Supernatural elements in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is considered the best poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and various factors have contributed to making it such a memorable poem. Students studying English literature read this poem in almost every university in the world. The poet’s use of supernatural elements is one of the features that has made this poem so unforgettable.

Normally, we can see that poets frequently incorporate supernatural elements when writing epic poems. If we think about The Iliad or The Odyssey, we can easily recall the presence of gods and goddesses and other supernatural elements that play a significant role in these two epics. In poetry, supernatural elements are quite common, and almost every poet during the Romantic age used such elements.

William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge were close friends, and they decided to present nature in opposite ways. Wordsworth was supposed to write about natural things with a supernatural treatment. In other words, he would try to show simple things exceptionally. On the other hand, Coleridge was supposed to present supernatural elements with a natural treatment. In other words, he was supposed to present supernatural or abnormal things in a very normal and natural way. In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, we can find this concept very clearly.

Coleridge also used the idea of the willing suspension of disbelief very successfully. While reading this poem, we know that many things are impossible, but we forget this and try to stay with the poet, accepting them as reality. This willing suspension of disbelief is at its greatest in this poem by S.T. Coleridge.

If we want to think about the supernatural elements, we have to consider the beginning of the poem. The Ancient Mariner started talking to the wedding guest in such a way that he became engrossed as if he were hypnotized. He could not move from the spot and was almost forced to listen to the Mariner. Thus, the Mariner had a magnetic power to attract the wedding guests. The writer says:

“He holds him with his glittering eye -

The Wedding-Guest stood still,

And listens like a three years’ child:

The Mariner hath his will.”

The Albatross was not a simple bird. In our everyday life, we often kill animals and birds, but the Albatross that the Ancient Mariner killed was more than an ordinary bird. It was a supernatural element, and after killing it, he suffered greatly and was severely punished by God. It was a test for the Mariner, and he failed, but later he tried to atone for his sin.

Perhaps the scariest supernatural elements in this poem are the dead sailors who came back to life and started to walk and perform their everyday tasks. The Ancient Mariner was the only living person, and the other sailors became dead men who awoke. Even imagining it can make a person feel afraid. He says:

“They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose,

Nor spake, nor moved their eyes;

It had been strange, even in a dream,

To have seen those dead men rise.”

However, as I stated earlier, Coleridge presented the supernatural elements in such a way that they seemed normal to us as readers. When we consider that all the sailors were ghosts, yet they were moving like normal people, it feels strangely natural. Even the Mariner felt it was normal, and he was suffering so much that he could not even react or think much about the matter.

Towards the end, the water snakes are also somewhat supernatural because they are not ordinary or natural snakes. They were special, and it was a test for the Ancient Mariner. He had failed his earlier test with the Albatross, but this time he did not fail. Instead, he prayed for them, and this unselfish and loving act saved him in the end. He says:

“Beyond the shadow of the ship

I watched the water-snakes:

They moved in tracks of shining white,

And when they reared, the elfish light

Fell off in hoary flakes.”

Following the Mariner’s foolish killing of the albatross, Coleridge conjures up a spirit known as “the Polar Spirit,” which brings rain and storms upon the beleaguered ship. Whether it is a pagan or divine spirit, it governs the material world to punish the Ancient Mariner and awaken his sense of awe.

Death and Life-in-Death are two important supernatural elements in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The Ancient Mariner discovered these two figures on the deck of the ship when he got a closer look. Death was embodied as a naked man, whereas Life-in-Death had the beauty of a woman. The poet terrifyingly described these two supernatural figures. They were seen deciding the Mariner’s fate with a dice.

The solitary Spirit from the South Pole travels aboard the ship until it reaches the Line, in compliance with the angelic troop, but still requires vengeance. The fellow demons of the Polar Spirit participated in his wrongdoing, and two of them converse with each other, stating that a lengthy and arduous penance has been granted to the Ancient Mariner by the Polar Spirit, who has returned.

Additionally, the Ancient Mariner heard the message of God from angels. The Almighty God, being the most powerful, granted forgiveness to the Mariner. Here, we can see that God is gracious to those who want to be good and punishes those who act wrongly. So, Coleridge tried to present this image of God by stating that even if we make mistakes, if we try to return to a righteous life and seek God’s forgiveness for our wrongdoings, God will always extend His mercy toward us.

In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Coleridge portrays the supernatural elements primarily in a favorable light. It seems that he wanted to convey the idea that people are the ones who cause problems for themselves, not the supernatural elements. Human beings should try to follow the right path and show love toward nature and its elements. They should also show kindness and mercy toward all of God’s creatures. 

Religion in Silas Marner

Silas Marner is one of George Eliot’s finest novels, first published in 1861. Religion is mentioned here, and it is considered one of the most important themes. Moreover, in this novel, George Eliot presents her thoughts about religion, and for this reason, this novel holds great importance. If we judge this novel from a religious perspective, the thing we need to understand is that though Christianity is mentioned here, it refers to a specific sect of Christianity.

Silas Marner was a Calvinist Christian. He was a member of a small local church, and here, we can see for the first time that Silas Marner was convicted by his own religious brethren, even though there was no strong evidence against him. As a result, Silas Marner became very disheartened and left his village, moving far away to a place that had no relation or connection to his homeland.

In this novel, we can see the themes of sin, punishment, and redemption repeatedly. We cannot say that Silas Marner was exactly a sinner in that sense, and we will discuss his character in more detail shortly. However, other characters—especially Dunstan Cass, who was greedy and would like to drink alcohol—were punished for their sins. He stole Silas Marner’s gold coins and died later. On the other hand, Molly Farren, who was a drug addict and not a very good person, also died. That is, they were punished for their sins.

