Introduction of the Poem:
In the poem entitled “Guru” is an extract from Nissim's later verse Hymns in Darkness. In this poem the poet tells about the nature, conduct and behaviour of a hypocrite saint who lived dual characters. In the present poem, the poet gives a real definition of true and holy saints and shows the harmful sides due to being the influence of hypocrite saints. Through this poem, the poet exposes the real nature and attitude of those saints who wear the cloak of saints so that they may conceal their real identity and besides befooling the people, they may easily extract the money from the people.
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| Nissim Ezekiel’s Poem Entitled Guru—Summary and Critical Analysis |
Some Critical Points of the Poem:
1. The hypocrite saints are indeed the slave of their great passions and they spend their time midst the heap of luxuries.
2. The disaster of new generation, society and country is sure to come if the saints are hypocrite.
3. Man cannot live with peace until he gets rid of the sinful life.
4. There are many people who enter in this profession to escape from the eyes of people.
Summary of the Poem:
Stanza 1:
The saint, we are told,
once lived a life of sin—
nothing spectacular, of course,
just the usual things.
We smile, we are not surprised.
Unlikely though it seem,
we too one day
may grow up like him,
dropping our follies
like old clothes or creeds
Explanatory Word - Meanings:
1. The saint ... told once= the poet heard about a saint. 2. Once lived ... sin = before following the principles of saint - like life, he was a sinner and he was involved in immoral activities. 3. Nothing ... thing= the saint was very far from the divine principles. He had nothing extraordinary or miraculous to display. 4. We too ... him= everyone thinks to be a holy and virtuous man like the saint because he regards him an apostle of goodness and morality. He likes the way of his living. The saint - like cloak attracts him. 5. Dropping our follies = after giving up the bad deeds and follies, one wants to become a holy and virtuous man. 6. Like old clothes or creeds= as the man changes new clothes after casting off the old clothes and accepts new religious principles after renouncing the old ones, in the same way one wants to follow the way of morality and goodness after giving up one's old ways of sins and crimes.
Paraphrase:
According to the poet, sometimes a story about a saint is told by the forefathers to their children. In this story they refer that there was a saint who once lived a sinful life. He committed crimes. He was completely a wicked person, but later on he changed his way and became a saint. Nobody sees his past life but his present life fascinates everyone because he gains popularity of a holy and virtuous man. Though he has nothing extraordinary in him, his way of living inspires one to be like him. Under this fascination, everyone thinks that after growing up, he will also follow the principles of that saint. The poet says that a great change can be brought in ourselves like that so called saint. After giving up the way of immorality, we can adopt the way of goodness as we cast off old clothes and wear new ones and accept new religious principles after renouncing the old ones.
Stanza 2:
But then we learn
the saint is still a faithless friend,
obstinate in argument,
ungrateful for favours done,
hard with servants and the poor,
discourteous to disciples, especially men,
condescending, even rude
to visitors (except the foreigners)
and overscrupulous in checking
the accounts of the ashram.
He is also rather fat.
Explanatory Word - Meanings:
1. But ... learn= but when we come to know the reality about that saint. 2. The saint ... friend = the saint has not brought any improvement by now, he is still wicked. 3. Faithless = wicked. 4. Obstinate ... done= the saint is still self - willed. He does not feel obliged of someone. 5. Obstinate = stubborn, refractory, self-willed. 6. Hard ... poor = he behaved with his servants and the poor harshly and rudely. 7. Discourteous ... the foreigners = he was also rude for his disciples and for those who were very far from any sort of ego. He did not behave well with those visitors who only came to him for his grace and blessings. But he welcomed the rich visitors and foreigners. 8. Discourteous = impolite, rude. 9. Disciples= followers, pupils. 10. Condescending = showing a gracious descent from dignity. 11. Scrupulous = showing a strict regard for what one considers right, minutely careful, precise or exact. 12. Ashram = hermitage.
Paraphrase:
The poet says that with the passage of time, suddenly the reality of the saint comes before us and we come to know that the saint was once a notorious man. He was a wicked man. He had committed many sinful acts, but later on he changed his way and wore the cloak of a holy saint. In spite of changing his way, he could bring no improvement in his nature. He was still a wicked and rude. He was self - willed. His behaviour was cruel with his servants and the poor. He exploited his servants and the poor. He was also rude for his disciples and polite persons. He did not behave well with the poor visitors who only came to him to show their devotion for him and to get his blessings. The rich visitors and foreigners were welcomed in his hermitage. Because of being a wicked man in his previous life, he looked everyone with suspicion. He had no belief on the accountant of his hermitage. Due to being a man of suspicious nature, he always checked the accounts and he feared that his accountant could do any fraud. He had become a fatty man because he was spending a carefree and luxurious life with the money of rich visitors. Indeed he was living a dual life.
Stanza 3:
Witnessing the spectacle
we no longer smile.
If saints are like this
what hope is there then for us.
Explanatory Word - Meanings:
1. Witnessing ... smile= nobody can feel pride and happy on finding such man who is living two personalities of a good man and a bad man. 2. If saints ... for us= if saints are hypocrite, how we can expect the welfare of people and country.
