Discussion of Imtiaz Dharkers 'Blessing'.
Blessing Imtiaz Dharker's poem can be interpreted in two ways. One, simplistic reading might suggest that the poem is simply a description of an event when a pipe bursts and people run excitedly for the water. A deeper reading, however, would see the poem as being less happy and almost disturbing in places due to not just its theme but also its setting and characters. Under the apparent good fortune and excitement of the scene are ideas about the poverty of the people in the poet's native country. Either way the attitude to water in the poem should make people in western civilisation wonder at how much they all take for granted, and how too often the earth's resources are wasted. Dharker paints for the reader a vivid scene using strong imagery. For instance, after opening with a powerful visual image, the poet goes on to make us hear the smallest noise 'echo/ in a tin mug', before increasing the sound level with the 'roar of tongues' as people descend on the pipe. It is at this time the reader realises the irony in the title 'Blessing'. The people are not really blessed - they have little water of their own. Only superstition could lead them to count this 'municipal pipe' burst as a blessing. In reality it shows the poor state of the pipes that should be carrying water to the people. The fact that the people live in 'huts', that the children are 'naked' and that
Comparing language: Blessing and Night of the Scorpion
Language used to show different people in different cultures 'Night of the Scorpion is set in a Mud hut, located in a village against a rainy night. The speaker is the poet which explores the Hindu tradition of reincarnation. The speaker appears to have a disbelieving attitude towards the culture explored and doesn't believe in reincarnation. One recurring theme in Night of the Scorpion is the strength of the memories of the event as the speaker is able to recall the night the scorpion bit his mother perfectly which emphasizes his love for his mother. 'Blessing' is set in Dharavi, Mumbai against a background of a dry drought against a background of dehydration. The speaker is an omniscient narrator and tells of a municipal water pipe bursting to the release of fresh drinking water. The speaker has a celebratory attitude towards the events and cultures explored. One recurring theme in Blessing is the struggling nature of the villagers who have little water all year round before being finally blessed. Throughout blessing, various techniques are used to give a sense of a celebratory attitude. For example the title itself - 'blessing'. The title itself is an extended metaphor for water which clearly emphasizes the importance of water and also the preciousness. Blessing can also be associated with the religious imagery used in the poem: 'kindly God'. This puts forward the idea
Comparing cultures: Nothing's Changed and Blessing
'Nothing's Changed' is set in district 6, Capetown in South Africa against a background of the end of the Apartheid regime. The speaker is Tatamkhulu Africa and the poem tells of his return to district 6. The speaker appears to have an angry attitude towards the culture it explored. Blessing is set in Dharavi, Mumbai against a background of a very hot environment, where millions of people live. The speaker is an omniscient narrator and tells of a water pipe which has just burst and happiness is spreading as they collect water. The speaker appears to have a celebratory attitude towards the issues explored. In 'Blessing', the poet uses language to show that the place has harsh conditions. The poem begins 'The skins cracks like a pod. There is never enough water' This simile gives the reader the impression that the place is dry and extremely humid because the skin will only 'crack' in extremely hot conditions. Further the fact that there is never 'enough' water shoes use how precious and rare water is to the village as there's never enough. In contrast, in 'Nothing's Changed', language is used to show the area is violent and inhabitable. District Six is described as an area where there's 'guards at the gatepost'. This description gives the reader an impression that the place is inhabitable as there's guards at the gateposts. This idea allows us to imagine the guards are