If we look at Silas Marner, we have to say that he did not commit any sin in that sense. Rather, he was guilty only of original sin—that is, the sin committed by Adam and Eve, which resulted in the original sin carried by all humans at birth. Silas Marner was punished without any real evidence, and the punishment was extremely severe. Before his eyes, his beloved and fiancée abandoned him and married his friend—the very friend who had framed Silas Marner with a false accusation. That is why it was deeply heartbreaking for him, and, unable to bear it, he left his homeland and went far away.

According to Calvinistic Christians, life is a journey. Life on this earth is full of suffering, and God will test us regularly with various sufferings and hardships. We must endure these trials patiently and stay on the path of God. Only then will our lives become meaningful and beautiful. We can see this doctrine reflected in the character of Silas Marner in George Eliot’s novel. Silas Marner strives to remain on the path of honesty and truth, but he is defeated again and again—but even then, he does not abandon the path of God.

Towards the end of the novel, we see that Eppie and Aaron are building a garden after their marriage. This garden is much like heaven because, according to Christian belief, heaven is often described as a garden. So, although Silas Marner suffered many hardships in his life, his daughter Eppie and son-in-law Aaron enjoyed the rewards. Both Eppie and Aaron were good people, which is why they received this blessing.

It is not that George Eliot was a complete devotee of Christianity. In this novel, a conflict emerges between destiny and free will. The suffering that Silas Marner endures seems very much like his destiny as if it was written in his fate—that he was meant to suffer and be punished. However, Silas Marner used his free will every time and consistently tried to stay on the path of honesty. He never deviated from the path of righteousness. For this reason, in the conflict between destiny and free will presented in the novel, it seems that George Eliot took the side of free will.

The kind of God we see in the novel Silas Marner is kind and just. Here, truth triumphs, and falsehood is defeated. Silas Marner followed the path of honesty, and he turned out to be the most fortunate and victorious. On the other hand, the other characters were not as virtuous as Silas Marner, and they did not become as happy. Therefore, we can say that the victory of Christianity is portrayed here.

Sometimes it seems that George Eliot has praised Christianity in a very simple way in this novel. On the other hand, it also seems that the story of this novel is very complex, and here, humanity is celebrated more than religion. Silas Marner is expelled, but he wins in life by virtue of his humanity. Another explanation could be that those who are truly religious, like Silas Marner—whether they go to church or not, whether they perform religious duties or not—try to remain honest, and God loves them. In other words, George Eliot may have meant that God loves those who give more importance to human qualities such as kindness, honesty, and love than to observing religious rituals or rites.

Sin, punishment and redemption in Silas Marner

Silas Marner is one of the best novels by George Eliot, and we can see the life of a weaver named Silas Marner in this novel. The protagonist has endured significant hardships in life and has had to confront numerous challenges. He could not marry the girl he loved, and due to a false accusation of theft, he had to leave his area and move to another place. In this way, we can see the sorrows, pains, and also the joys of Silas Marner’s life from the beginning to the end of the novel. One of the central themes of this novel is sin, punishment, and redemption.

If we look at the character of Silas Marner, we can see that he does not have any significant fault. We do not know that he has committed many sins. Rather, what we see is that a great injustice has been done to him. A false accusation of theft was brought against him, and he was falsely convicted as guilty. No concrete evidence of theft was found against him, but still, he had to be punished—and it can be said that he was punished severely. As a result of this punishment, he had to leave his community on the one hand, and on the other hand, his fiancée refused to marry him and chose to marry his close friend instead. As a result of all this, Silas Marner suffered a severe blow in life, and it does not seem that he was ever able to overcome this trauma throughout his life.

If we were to find fault in Silas Marner, we might say that he had only one fault, and that was that he was a bit miserly by nature. Being a little bit miserly is not such a bad thing, but anything in excess is harmful. He used to work hard but saved money like a miser. As a result, a kind of abnormality developed in him, and when he lost his gold coins—or when they were stolen—he became even more depressed. What happened as a consequence of his miserliness was that Silas Marner got hurt, and he did not try to make his own family. He could have gotten married and started a family, but his mind never returned to that path.

Another important character in this novel is Godfrey Cass. He was a man from an aristocratic family, and he secretly married a woman who was not in a socially privileged position, keeping the marriage a secret. They had a child together, and his first wife, Molly Farren, was a drug addict and of a low caste. On the other hand, Godfrey Cass kept this a secret and planned to marry Nancy Lammeter, who was a woman from a noble family. When his first wife, Molly Farren, thought about revealing their relationship, she died, and by a twist of fate, Eppie appeared at the doorstep of Silas Marner. Though Godfrey Cass arrived at the scene, he did not admit that Eppie was his daughter or that Molly Farren was his first wife. As a result of this refusal to acknowledge them, Eppie started growing up with Silas Marner. Godfrey’s biggest wrongdoing was that although his wife was a drug addict, he did not try to raise his own child. Out of fear of society, he kept the matter hidden, and although he later tried to get Eppie back, he never succeeded.

The worst character in this novel is perhaps Dunstan Cass, who was the younger brother of Godfrey Cass. Dunstan Cass committed numerous sins. First, he knew that Godfrey Cass had secretly married Molly Farren and even had a child with her. Therefore, he always threatened Godfrey Cass that he would reveal the secret. His second crime was that he stole the gold coins that Silas Marner had saved through hard work. Dunstan Cass died while fleeing, and the real story was revealed many years later.

If we look at redemption, we will see that Silas Marner suffered the most, but he is the happiest person in life. The main reason for his redemption is that despite all the suffering in his life, he did not become a bad person. When Eppie appeared at his doorstep, he raised her with all his heart and soul. We all more or less understand that raising a child alone as a man is almost impossible. Though he was not Eppie’s biological father, he tried to raise her with the utmost care. As a result, he survived and became happy.

Later, Godfrey Cass tried to redeem himself, but he did not get Eppie back. What we can understand from this is that God might have forgiven Godfrey Cass’ sins—but not entirely. As a result, his greatest punishment was witnessing his daughter call another man her father—and not just call him that, but truly believe he was her father. His own daughter did not recognize him as her father, and that became his lifelong punishment. Godfrey Cass may have gained many things in life, but he never had a child of his own.

