Oenone is a melancholic heroine

“Oenone” is a very melancholic and sad poem. Oenone is the central character or heroine, and she is also a melancholic person. She suffers devastation because she was abandoned by Paris. Paris left her and decided to go after Helen, the most beautiful woman. As a result, Oenone became very depressed, and she complained to her mother; this poem is like a lament. Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote this poem before 1833, and it was one of his earliest poems where he dealt with a Greek mythological character. Later, he also wrote “The Lotos-Eaters,” “Ulysses,” and “Tithonus,” all of which are based on Greek mythology.

In the poem “Oenone,” we find that Oenone is complaining to her mother about her suffering in life. She is a very sad character, and she narrates the entire story. The god Ares gave an apple to Paris, stating that he would be the judge. Three goddesses desired the apple, and it was up to Paris to decide who would receive it. Hera, the wife of Zeus, promised that if Paris gave her the apple, she would grant him power, making him ruler of the world. Aphrodite promised that she would give Paris the most beautiful woman in the world. Pallas was the third goddess who promised to give Paris knowledge and wisdom. However, Oenone wanted Paris to accept the offer of the goddess Pallas because knowledge and wisdom can make life beautiful. However, Paris was not interested, and he chose Aphrodite’s offer, which ultimately led to Oenone's suffering and destruction.

Tennyson used Greek mythology in a modern way and made “Oenone” a deeply melancholic poem. He portrayed Oenone as a sad woman who suffered injustice, and the poet wanted to draw the reader's attention to the sufferings of this beautiful character.

Life was not fair to Oenone, as she loved Paris deeply and was always faithful to him. In contrast, Paris was neither a good man nor a devoted lover. He easily abandoned Oenone for the promise of getting a beautiful wife. This betrayal was even more painful for Oenone because she was pregnant with Paris’ child, and he left her at the time she would give birth to their baby.

“Oenone” is a sad and painful poem that also conveys moral lessons. It portrays the injustice men have done to women throughout generations. What Aphrodite offered Paris was not love but a destructive temptation. 

Bangladeshi villages during winter season

Winter comes every year. The two months of Poush and Magh make up the winter season. Winter mornings remain covered with fog. Light begins to appear slowly on the eastern horizon. The morning dew falls drop by drop. Dewdrops sparkle on the grass. In the morning light, the tempting, sweet aroma of boiling date palm sap drifts from afar. On the village roads, farmers take their oxen toward the fields to prepare the land for sowing saplings. Meanwhile, in the mustard fields, the buzzing of bees starts.

In villages, the main attraction of the winter season is date palm sap. In the afternoon, sap collectors climb the date palm trees, cut a small portion of the bark, and tie an earthen pot with a rope beneath it. All night, the sap drips drop by drop and collects in the pot. People bring down the pots from the trees in the morning and collect the date palm juice. In villages, various types of traditional cakes, puddings, and sweets are made with date palm juice and newly harvested rice. Everyone, both young and old, enjoys eating these delicacies.

In the winter season, when evening arrives in villages, everyone lights a fire in the courtyard to warm themselves up. The adults often go to the local shops to have tea and chat about various topics. During winter, various types of fresh vegetables—bottle gourds, beans, radish, cabbage, yardlong beans, and different types of leafy greens—are found in villages. In winter, villages truly reveal many beautiful forms. 

Winter morning in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country of six seasons. Each season is radiant with its own distinct characteristics. Among them, the winter season appears before us with a completely different atmosphere. Winter comes like a biting old woman, draped in the freezing cold winds from the north and a blanket of fog. For people, the main attraction of winter days is the winter morning. At this time, nature is surrounded by dense fog. The light of the new sun cannot penetrate the dense white curtain of fog and spread its radiance on the earth. In the cold wind, nature and the animal world start to tremble. That is why the poet Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore said,

“The winter breeze made the amalki dance on its branches.

The leaves rustled and fell rhythmically.”

The months of Poush and Magh make up the winter season. During this time, the dance of fog begins with nature. The cold winds from the north blow, and trees lose their leaves. The intensity of the river’s stream slows down. When everything is covered with thick fog in the winter morning, nature appears extraordinarily beautiful. In the pale nature, a silent beauty is seen on winter mornings. This beauty is somewhat abstract. Nature becomes engrossed in a strange stillness on a winter morning. When a traveler walks through the veil of fog, breaking the silence, it feels as if his body is shivering in the biting cold of winter. The picturesque scene of dew drops accumulating on tin roofs, tree branches, and grass tips is seen only on winter mornings. The dew drops glitter like pearls on the bosom of nature wrapped in a thin white sheet. Nature becomes refreshed. Yellow mustard fields and flower gardens buzz with the sound of bees. When the sun peeks through the veil of fog, the dew-soaked nature sparkles in the soft light.

