Critically evaluate sonnet – ‘The Lotus’She belonged to wealthy and educated
family. Her parents were literary personalities. She was fragile but powerful
in sensitivity. Life was as she saw a few deaths. In a very short life she left
behind a rich tradition. Her Education in Bengal,
England and France has
helped a lot to her poetic career.
“A Sheaf Gleaned in French” is a collection of translations. Her creative poetic collection is “Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan” published in 1882. “Miscellaneous Poems” is another collection. She wrote short lyrics, odes and sonnets in which her talent is seen.
“A Sheaf Gleaned in French” is a collection of translations. Her creative poetic collection is “Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan” published in 1882. “Miscellaneous Poems” is another collection. She wrote short lyrics, odes and sonnets in which her talent is seen.
Basically she is a romantic poet. Her
description of nature is very fine and fascinating. There is moral tone but it
is saved because of her lyrical output. Her sensitive, intense nature adds
charm. Sincerity of mind; finely knit content; vigorous, pleasing sound’ and
sense make her word value. Nostalgic mood,, variety of description, dialogues
etc. rise to the occasion and she manages to versification. ‘Lotus, ‘Prahalad’,
‘Savitri’, ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ and ‘Baugmaree are some of her beautiful
poems.
The Lotus:-
The poem tells us the story of the
birth of the lotus flower. There was a conflict between the Lily and the Rose
about their claim of the Queen. Psyche (love) goes to Flora (the Queen of
Gardens) to fins the answer. Psyche asks such a flower that should be delicious
as the rose and stately as the lily. The combination of both these things is
the lotus. She gives Psyche this flower which is rose-red and lily-white. Even
the strife between the two is known to other flowers. Often they talked about
this as this was a quarrel since long long time. Even the praises of each were
sung by the poets but there was no solution. Some claimed that Rose can not
tower like Lily. Lily hides beauty of Rose. Lily’s appearance is majestic. The
look is fascinating. But rival is also beautiful. Out of two certainly rose is
lovelier. Rose is delicious and Lily is stately. Rose is soft, Lily is proud.
There was no end of this dispute.
Lotus’s demand to solve the problem:-
Love was confused. She wanted peace in
the garden. As the rivals were constantly quarreling it was better to find some
solution. At last Love went to Flora. She put the trouble before. She demanded
delicacy of rose and stateliness of lily. But there was the problem of colour.
Flora asked her of a particular colour. This troubled her more. First she chose
red. Then she withdrew it and thought another option. She pointed lily-white
colour. But soon she found trapped. As there was no way she placed third option
- combination of these both colors. Finally Flora saved the riddle. She made a
new flower. It was lotus. She gave it her. The lotus had both the qualities. It
was rose red and lily white as well as stately and beautiful. It became
queenliest of all flowers.
Greek myths:-
Love and Flora both are related to
Greek and Roman myths. In Latin mythology love is Cupid. He is the son of
goddess Venus. He was beautiful. He loved a beautiful maiden Psyche. She too
returned his love as well King of gods Jupiter brings union for both of them.
Flora in Roman mythology is Goddess of
Flowers and springtime. She is a beautiful maiden. She wears a crown of
flowers.
In Greek mythology there are lotus
eaters. The people who ate the fruit of lotus tree forget their friends and
homes. They also lost desire to return to their native and but this has nothing
to do with our poem.
Description of nature & Natural aspects:-
Toru is a poet of nature. This poem reveals
her “keen sensitiveness to nature and the responsiveness of her soul to
colour”. She notices flowers minutely. Her imagination is supreme. Qualities of
rose and lily have been brought out. Garden, flower colours make a link. It
gives any reader a joy to be in touch with the following lines are described
well.
“Give me a flower delicious as the
rose
And stately as the lily in her pride.”
“The rose can never tower,
Like the pale lily with her pride.”
The
solution is still more beautiful.
“And Flora gave the lotus, “rose red”
dyed
And “lily-white”, queenliest flower
that blows”.
Personification:-
Love is personified. The myth of Love
is taken here. Even Flora is the same. They are known to us. The influence of
Greek and Roman literature is seen on many poets. But the rose and the lily are
personified as well. But these are women and as women they are conscious of
beauty so are these flowers. Human quality of becoming superior to other is
noticeable. Both of them are fighting for supreme title of Queen. They have
their factions too. This is an excellent example Toru’s wonderful imagination.
Similes and Metaphor:-
The description has become colourful
and vivid as similes and metaphors have been used. “Rose can never tower like
pale lily” is one simile. Another is “a flower delicious as the rose”. The
third is “stately as the lily.”
Lotus is considered “queenliest” of
flower. The flowers are “rivals”. They think of ‘high honour’. One can not
tower’ the other. Thus these words indicate metaphor of flowers.
Dialogues and Description:-
The poet has used both these
techniques. She begins with description. Love goes to Flora. The poet describes
first the ‘problems’ and the same is told to Flora in the dialogues. They are
short and pointed. Clear, cut demands and solutions have been sought out. Short
dialogues of love show her curiosity and impatient mind. She fumbles in the
choice if beautiful shown through affirmation and negation. The used of hyphen
tells this all. Notice the dialogue.
“But of what colour? – “Rose-Red” love
first chose,
Then
prayed, - “No, lily-white, - or, both provide”.
In the ends the poet describes the
solution. Thus she follows a scientific method: first problem then solution-
then better options and finally the solution.
Simplicity of diction:-
The diction of the poem is very
simple. Straight forward matter has been put. Looking the following lines.
1. Love came to Flora.
2. The rose can never tower.
3. Give me a flower.
4. And Flora gave the lotus.
5. But is the lily lovelier?
6. Then prayed
7. Love first chose etc.
This shows the poet’s style. But she avoids prosaic
quality. This simplicity becomes a virtue. It shows her natural output the
phrases put together make them poetic. The clauses used with them add charm e.g.
“Love came to Flora asking for a flower
That would be of flowers be undisputed queen.”
“The rose can never tower
Like
the pale lily.”
Use of adjective is remarkable.
Instead of saying red like rose she puts rose red and the same for
“lily-white”. Instead of saying “provide both”. The description is ‘both
provide’. Because of such small things diction is remarkable.
Sound system:-
Repetition is one system to create
music in the following lines.
“Love came to Flora asking for a
flower”. (/f/, /l/ and /r/ sound).
“But is the lily lovelier?”
(Combination of /i/ sound)
In pairs many words sound is beautiful
e.g.
“Flower faction’, ‘pale lily’, ‘rose
red’, ‘their claims’.
Repetition lf some words like ‘long’,
‘flower’, and ‘rose’, ‘lily’ not only continue to remind the content matter but
also strengthen it. These all sorts of sounds make the poem sweet.
Rhyme Scheme:-
The poem follows a rhyme scheme of
‘abba abba cd cd’. Toru is trying to follows Italian rhyme scheme’. At the end
it breaks but in the earlier part the scheme runs well.
This is an example of what the poet
did at the early age. A poetic beauty is notable.
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