abroad even when she was traveling in France or Italy, it had always sent thought winging its way homeward, and bringing recollections of the tree which was so dearly loved in childhood.

Humanization of the Tree:-

          As we saw above, the tree assumes a human form. It feels and speaks. It has pain and pleasure. In absence of Toru’s companion the also becomes awful and ghostly. Often she remembers this tree even when the tree is absent. The tree evokes feelings in her in moonlight. It would be like a dream. Her inner eyes find its picture. It is the visualization of the tee. The tree becomes sublime form. It would be same as she had seen in her childhood days and

          -Mine inner vision rose a form sublime,

          Thy form, O Tree as in my happy prime

          I saw thee, in my own loved native clime.”

          Thus tree does not remain an object but a living friend.

Wish of immortalizing the tree:-

          The place where the tree stands, she wishes she would declare it holy place. It was loved by many who have now sleepy in the graves. They had also played here. Because of them, too the tree is dearer than life. That’s why the tree should live or remain forever. She wishes ‘deathless’ to it. “Fear, trembling hope, and death and the skeleton and time of shadow” may linger under its shadow but it shouldn’t see death. Her verse may not be able to sing well its praises yet the happiness should come. There is curse of death (Oblivion) but love (poet’s) would defend it.

          “The last stanza of the poem, with its right romantic fervor, unfolds a desire of the poetess for the immortality or verse, and ends with the delightful line :May love defend thee from oblivion’s curse.”

Rich Imagery:-

          The poem is very rich for its imagery. The image of the tree creates tenderness and pathos. It evokes these feelings. The tree almost becomes a loveable, kind human form. The first stanza describes it gigantic for and brings before use its value. The birds, cows, baboons and bees continuously haunt this tree. Children played beneath it. This all give a visual image of the tree. Even in the distant land this form rises in the vision. Images of her:. “Playing with brother and sister also come. They create sad feelings. Tragic beauty takes place. Loneliness and dirge mixed together make an unnerving nerving effect.

          Description, metaphor and similes shape rich texture of the poem.

Metaphor:-

          The tree and related images have becomes sweet because of metaphors. e.g. “the giant wears the scarf” the giant relates to the tree. Song is sweet. Eyes are a casement, and are delighted as well. The garden overflows with one sweet song. For her parted brother and sister she used ‘sweet companions’. Other metaphors: ‘a sheltered boy’, ‘classic shore’, blessed sleep’, ‘deathless tree’, ‘trembling Hope’, ‘weak verse’ assimilate in the structure. They show the poet’s genius and creativity.

Similes:-

          Very opening line suggests a simile. A creeper is “like a huge python”. She is hearing a sad song which is ‘dirge-like murmur’. She visualizes the form of tree ‘as in my happy prime I saw thee’. Her wish to immortalize the tree is also “like those in Borrow dale”. The similes are few but capable enough to show her poetic art.

Phrases and clause:-

          The poem has a fine description. There is deep feeling which flows swiftly. Naturally there are many phrases and clauses which strengthen the argument. e.g.

          “Like a huge python, winding round and round,

          The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars

          Up to its very summit hear the stars.

          In just three limes how many phrases! The stanza is carried on and there a clause joined with it.

                   “… in whose embrace bound

          No other tree could live.”

          Other some clauses are: “While on lower bough/his puny…”, “though years may roll…” , “till the hot tears blind”, “when earth lay tranced…” etc/

          These phrases and clauses are joined by many ways. Conjunction, commas, dash, semicolons has been used and because of this long description take place. Notice the following lines with underlined words.

“And far and near Kokilas hail the day;

And to their pastures wend our sleepy cows,

And in the shadow, on the broad tank cast;

By that hoar tree, so beautiful and vast.”

          To change the ideas or mood punctuations have been used. They have served well.

Archaic words:-

          The tree is romanticized. Old language would better suit. Toru knew this and that’s why she used archaic words. Mostly they are related to pronouns. The last stanza is particularly seen such works are: ‘thy’, ‘mayst’, ‘linger’, ‘fear’, ‘death’, ‘trembling hope’, ‘skeleton’, ‘time’, oblivion’, ‘sleep’, blessed’, ‘repose’, ‘deathless’, ,awful’ etc.

Rhyme and Rhythm:-

          The poem is divided into five stanzas each made of 11 lines. The rhyme scheme is : abba cdcd eee. This is a new scheme. It seems she has experimented, even thought it is so, it is worthy. The sound system creates a very line rhythm through consonance and assonance. Look this following phrase how sweet they are: “winding round and round” , “bird and bee”, “with one sweet song”, “wide open thrown open”, “my eyes delighted”, “tree be ever dear”, “unknown yet well known”.

          Inner rhyming word, ending rhyme, eye-rhyme, pair word etc. really make the poem musical.

          Most of the critics agree that “in the organization of poem as a whole and in the finish of individual stanza, in its mastery of phrase and rhythm, in its music of sound and ideas: “our Casuarina Tree” is a superb piece of writing and gives us a taste of what Toru might have done had not the race of her life been so quickly run.”