Dunstan Cass did not receive redemption because he was completely evil. He had no intention or desire to become a better person, and that is why he did not receive redemption. As a result, he suffered in life. From this, we understand that if we become completely evil, we will not receive any redemption from God.

Relationship between Silas Marner and Eppie

Silas Marner is one of the best novels of George Eliot. The central character of this novel is Silas Marner, and various events of his life are portrayed here. This novel demands the readers’ attention for multiple reasons, and it has become one of the classics in English literature. However, the aspect that attracts readers the most is the beautiful relationship between Silas Marner and his adopted daughter, Eppie. Silas Marner found Eppie by chance, and it can be said that she appeared in his life suddenly. After that, he raised her with care and love.

Eppie’s biological father is Godfrey Cass, who belongs to an aristocratic family. He secretly married Molly Farren, a woman from the lower class of society and also a drug addict. A child was born from this secret marriage, and that child was Eppie. After Eppie’s mother died, it can be said that Eppie appeared at Silas’ doorstep. So, Silas named her Eppie. In this way, Silas found her.

Silas Marner was a benevolent father, and he made an impossible task possible. Very few men can raise a child because we know that the task of raising children is primarily considered to be the responsibility of mothers. The same applies to all animals, meaning mothers raise the children. On the other hand, Silas Marner did not have a wife, and he had to struggle a lot to raise Eppie. He took care of Eppie from her childhood, and we can understand very well that he never avoided his duties. With endless patience, he raised and nurtured Eppie, and later, Eppie grew into a fine young woman who was admired by everyone. Seeing that Eppie had grown into a fine young woman, Godfrey Cass became restless to take her back into his life. At the same time, when Godfrey Cass’ second wife, Nancy Cass, saw that Eppie was a good girl, she did not object to taking her. The full credit for Eppie becoming such a good young lady goes to Silas Marner. It must be said that Silas Marner truly made the impossible task of raising a child alone possible. Eppie is a good girl. Even though she does not have a mother, she has still grown up to be a good young lady. At the same time, she loves her father with all her heart. Later, when she comes to know that Silas Marner is not her biological father and that her real father is Godfrey Cass, who is rich and wants to take her back into his life, she still does not abandon Silas Marner. Yet, if she had abandoned Silas Marner at that time, no one would have blamed her because she had found her biological father, and going to one’s real father is not blameworthy. Moreover, if she had gone to Godfrey Cass, she would have received many privileges. Instead, she chose to live a simple life. Another admirable quality of Eppie is that she was determined to marry Aaron Winthrop and did so at the end of the novel. Although Aaron Winthrop came from an ordinary family, Eppie did not show any disregard for this.

Throughout the novel, we can see that Silas Marner and Eppie have a very close relationship, and such a beautiful bond is rarely seen between a father and daughter. Both of them benefited from this relationship. Silas Marner had lost everything in his life, but in this one area, he found victory. By raising Eppie, he was able to overcome his loneliness and become a happier person. On the other hand, Eppie was an unfortunate child whose mother was a drug addict and whose father abandoned her right after her birth. So, even though Eppie was unfortunate, she still found shelter, happiness, and love in life. She was not to blame for her birth. Her mother suffered the consequences of her addiction, and her real father, Godfrey Cass, was also punished for neglecting her. However, despite such an unfortunate background, Eppie chose the right path and lived her life as an obedient daughter to Silas Marner. That is why she is truly happy.

What we see from the father-daughter relationship between Silas Marner and Eppie is that if people are truly genuine and honest at heart, they are never alone. They can form relationships with others, and those relationships can become even stronger and more beautiful than real-life biological family bonds. So, although there was no biological connection between Eppie and Silas Marner, their relationship as father and daughter was stronger and more genuine than many biological father-daughter relationships, and it brought happiness to both of them.

Industrial Revolution in Silas Marner

Silas Marner is one of the best novels written by George Eliot. In this novel, we can see that Silas Marner is an ordinary weaver. He used to live in a village. He experiences various events in his life. In all these events, he sometimes suffers in life and sometimes becomes happy. The novel primarily portrays all these aspects of his life. Here, we can see the social situation of the early nineteenth century. 

Silas Marner used to live in a small town in Northern England, which was probably not very much different from a village. A false accusation of theft was brought against him, and as a result, he was forced to leave the area. Then, through various ups and downs, he found an orphaned child whom he raised as his own, and his life became beautiful again around that little girl.

This novel was written at a time when the Industrial Revolution was just beginning in England. As a result, several significant changes took place in society and the economy of England. When we talk about the Industrial Revolution, we often think about economics, trade, and politics, but George Eliot focused more on the lives of ordinary people. As a result of the Industrial Revolution, what happened at that time was that many people were migrating from villages to cities in droves in the hope of getting a job. They used to work in agriculture before, and they did not earn much from it. Sometimes, crops would be damaged by natural disasters, and they would face losses. Sometimes, the price of crops would be very low. Because of all these reasons, what happened was that when the Industrial Revolution came, they started crowding into urban areas, leaving agricultural work. As a result, new small towns started to develop in England. So, that was a very unstable time. On one hand, rural English life was coming to an end, and on the other hand, urban England was flourishing. This was the situation at that time.

As a result of the Industrial Revolution, many people started dreaming of getting rich quickly. It seemed that moving to the city would bring wealth. Just like in our time, we often hear that money ‘flies in the sky’ in Dhaka, and if you come to Dhaka, you just have to catch it. Many people in rural Bangladesh hear and believe such things. They come to Dhaka with big dreams but end up pulling rickshaws or living in slums. We often hear these stories from others or from relatives in the village. We can see this kind of problem in both Dunstan Cass and Godfrey Cass in different ways. Dunstan Cass runs away with Silas Marner’s gold in the hope of making money.

