A short note on "Symbolism" with some examples from well-known writings.

 Symbolism   -

         

  Symbolism is a very common  and a well-known word in the field of literature. 'Symballein' is a Greek verb and 'symbolon' is a Greek noun.The word 'symbol' comes in English from these two Greek words. 'Symballein' the verb means 'to throw together' and the noun 'symbolon' means a 'sign' or 'mark' or 'token'. So  symbol or the sign is an object (animate or inanimate)  which represents something else.Symbol stands for any other thing. In Coleridge's language  a symbol 'is characterized by a translucence of the special in the individual'. The French  poet Mallarme provides us with some explanation regarding symbolism and to him symbolism is the art of evoking  an object ' little by little so as to reveal a mood '. Mallarme's follower Henri de Regnier's view about symbol is that it is implicit , oblique and something that is not spelt out. Symbol  is , according to him, a comparison between the concrete and the abstract. 

   Some examples may clarify the word 'symbolism' and may help the readers to make out the matter of 'symbolism', its importance and its usefulness. Symbol may be tangible or intangible. Here are some example of palpable symbols. We generally  find a 'scale' in the court of law and this 'scale' symbolizes 'justice'. Take the flower 'rose' which stands for 'beauty', while the 'lily' for 'purity'. A very known bird 'dove' stands for 'peace' whereas the king of beast 'lion' is taken as the symbol of 'strength and courage'. The 'cross' is the symbol for 'Christianity' and the 'crooked cross' (swastika) for Nazi Germany and Fascism.

 Some action and gestures may have some significance and these ones serve as symbol. Someone with 'clenched fist' is found in some situation which symbolizes  something and this is  nothing but 'aggression'.When a person  starts 'beating his breast' his action symbolizes 'remorse'. 'Raised arms' of someone stands for 'surrender'.    

 symbol and symbolism.

John Osborne's play " LookBack in Anger" - The significance of the title of this play is found in the very 'title words' .

 " LookBack in Anger"

                                   John Osborne

Introduction : Title of any literary creation is of paramount importance as the title creates some sort of curiosity in the mind of the readers and motivates them for having the taste of the literary nectar arrested in it.The title of a poem or story or  other may be called the 'golden key' to unlock the treasure-trove of the dream land of literature. A good and meaningful christening proves the competence and literary skill of a writer of prose or poetry.

Elements of title : Title is made or chosen relying on different elements which are very commonplace  ones.It is frequently seen that title of many writings are based on the  name of the main character or the name of the protagonist. Sometimes the title is based on the activity or the consequences  of action performed by the main character or the protagonist. Sometimes it is the name of a place round which the action and the characters revolve. A grave problem prevalent in the society, a deep-rooted one, that causes  multi-faceted impact on the human world is sometimes taken as the best element of the title of a writing. A deeper philosophical interpretation may also be the basis of a title. The questions in the mind of the characters or the readers are also welcomed as the title. It is not very uncommon that the writer's   christening is metaphoric or symbolic.

Significance :  " Look Back in Anger" , Osborne's  play, contains three basic words : 'Look' ,'Back' and "Anger'. These words provoke to raise some questions - Who looks back ? Why he/she is looking back instead of looking ahead ?  Why  is there anger ?   

     The play progresses and it becomes clear like day light that the man who looks back is Jimmy Porter,the protagonist of the play, an angry young man who is a jobless husband - not a common chap but a brilliant graduate. Yes, Jimmy looks back .

        Jimmy is jobless now, jobless because he has resigned his earlier jobs one by one . He could not compromise with the malpractices found  in abundance in the society.Now he runs a sweet stall and somehow manages his livings. Jimmy's wife Alison eventually belongs to the affluent section of the society. Here we find a combination between haves and have-not and a strong class consciousness in the mind of Jimmy. It disturbs the mental peace of the angry hero who is frequently involved in a clash with his wife Alison who can not realize  the fault on her part. Being failure to earn a smooth and sufficient source of living Jimmy is frustrated now and he is quite sure that  this unjust social system , the pathetic socio-economic condition, the unequal distribution of the resources and wealth are the main causes of the misery of the majority of people. Obviously the ancestors established such social system which now exploits the poor millions and enables  a few privileged people to roll in gold. The cause of suffering , Jimmy thinks, is the ancestors of the present generation. So Jimmy looks back and curses his ancestors. Jimmy is so helpless, so frustrated and so downhearted that he has not the least wish, the least courage and the least morale to look ahead. 