Paraphrase:
According to the poet, no happiness and pride can be felt on having a saint of wolfish qualities. A hypocrite saint can bring no glory and prosperity at the name of religious spirits. If the saints who deliver preachings to the people to follow the way morality, are wicked and sinner, how can we expect that the future of our present and forthcoming generation will not be into darkness and our society and country, will not go to downfall. It is certain that it is an open invitation to the disaster.
Critical Analysis of the Poem:
Introduction:
The poem entitled “Guru” is an extract from Nissim's later verse Hymns in Darkness (1976) where he draws on Vedic hymns. He appears to move into new poetic territory. The very title of Hymns in Darkness has an eschatological quality. In this poem the poet tells about the nature, conduct and behaviour of a hypocrite saint who lived dual characters. The poem Guru presents a real definition of true and holy saints and shows the harmful sides due to being the influence of hypocrite saints. Through this poem, the poet exposes the real nature and attitude of those saints who wear the cloak of saints so that they may conceal their real identity and besides befooling the people, they may easily extract the money from the people. Such hypocrite saints are indeed are the slave of their great passions and they spend their time midst the heap of luxuries. The disaster of new generation, society and country is sure to come if the saints are hypocrite. In the beginning this poem conveys an idea that suddenly the life of a wicked person who is involved in sinful deeds, is changed and man cannot live with peace until he gets rid of the sinful life, but in the latter part of the poem, we are introduced that there are many people who enter in this profession to escape from the eyes of people.
Thought - Content:
This poem begins with the depiction of a saint who once lived a sinful life. He committed crimes and was completely a wicked person, but later on he wore the cloak of saint. Due to being under the cloak of saint, his earlier life was concealed. With the passage of time, the reality of that so - called saint came before us.In spite of changing his way, he could bring no improvement in his nature. He was still wicked and rude. He was self - willed. His behaviour was cruel with his servants and the poor. He exploited his servants, disciples and the poor. He was extremely hungry of the materialistic pleasures. His great passions were his master. He was ever drowned in luxuries. He behaved rudely with his poor visitors and welcomed the rich. Due to being a bad and wicked man, he suspected his accountant. Because of leading a life of luxuries, he became a fatty man. In the latter part of the poem, the poet presents a moral that a saint should be a man of sacrificing nature. He should give up the fascination of the materialistic things. He should believe in simple life. The poet tells the foremost duty of the saints. The saints are born to welfare the people and nation. If the saints are hypocrite, how can they lead the people towards the way of spirituality? The hypocrite saints are undoubtedly a great danger for a nation and its people.
Exposing the Follies of Hypocrite Saints:
The poet exposes the real nature and tendency of the hypocrite saints. Many people wore the cloak of holy saints so that they may succeed to conceal their wicked nature and sinful deeds. Under the cloak of holy soul, their identification becomes impossible and they easily fulfil their purpose. Such saints living two folds lives, only mislead the people. They had no relations with the ethical values. They entrap the young men and corrupt their ways. They are the slave of great passions, hence they fulfil their extreme desire by extracting the money from the people. On the basis of their observation of human nature, they succeed to be fool them. They are unable to enlighten the hearts and minds of people. They play their clever tricks on them.
The Moral of the Poem:
The saints should be far from the fascination of materialistic things. They should seek their pleasures and joys in spiritual things. Truly speaking, the saints are born to make the welfare of people. It is their duty that they should save the people from falling into the quagmire of evils. They should enlighten the ways of people. It is the matter of glory and pride if we have good and pious saints. It is the duty of saints to teach the people the lesson of humanity, brotherhood, love and affection. The future of our present and forthcoming generation depends on our holy souls. They can save the youth from being corrupt and they can also impact their minds with the qualities of nobility, goodness, morality and humanity.
Deficiencies of the Indians:
The poet has exposed the follies and deficiencies of the Indian people. They are easily befooled. They have a great fascination of the saints. For getting peace and mental consolation, they easily believe on the saints. Under this great fascination, they do not think any need to know the real nature of the saints. In India the saints are worshipped, hence they cannot become the subject of suspicion. The hypocrite saints get advantage of the people's ignorance. In the poem the same thing can be seen that the people were completely dedicated to the wicked saint.
Language and Style of the Poem:
Nissim uses apt and suggestive words to fulfil the purpose of the poem. Words are carefully chosen both with reference to their sense and their sound. He aims at avoiding superfluity and at achieving terseness, economy and condensation. He cuts down trivialities and goes straight to the deeper issues. He imparts a new meaning and suggestive significance to common, everyday words. In this poem, the poet has tried to create typical Indian flavour by the use of Hindi words such as Guru and Ashram. In the present poem he has vividly and picturesquely depicted the multitudinous panorama of Indian life. He has also used the figure of speech simile. For instance:
1. “We too one day
may grow up like him,
dropping our follies
like old clothes or creeds.”
2. “If saints are like this
what hope is there then for us .”