Orlando: A Biography by: Virginia Woolf.

This task is assigned by Megha Ma'am, In this blog I am going to write according to my views and Understanding of Virginia Woolf's novel "Orlando: A Biography". There are some points ponder which I am going to write in this blog.

POINTS TO PONDER:

- Compulsory Question: Write your views on the movie Orlando. What differences and similarities have you noticed in the movie Vita and Virginia and Orlando?

- How far do you feel that Orlando is influenced by Vita and Virginia’s love affair? Does it talk only about that or do you find anything else too?

- Who do you think is confused about their identity Vita or Virginia? Explain with illustrations

- What is society’s thought about women and identity? Do you agree with them? If Yes then why? If no then why?

- What are your views on Gender Identity? Will you like to give any message to society?

- "Vita and Virginia" had to be made into Bollywood Adaptation, who do you think would be fit for the role of Vita and Virginia?

*Orlando*

-Movie adaptation of novel "Orlando: a Biography" by Virginia Woolf.:-

Virginia Woolf’s Orlando was one of her most special novels because of its eccentric plot, story and narrative. It was regarded as the ‘The longest and most charming love letter in literature’ written by Woolf for her close friend and lover Vita Sackville-West. But besides its personal charm and eccentricity, the book has also been regarded in high esteem for the unusual themes and issues it covered with an unusual narrative. A character transcends centuries, countries and even gender in this book in the most peculiar fashion and meets different people throughout this journey gaining fascinating experiences. Along the years the “longest…love letter” has also come to be acknowledged for its potential to initiate conversations on issues of sexuality, gender, history, time, narratives, modernity and so much more.

64 years later Sally Potter, an English filmmaker adapted the novel into a film with Tilda Swinton playing the lead role. While filmic adaptations of literature are not unique, mostly realist or sci-fi narratives make it to the silver screen from books. To adapt this unusual narrative which was both realist and yet phantasmagorical was an interesting attempt which certainly yielded an interesting film to say the least. The film won many accolades and awards including “Audience prize for Best Film” at the Venice Film Festival. Translating transitions between centuries and genders could not have been easy. Following is an account of the techniques and processes that Potter used to achieve the same.

The movie with a different climax from the novel, more or less keeps the spirit of the original work alive. The most important aspects of the way the flow of the story through the ages has been depicted in the film have been the editing and the cinematography. Change in the centuries, which might be easy to read about on an abstract level in a novel otherwise, may become very difficult to depict on screen but an effective screenplay in the film allows one to fall in line with a visual representation of this progression.

-How far do you feel that Orlando is influenced by Vita and Virginia’s love affair? Does it talk only about that or do you find anything else too?

Indirectly it is talking about it only. Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West were lovers. Does that mean they had sex? It probably does, because Vita liked sex and was a pursuer of women. She also enjoyed a long and successful marriage to Harold Nicolson. He too had his affairs. Virginia and Leonard Woolf were largely compatible and certainly affectionate. It seems unlikely from all that we know that she was interested in sex with Leonard, but sexless marriages were, and are, common enough. The thing about passion is that it is much more than a sexual encounter. And that is worth keeping in mind in the case of Woolf’s novel Orlando. What Vita and Virginia did or didn’t do in bed is much less important than the effect of Vita on Virginia’s imagination.

Had the love affair not happened Orlando would never have been written. That would be a loss. As Woolf wrote in her diary: “A biography beginning in the year 1500 and continuing to the present day, called Orlando. Vita; only with a change about from one sex to the other.”

Woolf’s Orlando begins his journey as a young man living at Knole, the great house in Kent that Sackville-West could not inherit because she was female. The novel starts in an attic, as the young Orlando slices at the preserved head of a Moor. It also begins with a famously disingenuous sentence: “He, for there could be no doubt about his sex … ” and then we spend the rest of the novel doubting exactly that.

Is Orlando the first English language trans novel? It is, yet in the most playful way. Orlando manages his transition with grace and a profound truth. On seeing himself as a herself for the first time in the mirror, she remarks: “Different sex. Same person.”

That difference of sex, though, had legal and social implications. Many of the men Woolf knew, including her husband Leonard, and her sister Vanessa’s husband, Clive Bell, had been educated at Cambridge. Virginia and Vanessa had been home schooled; the usual method for upper class girls. Other girls were barely schooled at all.