     If we have the phrase in Hamlet "out of joint" that is quite appropriate to the situation of Jimmy who may easily be identified as the 'angry young man'. Frustration and disappointment lead Jimmy to anger. His is an imperfect age where reigns the vulgar materialism and heartless technological growth. Jimmy is in such a mental situation that he always longs for a little enthusiasm and love. Jimmy does  not have the least amount of  peace in his mind, naturally 'anger' disturbs Jimmy. How is it possible that The Bishop  of Bromley , the follower and the protector of religion,publicly encourages the  making of Hydrogen bomb. It is the  cause of Jimmy's resentment. The prevalent social classification which discriminates the upper class and the working class  ails Jimmy much and this unquiet mental state ultimately resulted in the outburst of profuse anger. One can easily identify that Jimmy's anger is directed towards woman folk, their apathetic mind towards their husband. Jimmy's mother never felt sympathy for idealistic husband. Similarly, Jimmy's wife Alison  does never show sympathy towards  Jimmy's helpless situation, never tries to understand the cause of her husband's frustration. Alison somehow keeps tune with Jimmy.of course superficially.All these are the causes of Jimmy's anger.

Sonnets of Sri Aurobindo and interpretation.

A Tree

          Sri Aurobindo

A tree beside the sandy rive-beach

Holds up its topmost boughs

Like fingers towards the skies they cannot reach,

Earth-bound, heaven-amorous.

This is the soul of man, body and brain,

Hungry for earth our heavenly flight detain.

Discussion : This short poem containing a quatrain and a couplet brings about a fine metaphor as we find in it an implicit comparison between a tree and the human soul. The tree mentioned here holds up its topmost boughs towards the sky i.e. towards the heaven. The tree is fixed on the earth and it is not possible for it to touch the sky, though it intends to  do so.The same picture , same situation is implied 

in the activities of human beings who, holding up the fingers try to have the experience of heaven.

Human beings are in the contradictory situation and they are 'earth-bound' and at the same time  'heaven-amorous'. Human being is so absorbed with the gross earthly matters that pull him backwards like a magnet when his soul intends to undertake a flight towards heaven.

 

Problems faced by Satyajit Ray in time of shooting his film 'Pather Panchali'.

 Introduction - We have in Indian English Literature a famous essay entitled 'A Long Time On the Little Road' written by the great Oskar winner Satyajit Ray. The essay is based on the  first hand experience of Ray in time of shooting of the film 'Pather Panchali' and some problems faced by this  artist of Bengal in time of doing so. Different setbacks and uncertainties sometimes  made him standstill but those were temporary and Mr. Ray ultimately overcame and succeeded in giving a precious gift  'Pather Panchali' to the film lovers.

Though beset with different problems Satyajit Ray  did gain a great satisfaction at different stages of this shooting.

Problems :  The problems faced by Satyajit Ray in time of shooting his film 'Pather Panchali' may be divided into four groups - 

(a)  Financial Problem (b) Location Problem 

(c) Technical Problem  and (d) Human Problem . 

(a)  Financial Problem : The problem of money stood before Ray like a mountain . Actually, He started shooting with a paltry amount of rupees 8000/- only at the bank. As Ray was new in film direction it was hard for him to get financer   Naturally, his intention was to produce cheaply and quickly a reasonable length of 'rough cut',that would help to establish his bonafides  and getting some financer. Lack of fund delayed the production

for one and half year. Satyajit Ray had to suffer some pangs and peculiar torments for the financial crisis or 'enforced idleness'.

 (b) Location Problem : Mr. Ray  had to go for the outdoor shooting and there he faced difficulties.

It was the first day's shooting in the field of white kaash flowers in a rural area. The maxim 'well begin is half done' proved wrong in this case. Ray took eight shots and returned half-finished but when the other day he came the same place to make it complete, he with utter surprise and dismay discovered that the ' sea of fluffy whiteness' has gone and turned into an expanse of brownish wasteland. Where was the field of white sea of kaash flowers ? A local people explained that the Kaash was a sort of fodder and a herd of cattle had come and 'had literally chewed up the scenery'.  Such heart-breaking the location problem is !

