'The Last Shuttee' by Rudyard Kipling
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Not many years ago a King died in one of the Rajpoot States.
His wives, disregarding the orders of the English against Suttee,
would have broken out of the palace had not the gates been barred.
But one of them, disguised as the King's favourite dancing-girl,
passed through the line of guards and reached the pyre.There,
her courage failing, she prayed her cousin, a baron of the court,
to kill her.This he did, not knowing who she was.
Udai Chand lay sick to death
In his hold by Gungra hill.
All night we heard the death-gongs ring
For the soul of the dying Rajpoot King,
All night beat up from the women's wing
A cry that we could not still.
All night the barons came and went,
The lords of the outer guard:
All night the cressets glimmered pale
On Ulwar sabre and Tonk jezail,
Mewar headstall and Marwar mail,
That clinked in the palace yard.
In the Golden room on the palace roof
All night he fought for air:
And there was sobbing behind the screen,
Rustle and whisper of women unseen,
And the hungry eyes of the Boondi Queen
On the death she might not share.
He passed at dawn -- the death-fire leaped
From ridge to river-head,
From the Malwa plains to the Abu scars:
And wail upon wail went up to the stars
Behind the grim zenana-bars,
When they knew that the King was dead.
The dumb priest knelt to tie his mouth
And robe him for the pyre.
The Boondi Queen beneath us cried:
"See, now, that we die as our mothers died
In the bridal-bed by our master's side!
Out, women! -- to the fire!"
We drove the great gates home apace:
White hands were on the sill:
But ere the rush of the unseen feet
Had reached the turn to the open street,
The bars shot down, the guard-drum beat --
We held the dovecot still.
A face looked down in the gathering day,
And laughing spoke from the wall:
"Oh]/e, they mourn here:let me by --
Azizun, theLucknow nautch-girl, I!
When the house is rotten, the rats must fly,
And I seek another thrall.
"For I ruled the King as ne'er did Queen, --
To-night the Queens rule me!
Guard them safely, but let me go,
Or ever they pay the debt they owe
In scourge and torture!"She leaped below,
And the grim guard watched her flee.
They knew that the King had spent his soul
On a North-bred dancing-girl:
That he prayed to a flat-nosed Lucknow god,
And kissed the ground where her feet had trod,
And doomed to death at her drunken nod,
And swore by her lightest curl.
We bore the King to his fathers' place,
Where the tombs of the Sun-born stand:
Where the gray apes swing, and the peacocks preen
On fretted pillar and jewelled screen,
And the wild boar couch in the house of the Queen
On the drift of the desert sand.
The herald read his titles forth,
We set the logs aglow:
"Friend of the English, free from fear,
Baron of Luni to Jeysulmeer,
Lord of the Desert of Bikaneer,
King of the Jungle, -- go!"
All night the red flame stabbed the sky
With wavering wind-tossed spears:
And out of a shattered temple crept
A woman who veiled her head and wept,
And called on the King -- but the great King slept,
And turned not for her tears.
Small thought had he to mark the strife --
Cold fear with hot desire --
When thrice she leaped from the leaping flame,
And thrice she beat her breast for shame,
And thrice like a wounded dove she came
And moaned about the fire.
One watched, a bow-shot from the blaze,
The silent streets between,
Who had stood by the King in sport and fray,
To blade in ambush or boar at bay,
And he was a baron old and gray,
And kin to the Boondi Queen.
He said:"O shameless, put aside
The veil upon thy brow!
Who held the King and all his land
To the wanton will of a harlot's hand!
Will the white ash rise from the blistered brand?
Stoop down, and call him now!"
Then she:"By the faith of my tarnished soul,
All things I did not well,
I had hoped to clear ere the fire died,
And lay me down by my master's side
To rule in Heaven his only bride,
While the others howl in Hell.
"But I have felt the fire's breath,
And hard it is to die!
Yet if I may pray a Rajpoot lord
To sully the steel of a Thakur's sword
With base-born blood of a trade abhorred," --
And the Thakur answered, "Ay."
He drew and struck:the straight blade drank
The life beneath the breast.
"I had looked for the Queen to face the flame,
But the harlot dies for the Rajpoot dame --
Sister of mine, pass, free from shame,
Pass with thy King to rest!"
The black log crashed above the white:
The little flames and lean,
Red as slaughter and blue as steel,
That whistled and fluttered from head to heel,
Leaped up anew, for they found their meal
On the heart of -- the Boondi Queen!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Analyzing Rudyard Kipling's "The Last Shuttee"
Rudyard Kipling is a name that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of classic English literature. His works are known for their depth, insight, and the way they capture the essence of human emotions. "The Last Shuttee" is one such poem that stands out for its powerful portrayal of loss, grief, and the fleeting nature of life.
The Poem's Structure
The poem consists of six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. This creates a rhythmic and musical quality to the poem, making it a pleasure to read aloud. The structure is simple but effective, allowing the reader to focus on the content and the emotions evoked by the words.
The Theme of Death
At its core, "The Last Shuttee" is a poem about death. It tells the story of a soldier who dies on the battlefield, and the last thing he sees is a young Indian girl shutting the gates of a temple. The poem captures the moment of his passing and the emotions that follow. The soldier's death is sudden and unexpected, and the reader is left with a sense of loss and sadness.
The poem also touches on the theme of cultural differences. The soldier, who is presumably British, is fighting in India, and the young girl who shuts the gate is Indian. The poem highlights the clash of cultures and the way in which war can create divisions between people. The soldier's death is a reminder that death is universal, and it does not discriminate based on race or nationality.