On the other hand, Godfrey Cass secretly marries a girl who belongs to a poor family. He keeps his marriage a secret, and they have a child named Eppie. The unrest between them symbolizes the Industrial Revolution in one way. During the time of the industrial revolution, many people wanted to become rich in just this way. They wanted to become wealthy and make money at any cost—through trickery, manipulation, or cunning. As a result, many people were harmed. For example, Silas Marner’s gold was stolen, and Godfrey Cass’ first and secret wife, Molly Farren, eventually died, leaving Eppie to grow up as an orphan. In this way, a kind of unrest was going on at that time, which is reflected in this novel.

As a result of the Industrial Revolution, people used to live in overcrowded conditions in those newly developed towns. In many cases, these towns did not have many facilities. They were somewhat similar to the slums we see in present-day Bangladesh. Towards the end of the novel, Silas Marner and his daughter possibly form an idea about city life based on these observations.

One negative side of the Industrial Revolution was that people began to value money more, and moral values declined. That is why we see that Silas Marner’s friend brought a false accusation of theft against him. As a result, Silas Marner was forced to leave his community. His best friend even married his fiancée. In this way, Silas Marner lost everything. Unfortunately, in this way, there was indeed a decline in morality, and it seemed that England was undergoing social deterioration. However, this kind of social degradation can happen in any situation, and it is neither impossible nor unrealistic.

It may be difficult to fully understand how much George Eliot was influenced by the Industrial Revolution when writing Silas Marner, but it seems that she was probably not very much in favor of it. 

William Wordsworth’s relationship with nature

William Wordsworth is regarded as one of the top three poets in English literature, along with William Shakespeare and John Milton. He is the pioneer and founder of the Romantic Movement in English literature. Few poets have devoted their lives so entirely to the promotion of poetry. Wordsworth is particularly renowned for emphasizing the significance of nature in his works. To him, nature did not merely represent the natural world but much more than that.

Wordsworth’s poetry is significant because it presents a constant portrayal of nature. Nature is not just a part of life but has its own existence and life. Nature is not just trees, water, and picturesque landscapes, but also has a spirit and an existence of its own, apart from human beings. Wordsworth believes that people should not forget this aspect of nature and should communicate with it by considering it as their own counterpart.

We all know that nature can inspire poet to write poetry. However, Wordsworth believes that nature can have a highly active influence on a poet’s life rather than having a passive one. According to him, it can help to create powerful emotions in the mind of a poet and when the poet think of it can create powerful poetry. Wordsworth believes that it has happened to him that after experiencing a beautiful event or scene in nature, he returned home, recollected the emotion in tranquility and composed very good poems. In fact, Wordsworth thinks that nature can play a very active role throughout the entire poetic process.

Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” is an excellent poem that mainly deals with memory and nature. This poem is a reflection of the change of emotion in the poet. Five years ago, he visited the place, and he visited there again. He notices a significant change between these two visits. When he first visited, he experienced and made some wonderful memories in his youth. He did not think much about the relationship between humans and nature; rather, he just experienced and enjoyed the beauty of nature in that place. However, after five years, he comes to understand that there is a certain kind of bond and emotion attached to the place in his mind. He is also aware that during his current visit, he will discover new aspects upon seeing the place again. He has described things in a very simple yet beautiful manner and believes that people should foster a relationship with nature.

Wordsworth’s poem “It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free” is a remarkable piece of poetry. In fact, it is a sonnet and perhaps the best sonnet written by him. It is an emotional poem in which he reflects on nature in a very calm and peaceful manner. It was a beautiful evening, and the place was very quiet and peaceful, like a nun. The poet realizes that the beauty of the place evokes a sense of heavenly bliss in his mind, and he perceives nature as divine. In this poem, the poet finds a relationship between nature and God, and he believes that nature is an essential component of God.

Wordsworth brought a new trend to poetry and had a significant influence on the Romantic poets who followed. While some of them appreciated his ideas, others did not. Byron, Shelley, and Keats were among the other Romantic poets who contributed their own styles. Coleridge, a close friend of Wordsworth, also differed with him regarding the role of nature in both human life and poetry. However, it is undeniable that William Wordsworth was a pioneer in emphasizing the role of nature in both human life and poetic expression.

How creatively did we spend our time during power outages in childhood?

I was born in Bangladesh in the late 1980s. However, when I was old enough to understand my surroundings, I became aware of several issues. Frequent power outages were one of them. They occurred so often and lasted so long that people would sometimes find themselves without electricity for half the day. When the power finally returned after an hour or two, people would sarcastically say that the electricity had not gone— it had just decided to take a little vacation.

Back in those days, we did not have IPS systems or rechargeable lights. Therefore, to cope with the darkness at night, we had to rely on kerosene lamps and candles of various shapes and sizes. I have heard numerous stories of people who studied by the flickering light of a lamp or candle and later went on to secure top government jobs.

However, we often spent our time during power outages in more creative ways. Family members, especially the younger ones, would split into two teams and hold singing competitions either on the balcony or up on the rooftop. When one group finished a song, the other would start with a new tune, beginning with the last letter of the previous song’s final word. Meanwhile, the male members would go outside to socialize with friends, chatting about everything from global politics to the prices of daily essentials.

I can still clearly recall how we would place our hands next to a candle or lamp to create different shapes—dogs, rabbits, turtles, birds, and many more—projecting their shadowy dances onto the wall whenever my mother lit a candle during load-shedding at night. This form of art is referred to as “hand shadow puppetry.”

You know, back in those days, most of us—especially the younger crowd—would pour melted candle wax on our hands and then attempt to put out the flame with our thumb and index finger. We genuinely believed we were doing the most courageous thing imaginable. Now, looking back on those moments, I cannot help but giggle at how wild we were.