(c) Technical Problem : It is the problem of instruments , the problem that centered round the position of camera in time of shooting.Where would the camera be placed ? Near of far , high or low, on the dolly or on the ground? There were some problems arisen after the shooting. The problems were in the work in the laboratory, in the process of cutting and joining. The writer had to wait in the laboratory with much patience and anxiety for the ghost like negatives of the film.  

 (d) Human Problem : Human factors appear as a great problem to Mr. Ray. He was much tensed and anxious about the characters of film. Much  delay in shooting  means the children acting here were growing fast. Besides, it was not possible to keep an old lady of eighty standing on the mid day sun for taking shots repeatedly for perfection. 

      To conclude,the artistic conscience of Satyajit Ray when he had to  compromise,not his liking, with some situations and matters. Ray had to carry on the work of film making by all sorts of balancing and he  overcame the sereas of   problems stood before him.  

I Need , You too. : A poem written by the Blogger.

I Need , You too .

                      (N.N.Pal)

You and life need a thing,

Not so rare, you can bring,

From the rill, and the spring.

Dear friend, that is water,

It helps life to run better,

To have it, doesn't matter.

One may say it only motion,

That brings a rill to the ocean,

Is it not the spring's passion ?

In the water motions rest,

With the passion it is drest,

Both jointly make life best.

I say it is river's goal,

To the ocean it must roll,

As to 'His place' runs our soul.

Oh ! God, be much kind ,

So that in me I do find,

Your tint and a good mind .

              _______

What does the poet say ?

  

  The poet here points out that one thing is essential in life and one can find that easily from the spring and river. The thing is not a rare one as it is known to all sensible person ,all observers of life. (1) 

  The coveted thing is the water that is the very essence of life and the life of the rivers. Water is the life as water helps to run a life. Water is the life of a river as it is the very water which keeps the motion or current, the life of streams or rills. It is very easy to fetch water from rivers. (2) 

   A person may say that the essential thing for life is nothing but motion that is the very life of a rill.The current or the motion of the river brings it to the ocean . It is the passion of a river as the only aim of all rivers, all springs is to mingle with the limitless water,the sea.(3)

   

 The life of   river is  water as well as the motion  which are  inseparable.Motion is found in the water and without water the term motion is meaningless. The passion  is latent in these two things. One may say that the water and the motion is dressed with the passion. These three things - water, motion and passion - jointly lead a river smoothly , metaphorically may run a life lively.(4)   

   Everything in this world is created by god for a valid purpose. Everything has a definite  aim. The aim of a river is to run at its own accord and mingle with the  limitless ocean. similarly,the aim of man's soul  is to run to his place, i.e. to be united  with the supreme creator or God. (5)

  Human beings like to have a tint of God in him/her and having  it become grateful to God. His/Her earnest request to God is for a good mind which would help him/her to love others and to surrender completely himself before to God. (6)                                                                                                                                                                                                

   

   

Path for Me : A poem written by the Blogger.

Path for Me

                         (N.N.Pal)

Think you not, go on straight,

Not ever submit to the low ;

Be dauntless before the fate, 

What if motion makes it slow.

You know his part is in you,

So you make your mind clear ;

His aura may come your view,

To give you an endless cheer.

In this sojourn what will you do ?

Think a less for you and self ;

Are you not truely assigned to, 

Spread your hands for the help ?

Thy body is the temple of God,

Never you do make it stain ;

Blessing must come from the Lord,

If you serve and serve for men.

                 _______

(N.B. - Yes, I am selfish here. It is the 'Path for Me', as it is the best path in the life of human beings.I love me most, so the best thing I would keep  for myself. If you think you love yourself most, you also say 'Path for Me'. )

'Wait ,wait a bit for me' : A Sonnet written by the Blogger.

 Wait ,wait a bit for me

                                       ( N.N.Pal )

Wait ,wait a bit for me ,

Helpless I am take with you.

I do behold the ray of glee,

And a promise for life new.

You think your step I don't know,

And think your path I ne'er like.

Upto doomsday I must go,

with you tough road I can hike.

Not unstable is your move,

At end must be shrine and he,

Deep pure halo does it prove,

You are bound sure to be free.

I know God's path you embrace,

So you lovelorn with his grace.

( It is a sonnet written in the style of Shakespeare. The Rhyme Scheme is " abab  cdcd  efef  gg )  

Word Notes :

Behold - See.

Doomsday - Last day for judgement.

Hike - Walk long distance.

Shrine - Temple.

Halo - Circle of light.

Lovelorn - A person who deserves love.