The Use of Imagery
Kipling's use of imagery is one of the poem's strongest points. He paints a vivid picture of the battlefield, the temple, and the young girl shutting the gate. The use of color is particularly effective. The white of the temple walls and the soldier's uniform contrasts with the red of the blood on the ground. This creates a stark image of the violence of war and the beauty of the temple.
The image of the young girl shutting the gate is also powerful. It represents the end of the soldier's life and the closing of a chapter. The gate represents the boundary between life and death, and the girl's actions represent the finality of death. This image stays with the reader long after the poem has ended.
The Mood and Tone
The mood of the poem is somber and reflective. The suddenness of the soldier's death and the finality of it create a sense of loss and sadness. The tone is also reflective, as the poem invites the reader to pause and consider the fleeting nature of life.
The Significance of the Title
The title of the poem, "The Last Shuttee," is significant because it encapsulates the entire poem in one phrase. The word "shuttee" refers to the gate of the temple, but it also has a dual meaning. In Hindi, "shuttee" means "widow," and this adds an extra layer of meaning to the title. The soldier's death creates a widow, a woman who has lost her husband. This highlights the devastating impact of war and the way in which it affects not only the soldiers but also their families.
Symbolism and Interpretation
The poem is rich in symbolism, and there are several ways to interpret it. One possible interpretation is that the soldier's death represents the end of a way of life. The soldier is fighting in India, which was then part of the British Empire. His death represents the end of British rule in India and the beginning of a new era.
Another interpretation is that the soldier's death represents the loss of innocence. The soldier is young and presumably inexperienced, and his death represents the loss of his youth and his innocence. The young Indian girl shutting the gate represents the loss of something pure and beautiful.
The Poem's Relevance Today
Although "The Last Shuttee" was written over a century ago, it remains relevant today. The theme of war and its impact on people's lives is as relevant now as it was then. The poem is a reminder that war has a devastating impact not only on the soldiers but also on their families and the communities they leave behind.
The poem's message is also relevant in today's world, where there is still a great deal of conflict and division. The poem reminds us that we are all human and that death is something that affects us all. It encourages us to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and to appreciate the beauty around us before it is too late.
Conclusion
"The Last Shuttee" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of loss and grief. It is a reminder of the devastating impact of war and the fleeting nature of life. Kipling's use of imagery and symbolism is masterful, and the poem leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Its relevance today is a testament to its enduring message, and it is a poem that will continue to be read and appreciated for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Last Shuttee: A Masterpiece by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author, is known for his exceptional storytelling skills and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience. One of his most celebrated works is the poem "The Last Shuttee," which tells the story of an old Indian woman who is the last person to perform the traditional ritual of shutting the doors of a temple.
The poem is a poignant reflection on the passing of time and the loss of tradition. Kipling's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a vivid picture of the woman's life and the world she inhabits. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in "The Last Shuttee" and how they contribute to the poem's overall impact.
Themes
The central theme of "The Last Shuttee" is the loss of tradition and the passing of time. The poem is set in India, a country with a rich cultural heritage and a long history of tradition. However, as the world changes and modernizes, many of these traditions are being lost. The old woman in the poem is the last person to perform the traditional ritual of shutting the doors of a temple, a practice that has been passed down for generations. With her passing, this tradition will be lost forever.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of mortality. The old woman is nearing the end of her life, and she knows that she will not be around much longer. She is the last link to a bygone era, and her passing will mark the end of an era. The poem is a reminder that we are all mortal and that our time on this earth is limited.
Imagery
Kipling's use of imagery in "The Last Shuttee" is masterful. He creates a vivid picture of the old woman's life and the world she inhabits. The opening lines of the poem set the scene:
"When the last shuttee flutters from the bazaar, And the pavement stones are dark with rain, When the round earth's imagined corners bow down To a litter of wind and blown leaves again,"
These lines create a sense of melancholy and foreboding. The image of the last shuttee fluttering in the wind is a powerful one, symbolizing the passing of time and the loss of tradition. The dark pavement stones and the litter of wind and blown leaves create a sense of desolation and decay.
Kipling also uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the old woman's life. He describes her as "wrinkled and bent," with "eyes like little flames." These images create a sense of age and wisdom. The old woman has lived a long life and has seen many changes in the world around her.
Language
Kipling's use of language in "The Last Shuttee" is powerful and evocative. He uses a range of literary devices to create a sense of atmosphere and emotion. One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "the last shuttee" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of finality and loss.
Kipling also uses metaphor to great effect. The old woman is described as a "vestal of the temple," a metaphor that creates a sense of reverence and respect. The temple itself is described as a "shrine of the ages," a metaphor that emphasizes its importance and significance.
The language in the poem is also rich in sensory detail. Kipling describes the sound of the shuttee fluttering in the wind, the feel of the rain on the pavement stones, and the smell of incense in the temple. These sensory details create a vivid picture of the world the old woman inhabits and help to bring the poem to life.
Conclusion
"The Last Shuttee" is a masterpiece of poetry, a powerful reflection on the passing of time and the loss of tradition. Kipling's use of imagery and language creates a vivid picture of the old woman's life and the world she inhabits. The poem is a reminder that we are all mortal and that our time on this earth is limited. It is a call to cherish the traditions and cultures that make us who we are and to remember those who came before us.
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