- Who do you think is confused about their identity Vita or Virginia? Explain with illustrations.

I think they both are in love with each other. The true story of their polymorphous relationship is a homoerotic tale of two middle aged women who, in the early years of the 20th century, thrive in nonconformity. Vita explores her gender identity and perpetually scandalizes the 1920s beau monde, and Virginia is a pioneering modernist and feminist, “an experimentalist in humanity” in Vita’s words. They are both in open marriages - something that to this day remains a taboo in Western society. Their relationship spans across passionate intimacy and numerous letters, until it morphs into a lifelong friendship. One of the relationship’s side effects, as it certainly isn’t an end result, is what is described as, “the longest and most charming love letter in literature,” namely the novel Orlando (1928). The film Vita and Virginia (2018) recreates the initial six years of the relationship that lead up to the creation of Orlando. Disappointingly, it sidesteps truth and exploits true romance to conform to popular demand. The result? A mediocre (at best) rendition of an extraordinary story.

It is high time for modern cinema to let go of the martyr-savior cliché wherein the entire ontology of the characters is reduced to these roles. Moreover, in reality, Vita is in her thirties and Virginia in her forties when their relationship unfolds. They are not the twenty-year old's depicted in the film. While homosexuality is increasingly given voice to in fiction, homosexual relationships with age-gaps between older people aren’t as represented. Expanding the voices of marginalized groups isn’t a priority here – the film doesn’t stay true to the real story.

With the running subplot of Woolf’s genius being concomitant with her ‘madness’, her emotions range from confusion to serious delusion. She even hallucinates colorful vegetation when she is around Vita, which is a facetious, questionable directing choice. Nonetheless, it works as the only hint beyond sterile declamations that Woolf actually has feelings for Vita. Sudden cosmic musings disembody Woolf from the setting and perpetuate a sense of lifelessness. All this results in a bad parody of a character straight out of Lars von Trier’s Melancholia. The goal may be to celebrate Woolf’s genius (and why is this the goal of a movie about Vita too?), but in the end, it is all too camp to be taken seriously.

- What is society’s thought about women and identity? Do you agree with them? If Yes then why? If no then why?

Throughout the 1970s, and 1980s, issues relating to women and helping the poorest of the poor dominated development agencies, not to mention the lip service many agencies - large and small, public and private - gave to program priorities. Surely, indigenous women are the poorest of the poor, among the planet's least represented and the most exploited.

Women's position in indigenous societies has not always been ideal; there is no reason to attempt to paint is so. Contact by and integration into larger economic and political system, could actually improve some women's status, but this is not usually the case. When indigenous societies join larger systems, this leads to a further masculinization's of politics, and integrating these groups into other legal traditions often erodes women's traditional rights to land and resources. Furthermore, women in partially assimilated societies rarely control funds - even those generated by their own efforts.

• Gender: Gender identity can be defined as the self-realization of oneself as male/female. This concept is closely related to the concept of gender role which is defined as the outward manifestation of personality that reflect the gender identity.
• Gender can influence the identity of a woman in society as it is a personal conception of being a woman and society forms standards and prescribe roles on the basis of existing norms and tradition. This will definitely form her identity in society.
• Marriage: Marriage plays an important role in the formation of a woman's identity in society. Marriage can be favorable for a woman's identity as long as she maintains a sense of individuality. It is evident that marriage provides a strong positive sense of identity and self-worth. A study in 1970 demonstrated that entering into marriage requires reconstruction of identity, that is by reconstructing past identities and defining a new identity.
• Role: The global role of women in societies also forms the identity of women in societies. The global role of women is caretakers, farmers, educators, and entrepreneurs. Throughout history, the central role of women in society has ensured the stability, progress, and development of nations.

- What are your views on Gender Identity? Will you like to give any message to society?

Gender identity refers to a person's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender identity can be different from the biological sex assigned at birth, and some people may identify as male, female, non-binary, or other gender identities.

It is important to respect and acknowledge people's gender identities, and to provide them with the same rights, dignity, and opportunities as any other person. It's also important to recognize that gender identity is a personal and complex issue, and everyone's experience of their gender identity is unique and valid.

