Page 266 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

English - II

Notes Then Chitra remarked that such a state would be better than the present predicament in which she
was placed. Then she would reveal her true self to him. which could be nobler than the present
disguise (falsehood) of beauty. Then even if he rejected her or hated her or broke her heart, she would
be able to bear that silently.
Vasanta then asked her to cool down and listen to his advice. With the on-set of autumn, the flowering
season would be followed by the wealth of fruits. An appropriate time would definitely come when
the heart- cloyed bloom of the body would bend down and Arjuna would gladly accept the abiding
fruitful truth in her. So Vasanta advises her to go back and indulge in her mad festival.
Critical Remarks
The physical union of Arjuna and Chitra is referred to here. But it results in the anguish of her soul.
She is conscious of the fact that her physical beauty is a borrowed one. So it is bound to slip sway
soon and she will be left weeping day and night. The barque (boat) of joy is in sight but the waves
will not permit it to touch the shore. As the flowering season comes to a close, it leads to the success
of fruitage. The cycle of seasons thus move on in this world.
Tagore presents the finest possible evocative poetry with all its lyrical excellence and splendour in
the description of the consummation of the union of Chitra and Arjuna.
The action of the play is sevcaled through the dialogues with Madana and Vasanta. The poet makes
the readers know about the symbolical meaning of the play. Man is not just satisfied with the earthly
happiness, but deeply desires a bliss of the highest type relating to the spirit.
The language is highly poetic and romantic and the whole atmosphere gets permeated with poetic
and romantic splendour. The theme and language are perfectly fused. The conflict in Chitra’s mind is
also made evident through her dialogue with Madana and Vasanta. She enjoys the bliss of earthly
happiness in the physical union with Arjuna, but suddenly becomes aware of the fact that her beauty
is a borrowed one. She is tossed between hope and despair. She is however optimistic that Arjuna
will gladly accept the abiding fruitful truth in it. Chitra feels that her body has become her own rival.
Scene IV
There is a perceptive decline in Arjuna’s infatuation. As the days pass. Arjuna’s ardour and enthusian
get diminished. He has time to watch and think. Chitra, having observed the warrior Arjuna watching
her, asks him why he does so. Arjuna replies that he is watching her weaving the garland. He
appreciates her skill and grace of her finger-tips in weaving the garland. While watching her, he also
goes on thinking. Chitra asks him what he has been thinking. He feels that by weaving the garland,
she is weaving his days of exile into an immortal wreath (garland of flowers) to crown him when he
decides to return home. Chitra is dumbfounded with astonishment on hearing the word ‘home’ and
remarks that their love is not meant for a home. Arjuna asks again why it is not intended for home.
Then she asks Arjuna not to talk of a home. She wants him to take to his home what is permanent and
strong. She further asks him to leave the little wild flower where it was born. She again asks him to
leave it beautifully to die among all fading blossoms and decaying leaves at the end of the day. She
requests him not to take it to his palace hall to throw it away on the stony floor which has not pity for
the things that fade away and are simply forgotten.
Arjuna is highly puzzled at her reactions and enquires of her whether their love belongs to that kind.
She replies in the positive and stresses that their love is no other than what she has pointed out
earlier. She states that there is no need for regretting it since what is meant for idle days does not
outlive them. She remarks that joy turns into pain when the door by which it should depart is shut
(closed) against it. She advises him to take it (love) and keep it as long as it exists. Physical enjoyment
begets satisfaction after indulging in it for sometime. But it is not permanent. One desires it again and
again. She points out that the evening has set in and asks him to wear the garland in his neck.
Chitra feels tired. She asks Arjuna to take her into his arms and embrace her. She assures him that all
fruitless obstacles of discontentment should disappear at the sweet meeting (mating) of their lips.
Arjuna feels other worldly and asks her to be silent. He asks his beloved Chitra to listen to the sounds
of prayer bells from the distant village, stealing upon the evening air across the silent trees.

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