Ghalib faced a very troubling time in his life with the loss of his wife and adopted son (588). Much of
his life with steeped in tragedy, and through that tragedy came a beauty in the form of poetry. His
deep feeling allowed for exceptional expression in his artistic form. In his poem It was a essential,
we feel his grief, and the bargaining he struggled with for the lives he wish he could have kept and
bargaining for his own life to end.
He wrote this poem as a eulogy, and in it we see a tribute to his loves, and the sorrow to see them
go to their final rest where they would be embraced no more. He wished to keep his family, as
anyone would. In this eulogy he is in the middle of the stages of grieving. Throughout the poem he
does not have acceptance for the deaths of his family. Instead he relays a message of bargaining.
He does not see beauty in death, nor does he take comfort that they are with their god. He is
Bargaining with God, bargaining with Death, and bargaining most heartbreakingly for just “a few
more days” (597).
Ghalib bargains with “I agree that staying forever isn’t good – but stay with us for a few more days. “
(597). What he fails to realize (or maybe he does and just will not say), is that no amount of time
ever be enough when you know the end is coming. He takes some minor comfort in the fact that his
family will meet him again one day on Doomsday. However he says that “How great- that doom will
have its day on one more day.” (597). I interpret this as him saying that the end of his days is when
his happiness is gone from this world. And thus knowing that his wife and the only child he ever
really knew would be gone, so would his happiness, and so would his life even if he survived to an
old age. He concludes his poem with “It’s my destiny to continue to wish for death for a few more
days. “ (598). With his life now empty and void of the lives he held so dear, he felt that there was
nothing more to live for, knowing that death was not going to wait a few more days for anyone but
him.
Your analysis was interesting to read. I liked how you talked about bargaining with is family and death; what a great way to describe it! Do you think he was in denial of death? What made him fear death? Did he/does he not believe in some kind of afterlife or reincarnation? You brought up great points and your analysis gave me a different perspective on the writing!
ReplyDeleteHi Savannah,
ReplyDeleteGreat job with your analysis of Ghalib! Ghalib knew that death was inevitable and he didn't seem to be afraid of it. I liked your feedback on how he bargained for a few more days. There is never enough time, especially if you know the end is coming.