It's essential to create a society that is inclusive of all gender identities and recognizes the diversity of human experience. This involves promoting education, awareness, and acceptance of different gender identities, as well as supporting policies that promote equality and non-discrimination.

- "Vita and Virginia" had to be made into Bollywood Adaptation, who do you think would be fit for the role of Vita and Virginia?

If "Vita and Virginia" were to be adapted into a Bollywood film, there are several talented actresses who could portray Vita and Virginia. 

For Vita, I could see Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif as good fits. Both actresses are skilled at playing strong, independent women with a touch of vulnerability, which is essential for Vita's character.

For Virginia, I could see either Priyanka Chopra or Taapsee Pannu in the role. Both actresses have a natural charm and charisma that would be perfect for portraying Virginia's wit and intelligence.

Of course, casting decisions ultimately depend on the vision of the director and producers, and there may be many other talented actresses who could bring Vita and Virginia to life in a Bollywood adaptation.

Ultimately, there are many talented actresses in Bollywood who could do justice to these iconic literary figures. It would be exciting to see who would ultimately be cast in the roles!.

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Northrop Frye and ChatGPT:-

This Blog is based on Task Assigned by Dilip Barad sir, https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2014/12/northrop-frye-archetypes-of-literature.html here is link of the blog you can go there learn more about Northrop Fry's Archetypal Criticism.

In this blog I am writing responses of below questions given by ChatGPT:-

1) What is Archetypal Criticism?

2) What is the contribution of Northrop Frye in Archetypal Criticism?

3) What do Archetypal Critics do? Explain with examples.

4) "Every organized body of knowledge can be learned progressively; and experience shows that there is also something progressive about the learning of literature. Our opening sentence has already got us into a semantic difficulty." Explain the semantic difficulty. (copy paste in ChatGPT as prompt - and then copy paste the response with your comment regarding how correct explanation is given by ChatGPT)

5) as above - "The relation of criticism to religion, when they deal with the same documents, is more complicated. In criticism, as in history, the divine is always treated as a human artefact. God for the critic, whether he finds him in Paradise Lost or the Bible, is a character in a human story".

Let's start with Today's Blog...

1) What is Archetypal Criticism?

Archetypal criticism is a literary theory that explores the recurring patterns, symbols, and motifs that exist in literature across time and cultures. Archetypal criticism is based on the idea that there are universal symbols and images that are deeply ingrained in the human psyche, and that these symbols and images manifest in literature in the form of archetypes.

An archetype is a recurring symbol or motif in literature that represents a universal human experience or pattern of behavior. Examples of archetypes include the hero, the villain, the mentor, the trickster, the mother, and the father. These archetypes are not specific to any one culture or time period, but are instead found across cultures and throughout history.

Archetypal criticism is often associated with the work of the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who believed that archetypes were not just literary devices, but were also part of the collective unconscious of humanity. According to Jung, archetypes are innate, universal, and symbolic patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that are inherited from our ancestors and shared by all people.

Archetypal criticism is concerned with exploring the deeper meanings of literary works, and with identifying the archetypes that appear in those works. By examining the archetypes that are present in literature, archetypal critics aim to uncover the universal human experiences and patterns of behavior that are being portrayed in the work, and to better understand the ways in which literature reflects and shapes our understanding of the world.

2) What is the contribution of Northrop Frye in Archetypal Criticism?

Northrop Frye was one of the most influential literary critics of the 20th century and played a significant role in developing the field of archetypal criticism. His work in this area drew on the ideas of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who proposed that there are universal patterns or "archetypes" in the collective unconscious of human beings, which can be expressed in literature and other forms of art.

Frye's major contribution to archetypal criticism was his concept of the "anatomy of criticism," which he outlined in his book of the same name. In this work, Frye argued that all literary works are based on a set of archetypal patterns or "myths," which can be classified into four categories: comedy, tragedy, romance, and satire. According to Frye, these categories represent the basic modes of human experience and are reflected in literature across cultures and time periods.

Frye's analysis of literature in terms of archetypes also led him to explore the idea of the "monomyth," or the universal hero's journey. He argued that this mythic structure underlies many of the great works of literature and serves as a kind of blueprint for the hero's journey from innocence to experience.

