Where the Mind is Without Fear

                                                              Summary 

Rabindranath Tagore was a great poet, novelist, short story writer, musician, painter, essayist, educationalist, freedom fighter and a great thinker. He won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali. He is often referred to as the Bard of Bengal.  ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear’ is a thought-provoking poem. It was published in 1912. It was originally written in Bangla and translated by Tagore himself in English.

It is a pre-independent poem. In this poem, the poet prays to God to make our country a heaven of freedom. In our country, everyone should be fearless. Each one should be brave and no one should have fear in mind. Every countryman should be honourable. Every head should be held high with dignity and honour. This country should be free from criminals. In our country knowledge should be free and it should be such a place where all live in love and unity. There should not be divisions on the name of caste, colour, religion, language, etc. All citizens should love the truth and their words should come from the depth of their heart. All the activities of our countrymen should be guided by truth. Tagore prays that countrymen should work hard towards perfection. They should be ideal human beings. They should give up all that is evil and take up all that is good. They should be guided by reason. They should give up all those bad and harmful customs of society. They should be broad-minded. They should be generous in their thoughts and actions. Tagore says that it is his earnest prayer to God to show light to our countrymen and help each one to transform our country into heaven of freedom.   

This poem has a universal message. Tagore wishes a global society where there are no boundaries on the name of caste, colour or creed. The poet prays not only for the political freedom of our country but also for spiritual and intellectual freedom which is yet to be achieved.

Summary of Sonnet XVIII

This sonnet is one of the best known and well-loved sonnets of William Shakespeare. Like all 126 love sonnets of Shakespeare, this sonnet is also addressed to his friend and patron, Earl of Southampton. In this sonnet, the poet pays a tribute to the matchless beauty of his friend but at the same time, he underlines the high merit of his own poetry.

The sonnet opens with a question, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” The summer in England is not like the summer in India. In England, a summer day is very pleasant and beautiful. That is why the poet asks his friend if he will compare his friend to a summer day. In the next line, the poet corrects himself saying that his friend is more sweet and lovely than a summer day. In summer season the winds are rough and these rough winds shake the flower buds. The duration of summer is very short. Sometimes the sun shines too hot.

Like all beautiful things the summer also loses its beauty after some time. This is the law of nature. Every beautiful thing has to die and fade away with the changing course of nature. The poet says that his friend is an exception. His summer is eternal. He shall not lose the beauty and grace that he has. Death is all-powerful. All living things live in the shade of death.  But his friend is above death.

In the last lines, the poet explains how his friend’s beauty and youth is eternal. He says that his poem will remain as men can breathe or eyes can see. In his poems, his friend will live forever. In this way, the poet says that art is immortal while life is mortal.