When the power came back, my siblings and I would compete to see who could blow out the candle first. On moonlit nights, we would gather on the rooftop, share stories, reminisce about our carefree childhood, and burst into laughter over our silly past adventures.

Power outages at night in the village, especially during the winter season, gave us experiences that no amount of money could buy. The entire village would be submerged in darkness, and it felt as if we were wrapped in a cozy blanket of silence. We could only hear the chirping of crickets and the flickering of fireflies dancing in the jungle. Sitting on the steps of the paved wharf, soaking in the serene atmosphere, was the kind of experience that money simply cannot buy.

The women in the family would gather in the courtyard to gossip while the young men perched on the railing of a pole built across the canal, chatting away until the power was restored. Even though I will never get those days back, but I can cherish the memories for the the rest of my life.

Birthday celebration by middle-class people in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, most people are quite conservative. Their religious faith or beliefs often influence the celebration of various festivals or events. Birthday celebrations have not been spared from this influence. There might be a debate about whether celebrating birthdays is permissible in religion. However, in this article, I will not speak from a religious perspective but rather from a social point of view. Like in the rest of the world, birthdays are celebrated in our country too. The extravagance of a birthday party depends on a family’s socioeconomic status. Since I come from a middle-class family, I will focus on how people in this social class typically celebrate birthdays.

Since most people in this social class can hardly make ends meet with their limited income, throwing a birthday party seems like a far-off dream. Yet, they are sometimes compelled to do it just to fulfill their children’s requests. To do so, they buy a cake as cheaply as possible, prepare some food items at home, and invite a few neighbors. They try to keep the celebration as simple as possible. Those who are financially solvent tend to arrange it in a more grandiloquent manner.

In rural areas of Bangladesh, well-off families often celebrate their children’s birthdays in a more religious manner. They frequently invite orphans from local madrasahs and organize Quran recitations and prayers as part of the festivities. They also hire a professional chef to prepare delicacies—polao, chicken roast, beef curry, and salad—for hundreds of people. To accommodate this grand feast, they typically set up a tent in the courtyard. The tradition of celebrating birthdays by cutting a cake is not very common. In most cases, the birthday program ends before sunset.

However, in urban areas, we see a completely different scenario. Here, middle-class families who are doing well financially often host birthday parties at home. They start the preparations a few days before the birthday. When the day finally arrives, preparations begin very early in the morning, with the female members and the family’s servant spending a busy time in the kitchen preparing food for the guests. This includes grinding spices, slicing onions, washing and rinsing rice, and many other tasks. To avoid these hassles, some people hire a chef to cook the food items. The variety of dishes usually depends on their financial ability, with around 5 to 6 items being the norm. Older siblings often take responsibility for buying the birthday cake and home decoration items. The cake is adorned with flowers or fun designs featuring the popular words “Happy Birthday to You,” along with the name of the birthday child. One of the rooms is decorated with cartoon-themed decorations and colorful balloons. They even buy funnel-shaped paper caps for the birthday baby and the other kids attending the event.

Though the main event starts in the evening, guests begin arriving early. The main event begins with the cutting of the cake. At that time, everyone gathers in a circle around the birthday child and sings the traditional birthday song, “Happy Birthday to You,” in chorus. The birthday kid blows out the candle while their parents, holding their little one’s hand, cut the cake. Then, they feed the child a small portion of the cake as part of a celebration. The most interesting thing is that kids and youngsters pop balloons after the celebration. Someone might even pop a party popper to commemorate the special occasion as a modern addition to birthday parties. Then, the cake is cut into pieces and given to each guest. After that, the main dish is served.

People with a bit more wealth often host their birthday parties at a restaurant or a community center. It costs them more money but takes the stress out of preparing everything at home. The restaurant arranges the food items depending on how many guests are expected to attend the party. The meal usually starts with some starters, like soup, wontons, and other light food items. Then comes the main course, which typically features fried rice, chicken fry, Chinese vegetables, and either beef or chicken curry. There is a designated area where decorations are made with various decorative items to make the place feel festive.

From my point of view, any event feels like a social gathering for middle-class people. On the contrary, for upper-class people, it is more of a chance to show off or a business meeting among partners or tycoons. 

It is hard to preserve independence with dignity than achieving it

Independence is achieved in exchange for the relentless struggle of countless people and the shedding of immense blood. Great awareness, diligence, and perseverance are required to protect the independence achieved after such sacrifice and hardship.

To stay outside the authority or rule of others is called independence. It is a valuable asset of national life. Achieving independence is considered the result of hard work and unlimited sacrifice. This independence is achieved through many sacrifices and the loss of many lives. It is because powerful rulers never give independence to a subjugated nation. We cannot see the true form of this hard-earned independence if we confine it to achievements only. We must uphold the honor of our independence, and keeping that honor is the most difficult and important task. The days that follow the arrival of independence, after a long struggle and immense self-sacrifice, are considered to be even more terrifying and critical. Therefore, we need more strength to protect the independence because there is no absence of enemies inside and outside an independent country. The struggle to protect a country’s independence from internal and external opposition is indeed a difficult one. The former enemies of an independent nation harm the country secretly. Defeating them is a very difficult task.

If this continues, frustration will arise in public life, enthusiasm for work will decrease, and the path to national progress will become full of obstacles. Then, the question of upholding the importance, significance, and true spirit of independence becomes a major concern. Therefore, to protect independence, all the people of the country have to work tirelessly in the fields, factories, and everywhere with endless efforts and responsibilities. We have to bring about financial prosperity to the country by developing the country in industry and commerce. We have to make our country self-sufficient in food production by developing agriculture. If the country’s economic backbone is strong and if the country is self-contained in food, then we can observe motivation and awareness among ordinary people. Then, there is no fear of the country’s independence being endangered. However, doing that work with people is not that easy.