Frye's ideas have been influential not only in literary criticism but also in fields such as psychology and anthropology. By emphasizing the universal patterns and themes that underlie human experience, Frye's work has helped to illuminate the deep connections between literature and the human psyche.

3) What do Archetypal Critics do? Explain with examples.

Archetypal criticism is a type of literary criticism that examines how universal symbols and patterns (archetypes) are present in literature, mythology, and other cultural works. Archetypal critics study how recurring archetypes such as the hero, the trickster, and the mother are used in literature to convey deeper, often unconscious meanings and to connect readers with the collective unconscious.

Archetypal critics seek to identify and analyze these archetypes, exploring their cultural significance and how they are employed in a given text. They also examine how the use of archetypes may help readers understand the psychological and cultural underpinnings of a work.

For example, one of the most commonly studied archetypes is the hero. In literature, the hero is often a character who is called upon to undertake a great quest or battle, and who must overcome challenges and obstacles in order to succeed. Archetypal critics might analyze how different literary heroes fit into this pattern, and what cultural or psychological meaning might be conveyed by the use of this archetype.

Another example of an archetype that archetypal critics might study is the mother. In many cultures, the mother is seen as a nurturing and protective figure, and this archetype can be found in many works of literature. Archetypal critics might analyze how the portrayal of a mother figure in a text reflects cultural attitudes towards motherhood, or how it might speak to unconscious psychological needs or desires.

In summary, archetypal criticism seeks to identify and analyze the recurring archetypes and patterns in literature, mythology, and other cultural works, in order to uncover deeper cultural and psychological meanings.

4) "Every organized body of knowledge can be learned progressively; and experience shows that there is also something progressive about the learning of literature. Our opening sentence has already got us into a semantic difficulty." Explain the semantic difficulty.

The semantic difficulty in the opening sentence is the use of the word "progressive" to describe the learning of literature. The word "progressive" can have multiple meanings, such as making progress or moving forward in a positive way. However, it can also have political connotations, referring to a movement or ideology that advocates for social reform.

In the context of the sentence, the word "progressive" seems to suggest that the learning of literature is a gradual and continuous process, which can be built upon over time. However, some readers may interpret the use of the word "progressive" as suggesting that there is a particular political agenda or worldview inherent in the study of literature.

The author is likely aware of this potential ambiguity, which is why they mention the semantic difficulty in the second part of the sentence. Despite this difficulty, the author still believes that literature can be learned progressively, meaning that one can build upon their knowledge and understanding of literature over time.

5) as above - "The relation of criticism to religion, when they deal with the same documents, is more complicated. In criticism, as in history, the divine is always treated as a human artefact. God for the critic, whether he finds him in Paradise Lost or the Bible, is a character in a human story".

The statement is discussing the relationship between criticism and religion when they both deal with the same texts or documents. The author argues that the relationship is more complicated in this case, as criticism treats the divine as a human artifact.

In other words, when a critic analyzes a text that includes references to God, they do not approach the concept of God as a supernatural or divine entity. Rather, they view God as a character in a human story, subject to the same analysis and interpretation as any other character in the text.

This approach is different from the perspective of religion, which generally views God as a transcendent being who exists outside of the human realm. For religious believers, the divine is not simply a character in a story, but a fundamental aspect of their faith.

The author's statement suggests that the approach to religious texts differs between criticism and religion, with the former treating the divine as a literary device and the latter viewing it as an object of worship. This distinction highlights the different goals and methods of these two fields, and underscores the complexity of their relationship when dealing with the same texts.

-These are some Responses which ChatGPT gave me.

Thank you so much for reading this blog.

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War Poetry and comparison with Bollywood movies.

Hello Reader!

This blog is in response to a thinking activity given by Megha  ma'am. In this Blog I am going to write about my understanding of "War Poetry".

About War Poetry:

War poetry is, simply put, poetry that deals with the subject of war. Often composed during a particular conflict, these poems are usually written by soldiers. However, nurses and doctors in military hospitals, and even war correspondents have written war poetry. In general, the authors are all people who have seen what really happens on the battlefield with their own eyes. Although people have been writing verses about war for thousands of years, war poetry differs considerably from previous eras’ poems about conflicts. The poems written by soldiers from World War I and later conflicts were not epics; these verses did not praise heroes or epic battles. Rather, they often questioned the purpose of war, why people fight, and overall an unflinchingly realistic portrayal of the nature of battle. War poetry is exclusively realistic, showing warfare in an unglamorous and unromantic light.

