3.5 Themes
(1) Strong Moral Values and Self-RespectThe woman in the poem got herself into a difficult situation and was cheated by a man because she gave in to his pleading and his insincere lies. She displayed weakness in her moral standing and lost her self-respect as a result. We should never lower our self-esteem no matter how much we like a man. If a man has respect for the woman he loves, he too would not ask her to do what is morally wrong.
(2) Deception in Appearances
The woman is taken in by the man’s gentle and quiet eyes. She thinks he is a truthful and trustworthy person. The theme in this poem focuses on deception in appearances. Do not judge a person’s character by his appearance. As can be seen in this poem, a gentle and kind-looking man can actually be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The woman is taken in by the man’s gentle and quiet eyes. She thinks he is a truthful and trustworthy person. The theme in this poem focuses on deception in appearances. Do not judge a person’s character by his appearance. As can be seen in this poem, a gentle and kind-looking man can actually be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
(3) Consequences
When we make mistakes in life, we have to live with the consequences. The persona tells us that the woman is haunted with questions of ‘hows and whys’. She probably asks herself every day how she could have fallen for his lies; how she could have forgotten the moral values instilled in her by her parents; how she could have ignored all the advice given to her by people who love and care about her. She would probably also wonder why she had not been wiser in her choice of men; why she did not see through his deception and insincerity.
When we make mistakes in life, we have to live with the consequences. The persona tells us that the woman is haunted with questions of ‘hows and whys’. She probably asks herself every day how she could have fallen for his lies; how she could have forgotten the moral values instilled in her by her parents; how she could have ignored all the advice given to her by people who love and care about her. She would probably also wonder why she had not been wiser in her choice of men; why she did not see through his deception and insincerity.
(4) Listen to Advice
The poet wants to reach out to all young readers. The woman in the poem wished she ‘had listened to the advice’. She poured out her disappointment, frustration and hurt in this poem and wished she had ‘been wise’. The poet cautions young readers that they should not be impulsive in their actions and they should, above all, listen to the advice of their elders so that they would not end up like the woman – full of regrets.
The poet wants to reach out to all young readers. The woman in the poem wished she ‘had listened to the advice’. She poured out her disappointment, frustration and hurt in this poem and wished she had ‘been wise’. The poet cautions young readers that they should not be impulsive in their actions and they should, above all, listen to the advice of their elders so that they would not end up like the woman – full of regrets.
3.6 Moral Values & Lessons Learnt
(1) Avoid Being Deluded by Looks or Appearance
• We sometimes encounter people who have ill intentions towards us.
• These are con men who prey on young women.
• They look nice and decent but have bad motives.
• So we should take precaution against them.
• We should not judge a book by its cover.
• These are con men who prey on young women.
• They look nice and decent but have bad motives.
• So we should take precaution against them.
• We should not judge a book by its cover.
(2) Listen to Beneficial Advice
• We are given good advice when others feel that we need it.
• We should listen to their advice.
• The advice is for our own good.
• It prevents us from getting hurt or getting into trouble.
• We are given good advice when others feel that we need it.
• We should listen to their advice.
• The advice is for our own good.
• It prevents us from getting hurt or getting into trouble.
3.7 Setting
- The poem is set in the present – the world around us now.
- It highlights the fact that the people around us are not always sincere.
- They may have ulterior motives towards us.
- Some have the intention to cheat us.
- In the case of the woman in the poem, the man only wanted to have sexual pleasure from her.
- However, she saw him as a man in need of love and consolation.
- The poem puts forward the need to practise caution when we deal with the people around us.
No comments:
Post a Comment