In 1971, freedom fighters of our country achieved independence at the cost of three million lives. Can we defend this independence with proper respect? After achieving independence, immorality, the tendency of excess spending, anti-social activities, and terrorism in educational institutions are increasing in different sectors of Bangladesh. If this situation continues for a long time, will it really be possible to protect our independence? If we are not aware enough and strong from the economic and political perspectives, it will be very difficult to protect independence.

No one in this world wants to live without independence. As a result, every person has the desire to achieve independence, but we must not forget the importance of protecting it as well. We cannot truly protect the independence without the collective effort of all. 

The role of prophecy in The Aeneid

When the Trojans, under the leadership of Aeneas, set sail for Italy, Juno, feeling vengeful, commands Aeolus to raise a storm that will capsize their ships and drown them all. As she watches her son struggle in the turbulent sea, Venus, the mother of Aeneas, confronts Jupiter on Olympus for allowing her son to suffer like this. Jupiter calms her and reminds her of the many prophecies that promise Aeneas will eventually reach Italy and that his descendants will establish a great empire. This prophecy makes Venus happy. The Aeneid contains numerous prophecies, this being the first one.

To assure Aeneas that everything is going smoothly, Venus shows him the omen of the twelve white swans, symbolizing the twelve Trojan ships that have just arrived in Carthage.

The speeches of Hector and Creusa also contain parts of prophecies, as they hint at the future. When the hidden Greek forces emerge from the stomach of the Trojan Horse and launch their attack on the helpless Trojans, the ghost of Hector, King Priam’s son, who had been killed by Achilles earlier in the Trojan War, appears to Aeneas in a dream. He urges him to flee, take the gods of their homeland with him from Troy, and find a new city across the sea that will thrive.

Dido, the queen of Carthage, provides the only significant prophecy in this epic, foreseeing the animosity that will arise between their nations.

While Aeneas is escaping from Troy with his family, Creusa gets lost. Aeneas bravely returns to the chaotic city to search for her, but instead of finding her, he meets her ghost. In this haunting encounter, Creusa’s spirit prophesies that he is destined to marry again after reaching his new homeland.

When Aeneas sets sail in search of a new homeland, Apollo delivers a prophecy, telling him to find the land that was once home to the Trojan people. However, Aeneas mistakenly interprets these words as a reference to Crete. Soon, the household gods sent by Apollo make it clear that it is not Crete but Italy.

Celaeno, a prophetess and the eldest of the Furies, advises Aeneas to leave the island and pursue his fate in Italy. However, she warns that before they establish their city, they will be forced to eat their tables.

Apollo delivers a prophecy through Deiphobe, the priestess. The Sibyl informs Aeneas about the challenges ahead and the wars he will face in Italy. She warns him about Juno’s relentless opposition to him.

Aeneas descends to the underworld and meets his father, Anchises. Anchises foretells the history of Aeneas’ descendants.

Meanwhile, Latinus has been convinced by Faunus’ repeated prophecies that his daughter, Lavinia, is destined to marry someone from outside their race. This union is said to bring forth descendants who will conquer the world.

After Turnus declared war against the Trojans, Aeneas sought help from neighboring nations. Tiberinus, the god of the Tiber River, appeared to him in a dream, prophesied that the Trojans would receive help, and sent Aeneas upstream. He urged Aeneas to go to Evander and form an alliance.

Aeneas’ shield also carries a prophecy. Vulcan has depicted the story of Roman glory on the face of the shield. The shield features images of Romulus being nursed by the she-wolf, the defeat of the Gauls, and Caesar Augustus triumphing over Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, among many other significant events.

Jupiter tells Juno that the Trojans are destined to win and will not be defeated again. In response, Juno tries to get Turnus out of the war.

Concerned for Turnus, Juno fears that Aeneas might kill him. She calls Juturna, Turnus’ sister, and tells her about her brother’s fate. Juno instructs her to keep a close eye on Turnus and break the truce for his safety.

Aeneas’ visit to the underworld

Aeneas wants to visit his father’s ghost by going down to the underworld. Thus, he asks sibyl for help in getting there. The Sibyl informs Aeneas that to gain entry into Dis with a hope of returning, he must collect a golden bough from a special tree. This bough will grant him access to the underworld.

He feels disappointed looking at the size of the forest, but after he says a prayer, a pair of doves descends and guides him to the desired trees. Aeneas realizes that it is his mother, Venus, who has sent these doves to help him find the golden bough.

After collecting the golden bough, he returns to the sibyl. Deiphobë guides Aeneas to the entrance of the underworld. Aeneas makes a sacrifice to the gods of darkness at the threshold of a deep cavern. Once the sacrifice is made, a vast chasm opens up and Aeneas follows the Sibyl.

Aeneas makes his way into the route to Hades accompanied by the Sibyl. They descend through a gloomy region haunted by bodiless and dreadful spirits and monsters and eventually arrives at Acheron, one of the rivers of the underworld.

After arriving at the bank of the river, Acheron, Aeneas sees Charon, the ancient boatman who ferries spirits of the dead across the river. At first, Charon is reluctant to ferry Aeneas, a living man, across the river Acheron, but when the Sibyl shows him the golden bough, he changes his mind and grants Aeneas safe passage.

On the other side of the river lives Cerberus, the snaky, three-headed watchdog. Sibyl feeds Cerberus tranquilizer-soaked meet, which allows her to slip past the gate.

As Aeneas and the sibyl disembark on the other side of the shore, they find themselves surrounded by the wailing souls of dead infants. As they moved forward, they encountered the souls of those who were executed for crimes they did not commit, and then they come across the spirits of those who took their own lives. Eventually, they arrive at the Fields of Mourning, a place for those who died of love. Here, Aeneas meets the ghost of Dido. Knowing that Dido killed herself because of his abandonment, he tries to justify himself to her, saying that he left her unwillingly. Unforgiving, Dido’s ghost turns away from him and turns to the spirit of her husband, Sychaeus, with whom she has now been reunited for comfort.