Winter morning in city: The winter morning in the city is spent in a slightly different manner. The cawing of crows, rather than the chirping of various birds, may awaken city dwellers on winter mornings. Many city dwellers spend winter mornings sleeping, reluctant to leave the warmth of their blankets. Even those who must wake up early tend to rise late on holidays. As a result, city dwellers cannot enjoy the winter morning like rural people do. In the city, the asphalt roads are covered with fog, and dew falls as well, but the touch of dew-soaked grass, as in the countryside, does not stir the hearts of travelers. In winter, even adults hesitate to wash their faces with icy cold water, and children run away fearing it. City dwellers do not have the mindset to watch the sunrise, sunset, or the fog of winter mornings. For those accustomed to a robotic life, such things are merely matters of emotion. Nevertheless, urban residents greet the winter morning adorned in vibrant winter clothes. Wrapped in comfortable garments like coats, jackets, sweaters, hats, shawls, and mufflers, they head out to their workplaces on winter mornings.

Winter morning in village: In the village, winter morning creates a unique scene. Various types of vegetables are produced during the winter season. Fresh date palm sap is found on winter mornings. The sweet aroma of bhapa pitha increases the appetite in the winter morning. The impoverished villagers often lack warm clothes during the winter. They tremble in cold at night, and before the sun peeks out, it feels like morning is just about to arrive. The call for prayer (Azan) is heard from the village mosque, and worshipers from far and wide come to the mosque to say prayer breaking through the deep darkness. After eating a full meal of panta bhat (water-soaked rice), the farmers go to the fields to work on a foggy winter morning. They also go to the local market for shopping. The children go to the village maktab (a traditional Islamic elementary school) for their studies. When walking past the mosque or maktab, you can see the students receiving religious education in their loud collective voices. Their voices reach our ears. If it feels a little bit colder, the group of boys gather around the straw fire, roast the beans in the fire in the morning, and warm themselves by the fire.

Rivers on winter morning: During winter season, in our country, there is not enough water in the rivers during winter. During that time, the river offers an abundance of fish to catch. That is why, early on winter mornings, fishermen go to the river to catch fish. Although the fishing boats are only a short distance away, they remain invisible in the dense veil of fog. However, boats on long journeys, such as launches and ferries, struggle to navigate smoothly through that thick fog. Then, the cold wind blowing over the river brings a shivering chill that shakes one to the bone.

Main attraction of winter morning: The main attraction of a winter morning is the variety of traditional cakes. During this season, abundant date palm juice is available in villages. Early morning, earthen pots are brought down from the date palm trees. It feels wonderful to drink this fresh juice on a winter morning. As soon as the morning arrives, there is a rush throughout the villages to enjoy date palm sap pudding. The village children gather in groups, basking in the sun while eating puffed rice, crispy sweets, and various traditional cakes and puddings. The main attractions of this season are Chitoi Pitha and Bhapa Pitha. In addition, varieties of cakes are made in each household. That is why poet Sufia Kamal once said,

“During the Poush festival, sitting down to eat pitha, they are filled with joy,

and their excitement grows even more upon receiving their mother’s scolding.”

Happiness and sorrows on winter morning: There is no greater comfort than lying cozily inside a quilt or blanket on a winter morning. Having breakfast with various types of traditional cakes, winter vegetables, and more on a winter morning creates a sense of happiness among people. On the other hand, for those who do not have winter clothes to wear and sleep beside the road in the chilling winter air, winter mornings are full of hardship.

Disadvantages of a winter morning: On a winter morning, when the bone-chilling cold sets in, the villagers suffer from lethargy and melancholy. People’s enthusiasm for work comes to a halt. They feel like lying comfortably wrapped in quilts. Poor people suffer due to a lack of warm clothes. In the poet’s words, a prayer arises in their hearts:

“O sun!

Give us warmth and light in our damp, soaked home.” 

Disadvantages of moving vehicles: On winter nights or mornings, the environment remains foggy. As a result, nothing can be seen clearly from a distance, and it often seems there is nothing ahead except a white curtain of fog. During this time, road accidents occur most frequently due to moving vehicles. Similarly, issues also arise with the movement of launches and steamers on the waterways. It is better to avoid traveling on roads or waterways in foggy conditions.

Conclusion: Who doesn't love the touch of golden sunlight, damp with dewdrops, on a winter morning? With a mix of comfort and inconvenience, winter mornings fill our hearts with a unique sense of joy for two months each year. In the poet’s words, “a drop of dew on a single stalk of rice” illuminates the beauty of a winter morning.