Although the term ‘war poetry’ comes to be used principally after the First World War, which saw an increase in poetry written about combat, the poetry of the First World War was actually part of a longer tradition of poetry about war, a tradition that it reacted against. In war poetry before the First World War, particularly British war poetry, it was rarer for the poet to be involved in combat, rather, these poems operated as comments upon these wars, and were used as ways of translating that experience to the public.

Comparing war poems to regional, Bollywood, Hollywood movies, web series, and patriotic songs is a challenging task as these are different forms of art with unique styles, themes, and audiences. However, there are some pieces of art that can be compared to war poems based on their shared themes, such as the horrors of war, bravery, and sacrifice.

One example of a Bollywood movie that can be compared to war poems is "Lakshya." This film follows the journey of a young man who joins the Indian Army to serve his country and experiences the realities of war first-hand. The film showcases the bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers, the human cost of war, and the impact it has on the soldiers and their families.

In Hollywood, the film "Saving Private Ryan" is another good example. This film is set during World War II and follows a group of American soldiers who are tasked with finding and saving a soldier who is the only surviving son in his family. The film depicts the horrors of war and the sacrifices made by soldiers, and is a powerful tribute to the bravery and determination of those who served.

In terms of web series, "Band of Brothers" is a great example. This series is based on the experiences of Easy Company, a group of American soldiers who fought in Europe during World War II. The series highlights the camaraderie and sacrifices made by soldiers, and it is a moving tribute to the bravery and determination of those who served.

As for patriotic songs, "Maa Tujhe Salaam" is a good example. This song, which was composed by AR Rahman, is a tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers who serve their country. The song highlights the love and respect that the nation has for its soldiers, and it is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that are made to protect the nation.

In conclusion, while these pieces of art may not be war poems in the traditional sense, they are powerful tributes to the bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers who serve their countries. Through these films, songs, and series, we are able to gain a deeper understanding of the human cost of war and the impact it has on those who serve.

Comparison of Poem and Bollywood movie:-

We are studying some war poetry here are they,

1. Dulce Et Decorum Est by- Wilfred Owen

2. The Soldier by- Rupert Brooke

3. The Fear by- Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

4. The Hero by- Siegfried Sassoon

5. The Target by- Ivor Gurney

In this context I am going to compare Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est poem with the Bollywood movie "Gunjan Saxena". They both have the same themes.

"Dulce et Decorum Est" is a poem by the English poet Wilfred Owen. Like most of Owen's work, it was written between August 1917 and September 1918, while he was fighting in World War 1. Owen is known for his wrenching descriptions of suffering in war. In "Dulce et Decorum Est," he illustrates the brutal everyday struggle of a company of soldiers, focuses on the story of one soldier's agonizing death, and discusses the trauma that this event left behind. He uses a quotation from the Roman poet Horace to highlight the difference between the glorious image of war (spread by those not actually fighting in it) and war's horrifying reality.

-"Dulce et Decorum Est" Themes:

1. The Horror and Trauma of War:

2. The Enduring Myth that War is Glorious:

3. The Realities of War:

4. Horrors of War:

5. Lie of War's Glory:

(Dulce Et Decorum Est Animation)

-This are some themes of poem and in movie we can see all themes.

In this movie there are so many scenes of WAR and there are scenes of  SOLDIER and how their Family reacts when their children are at war field.

Story Beginning in Lucknow, 1984, the story begins with young Gunjan Saxena in a flight along with her older brother, Anshuman. Gunjan wants to look out of the airplane window, but Anshuman doesn't let her. A kind air hostess tends to the problem and takes Gunjan to the cockpit. Looking at the cockpit immediately sparks a desire in her mind to become a pilot as she feels enthusiastic about the plane's features.