Both Aeneas and Deiphobe come to the fields where the spirits of men who have won battles reside. There they meet the Trojans and Greek warriors.

As Aeneas travels along the road to Tartarus, he sees the punishments for disobeying the gods and committing sins against men. After that, he and Deiphobe enter the Elysium field, where Aeneas is received by his father, Anchises.

Anchises talks about the idea of rebirth or reincarnation, and, then, shows Aeneas his Roman descendants. The scene ends up with a tragic vision of the funeral of Marcellus, who was Augustus’ nephew and son-in-law. He died prematurely. Aeneas returns to the earth through the Gate of Ivory, which symbolizes false dreams. 

Second Attachments in Sense and Sensibility

In his youth, Colonel Brandon had been secretly in love with a girl named Eliza Williams. After his father came to know about their relationship, he was sent to the army, and his beloved Eliza married his elder brother. This was because a younger brother could not marry before his elder brother. Even if they had married, they would not have been able to inherit property. Thus, it can be said that they were victims of a brutal society. Colonel Brandon takes a liking to Marianne as soon as he casts his eyes on her because she resembles Eliza, the woman he once loved.

Edward Ferrars was initially secretly engaged to Lucy Steele for four years. Their relationship was considered unexpected and was not a good match. For Edward, it was merely an infatuation. However, when he met Elinor Dashwood at Norland, they developed a deep and sincere connection. Unfortunately, Edward had met Lucy Steele earlier and had promised to marry her. Lucy’s older sister accidentally revealed this news to the public. When Edward’s mother came to know about their relationship, she disinherited him and gave all her property to her younger son, Robert Ferrars. After that, Lucy married Robert.

Lucy Steele was engaged to Edward Ferrars, and their relationship was a secret. They were supposed to get married, but after Edward was disowned by his mother, Lucy changed her mind and eloped with his younger brother, Robert.

Marianne Dashwood ironically disapproves of second relationships or double relationships. It is ironic because, at the end of the novel, she had to approve such a relationship by marrying the sensible and constant Colonel Brandon. At first, she fell in love with a handsome young man named John Willoughby, but he was not a good person. Colonel Brandon also fell in love with Marianne Dashwood, but she did not like him. Willoughby left Marianne and chose to marry a wealthy woman named Miss Grey. After being betrayed by her beloved, she accepted Colonel Brandon’s proposal and married him.

John Willoughby is an attractive but deceitful young man who wins Marianne Dashwood’s heart. He liked Marianne and admitted his devotion to her, but their relationship did not last long, as he chose money over love. He greedily abandoned her in favor of the wealthy Miss Sophia Grey. He knew that marrying Marianne would not significantly improve his financial condition or bring him any wealth.

At the beginning of the novel, readers learn that Mr. Henry Dashwood had two wives. After his first wife passed away, he got married again. According to religion, this was not considered wrong.

Elinor Dashwood is perhaps different from other characters. Nearly every character except her falls in love more than once. In her discussion with Colonel Brandon, it seems that Elinor has no problem with second attachments, yet she is the only one who marries the very first man she knows and loves. 

From the beginning of the novel, she loved Edward, and for the sake of her true love, she had to endure many hardships. However, at the end of the novel, she was able to marry her beloved.

The second attachment is a highly focused theme in the novel, leading some characters into the light and others into the darkness. 

Theme of childhood in Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake

William Blake is famous for his collection of poems called Songs of Innocence and of Experience. In Songs of Innocence, there are nineteen poems, while Songs of Experience contains twenty-six poems. Childhood is the central theme of the poems, and at the same time, in Songs of Experience, the real suffering of children in England at that time was portrayed effectively. Childhood is a theme that appears repeatedly in these two sets of poems.

In Songs of Innocence, childhood is depicted in a very innocent and pleasurable way. In the poems belonging to Songs of Innocence, there are not too many negative images or symbols. However, we can see that children still suffer. In fact, Blake has made an effort to show the suffering of children from the poor class. That is why, in his poem "The Chimney Sweeper" in Songs of Innocence, we can see that the chimney sweepers were more or less innocent, and, at the same time, they were child laborers. So, let us take a look at the first four lines:

In the second line of the poem, we can see that the father sold the boy, and the boy became a chimney sweeper.

When it comes to the poems in Songs of Experience, Blake did not try to hide the suffering of the children. In Songs of Innocence, there was a poem called “Infant Joy,” where the child experienced a lot of joy. But when it comes to Songs of Experience, the title of the poem changes to “Infant Sorrow,” and there we can see a lot of sorrow for the children.

In “Infant Sorrow,” we can see that childhood, or coming into this world as a baby, is not always a happy event as we often imagine. Here, the baby has to fight, and especially if the baby comes from a poor class, the struggle continues for many years.

In Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, Blake not only talked about the suffering of children but also showed society’s cruelty toward them. The rich and powerful did not care about the suffering and misery of children, which is why thousands of poor children had to suffer in every way. Here, the children are not like the lamb in the poem “The Lamb.” Instead, they suffer under the cruelty of the tiger. This is a sad picture of society that Blake has depicted in his poems. People did not care about the children because they had become accustomed to the idea that children must suffer.

If we look into English literature, we can think of two writers, in addition to Blake, who also wrote extensively about childhood and children. One of them is William Wordsworth, a contemporary of Blake. Wordsworth was a pioneering figure in the Romantic Movement or Romantic poetry in the history of English literature. He portrayed childhood in a very beautiful way, bringing great pleasure to readers. However, Wordsworth also sometimes depicted the suffering and misery of children in contemporary England.

On the other hand, Charles Dickens perhaps took the theme of children’s suffering from William Blake and carried it further. In Dickens’ novels, we can find similar portrayals of children’s suffering as seen in Blake’s poetry. Oliver Twist is the best example of this theme. When you read Oliver Twist, you can find reflections of Blake’s poetry. Oliver Twist’s character and strength remind us of some of the characters portrayed in Blake’s poems.