A few years later, Gunjan is congratulated for her academic excellence with her proud parents, Anup and Kirti, planning to send her to high school. Gunjan, however, wants to drop out of high school to become a pilot. Anshuman feels that women should not be in the cockpit, but in kitchen making food for the family, but Anup strongly disagrees. A firm believer of gender equality, he allows Gunjan to experiment with her desire to become a pilot. Gunjan makes multiple attempts, but these are thwarted by concerns regarding her educational qualifications and high costs, causing her to return home dejected each time. While her parents differ in their outlook towards her dream, with Kirti hoping her daughter would soon be wary and Anup insistent on allowing his daughter to pursue her dreams relentlessly, an advertisement in a newspaper for acceptance into the Indian Air Force provides Gunjan just the right opportunity for making an effort to enter the air force. Anshuman, who is himself serving in the army, completely disapproves and tells Gunjan that the Air Force isn't a place for women. She, however, ignores him, and goes ahead with the formalities, later finding out on the day of the results that she is the only female who got accepted.

During her medical tests, Gunjan learns that she is one centimeter too short and seven kilograms too much for the Air Force requirements. She is devastated by this, but learns that she can take a retest in two weeks, and discusses it with Anup, who asks her not to give up, and together they come up with a workout regime to lose weight. Across the retest, she still falls short on the height criterion, but the officers conclude that the length of her hands and legs would compensate for it, and accept her into the force. However, while Anup and Kirti are unable to contain their pride, Anshuman still remains in denial of his sister's dedication, but Gunjan decides to ignore his reservations and commences training. During her training, she finds herself subjected to several harsh realities and inconveniences due to the male-dominated order of the air force, and contemplates leaving the camp, when a crisis situation causes her to reconsider when, in 1999, the Kargil war begins, and all Air Force pilots are needed.

Gunjan is determined to take part in the war, and despite Anshuman meeting her and dissuading her from participation, disregards his reservations yet again. She finds herself badly needed in a mission and proceeds with it, but is then ordered to abort because the mission is too difficult for her. She reluctantly resigns to the camp. Suddenly, news of army soldiers being heavily wounded in the battle arrives, and it is up to her to save them.

Gunjan and another pilot take separate helicopters and go over to aid the injured soldiers. Back at the camp, army soldiers ask her to abort the mission but regardless of their opinion, she proceeds. Suddenly, as the other helicopter gets shot down from an RPG attack, Gunjan rescues the other pilot and the wounded soldiers and successfully completes a risky maneuver, despite being exposed to bullets herself. After the mission and the war, she is rewarded for her courage and bravery, with Anup feeling proud of her.

so, here I put my understanding about war poetry and I am trying to compare Bollywood movies. I hope you enjoy reading this blog. Thank you so much for reading this blog.

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I.A.R - Practical Criticism - Figurative Language:-

This blog is in response to a thinking activity given by our professor Dilip Barad sir https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2014/12/ia-richards-figurative-language.html This is a link of sir's blog here you can read more about this thinking activity.

1) Study reading material on Figurative Language in the first post and then,

2) Study the poem which matches your roll number. You shall problematize the poem by doing verbal close reading and then justify it with the help of arguments given by IA Richards in this essay.

-Base on these things we have to interpret this in a different way, or we have to question things which are imagined by the poet in this poem. My Roll Number is 5 so,5th poem. Here is a blog link of only poem:

https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2015/09/just-poems.html.

I.A Richards bring revolution in the theory of practical Criticism. He thinks in different manner. He was best known for his series of experiment in his university. In this experiment he gives a poem to his students without telling them about the poet and all the background history. His main theme behind this is to make students aware about the concept of poem not poet. He wants that students should focus upon the material and understand in much better way without any prior knowledge.

Let's start with poem:

5. A MYSTERIOUS MARRIAGE:

Once upon a time

A boy and girl were

Forced to leave their home

By armed robbers.

The boy was Independence

The girl was Freedom.

While fighting back, they got married.

After the big war they went back home.

Everybody prepared for the wedding.

Drinks and food abounded,

Even the disabled felt able.

The whole village gathered waiting,

Freedom and Independence

We're more popular than Jesus.

Independence came

But Freedom was not there.

An old woman saw Freedom’s shadow passing

Through the crowd, leaving by the gate.

All the same, they celebrated Independence.

Independence is now a senior bachelor.