Blake is no longer a very famous poet in our time, but we should read his poems in Songs of Innocence and Experience so that we never forget the suffering of children. 

The Use of Symbols in Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake

It is hard to place William Blake within a specific time frame, as he was just ahead of the Romantic poets and many years after the Neoclassical poets. However, one aspect that attracts readers to this poet is his use of symbolism. He skillfully employed a variety of symbols, some of which are common but used in very unique or different ways. Blake is famous for his book Songs of Innocence and of Experience, which contains several poems.

Songs of Innocence presents its poems in a more innocent way, while Songs of Experience contains poems that are more complex and often convey a sad and dark tone.

In Songs of Innocence, we find various symbols that are distinct yet easy to interpret. For example, the lamb symbolizes innocence and is also a symbol of Jesus Christ. The figures of the shepherd and the father represent God, who looks after His children or people.

In Songs of Innocence, Blake often highlights the happy side of life. That is why his chimney sweepers initially appear to be relatively less unhappy. The nurse is also not unhappy, and throughout the poems in Songs of Innocence, there is an overall sense of joy and pleasure.

On the contrary, in Songs of Experience, some poems share the same titles as those in Songs of Innocence, but they present a much darker picture of society. For example, The Sick Rose is one such poem. The poem London depicts a very sorrowful image of the people in London. The contrast between the two Chimney Sweeper poems illustrates that in Songs of Experience, the chimney sweeper is portrayed as a boy who endures immense suffering and is utterly miserable. He has no hope and no future. Thus, the chimney sweeper itself serves as a powerful symbol for thousands of poor children who have endured great hardship and lack any prospects.

Blake frequently used religious symbols, but he also incorporated social symbols at times. For example, the shepherd and the lamb are both religious symbols, whereas the chimney sweeper serves as a social symbol.

In the poems of Songs of Innocence, many of the symbols represent goodness, while in Songs of Experience, they tend to symbolize evil.

In Songs of Innocence, Blake used many symbols from the Bible, which is why we see more religious symbols. However, in the poems of Songs of Experience, he uses his own imaginative symbols. As a result, if we do not understand the background of the poems or the background of William Blake, it becomes difficult to interpret these symbols.

Blake’s strong use of symbolism demonstrates his greatness as a poet. Following him, the Romantic poets emerged, and this period is often regarded as the golden age or the greatest age of English poetry. Blake was the forerunner of this age, and his exceptional skill in using symbols explains why he is often ranked among the Romantic poets.

Preserving freedom is harder to obtain than achieving it

 Freedom is a fundamental right of every human. While the concept of freedom is appealing, achieving it is often a challenging endeavor. No matter how sweet the word “freedom” is, it is very difficult to achieve. It is even more difficult to protect this hard-earned freedom. People have struggled for generations to gain freedom. Oppressed and tortured nations struggle to preserve their dignity and achieve liberation. However, achieving this freedom is not the main purpose. The main purpose is to uphold it. After achieving independence, it is essential to always be prepared for the reconstruction and development of the country and to protect it from external enemies. After gaining independence, we must strive to preserve our freedom as a strong and self-confident nation rather than living like the oppressed. Only then will it be possible to protect the freedom we have gained. Otherwise, the desired freedom will be lost. You must justify the desired freedom through your motivation, way of thinking, and sense of discipline. The ultimate purpose of all human activities is to develop a glorious life full of freedom. Subjugated nations achieve independence through great sacrifice, relentless effort, and prolonged struggle. Therefore, it is our national duty to understand the dignity and importance of freedom and to be proactive in preserving it.

The influence of winter in rural Bangladesh

Recently, life has become busier, and we have become more accustomed to modern life. As a result, many of us find it hard to gather as a group and head to the village. Even when we get a vacation suddenly, we often end up having a rooftop barbecue or a quick day trip. However, those who get the opportunity to rush to the village even for a short time, escaping the constraints of their busy lives, can still experience the joy of winter picnics and the warmth of genuine hospitality that they may have left behind.

I have already mentioned the various arrangements made during winter in rural life, but if I do not talk about how winter disrupts the rural people, then the full picture of winter in the village will remain incomplete. In the village, there is no warmth from an electric heater, no softness of a woolen blanket, or the promise of care from Vaseline or glycerin. Instead, the harshest and most intense form of winter is felt there. Village people endure the cold wrapped in handwoven shawls and mufflers. Instead of blankets that smell of naphthalene, rural folks wrap themselves in quilts made of silk cotton, infused with the fragrance of neem leaves, during the winter months. To ward off the cold, they warm their hands by the fire and keep a kerosene lamp or a piece of burning coal in a corner of the house. Since the majority of the people in rural settlements are laborers, and the burden of poverty is a constant presence in their lives, they have to rush to markets, fields, and other places even during the harshest winters. A very familiar sight on a winter morning in the village is Kalimuddin, the boatman, or Hasan from the fishermen’s neighborhood, walking along the edge of the field through the mist.

I mentioned earlier that the villages of Bengal are losing their original form due to the rapid changes taking place. That is why, perhaps, in some well-off households, people ward off the cold with warm blankets and buy winter clothes from stores. However, the harsh reality of the poor suffering during winter is still very apparent in the villages today. Even now, Kolimuddin and Hasan have to ignore the cold and rush to fight for survival. Their profession or means of livelihood might have changed. Kolimuddin might now be operating an engine instead of steering a boat, while Hasan might be considering catching fish with a current net. Yet, they rush along the edges of the fields on their cracked feet on fog-covered mornings.

Shamsur Rahman described the winter in the village as “an ascetic sage.” The poet did not say anything wrong. The bare attire of winter and the motionless nature remind us of meditation. While many things have changed, and some have faded away in the passage of time or the encroachment of modernity, the essence of rural life still carries childhood memories woven into every aspect of winter, a melody filled with affection that has been cherished over a lifetime.