Some people still talk about him,

Others take no notice.

A lot still say it was a fake marriage.

You can’t be a husband without a wife.

Fruitless and barren, Independence staggers to old age.

Leaving her shadow behind,

Freedom has never returned.

*When I put this poem as a prompt in AI- Chat Gpt it gave me this result:-

-This poem suggests that freedom is necessary for a successful and fulfilling life. Without it, one may find themselves in a lonely, incomplete state, like Independence. It is also a reminder to cherish freedom and not take it for granted. The poem implies that the bond between Independence and Freedom was strong, yet Freedom had to leave to find her own way. The poem serves to remind us of the importance of freedom in our lives and how it can shape our lives and relationships.

My Questioned about this poem:

First thing is that the title is also problematic, like how poets use Marriage as a metaphor. This poem can be interpreted in a political way also.. In this poem Relation between Independence and freedom. In this poem there are so many words like Fake marriages, armed robber, war, Jesus, disabled, fruitless, barren, etc. these words are very important to interpret in different ways.

What is Difference between Independence and freedom?:-

-independence is the ability to be free, freedom is to do whatever you want to do in the borders of what your abilities and independence gives you.

if you learn how to make money you’re independent, choosing what to buy is freedom.

some independence is given to you, like your rights in the law by the government, if you’re living in a good country; and some independence you must make it in your own, like getting a job and making money; some independence is taken away from you and you can’t make it, like the situations of sex slaves in ISIS, they don’t have the ability to be independent, therefore can’t be free.

independence can be given, but freedom is your choice.

depending on your independence level you will get a range of choices to make, freedom is to choose from these choices.

In some sense, freedom is dependent on independence, and independence's reason to exist is to give a wider range of choices to be free.

freedom is not a right, even if governments were built to give freedom, but still in the real world you’re not rightful to be free, but what life gives you is a chance to be independent, and then use your abilities to be free.

freedom is to HAVE choices open for you to choose from,

independence is to MAKE more choices available for you.

independent but not free: like a rich guy who has a very high range of choices, but not free from inside.

free but not independent: I honestly can’t think of an example, and I think there’s none, You can change my mind of course.

*What is the main difference between Freedom and Independence?

-Independent is defined as:

Not influenced or controlled by others...thinking for oneself

Possessing a competency, Self-confident ,Not depending on others for its value ,Synonyms for Independent include:

Non-parasitic, Strong-minded, Autonomous, Free-living.

-Freedom is defined as:

Personal liberty, Absence or release from obligations, Ease of movement, Power to exercise choice without internal constraints

Synonyms for Freedom include:

Liberated, Loose, Disengaged, Self-governing.

I have a best example for this, like, when we are going to watch a movie we have to stand for our National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana”. So here, you can see what is the difference between Freedom and Independence. In this poem in the end we can see this independence is husband without wife, and   

-What are the Impales to write this poem?

Poet of this poem is Freedom Nyamubaya was a rural development, gender and peace activist, farmer, dancer and writer who was born in Uzumba. Cutting short her secondary school education in 1975, she left to join the Zimbabwe National Liberation Army in Mozambique, where she achieved the rank of Female Field Operation Commander, later being elected Secretary for Education in the first ZANU Women’s League conference in 1979.

After Independence, she founded MOTSRUD, an NGO that provides agro-services to rural farmers, and she has worked on attachment with the United Nations in Mozambique. A founding member of the Zimbabwe Peace and Security Trust, she has spent much of the last five years promoting peace throughout Zimbabwe.

Freedom’s home was a game farm in Mangura where she sought to work with villagers in the area promoting agricultural and development activities, and defend her own game against poachers and predators.

Her first volume of poetry, On the Road Again (Zimbabwe Publishing House, Harare, 1985) was followed by Dusk of Dawn (College Press, Harare, 1995), both being attempts to grapple with a brutal world using powerful images and disconcerting rhythms. Her story ‘That Special Place’ was published in Writing Still Freedom had one son, Naishe.

In context of this you can imagine what is the situation when she writes this poem, she is a black so she has to bear some of the consequences of that time and the situation of war is also there.

Meaning of freedom in one way we can take this also. Independence and Freedom is used as a personification.

Thank you so much for reading this blog.

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