Critical Appreciation of the poem "The lonely road" by Man mohan Ghose

 

Critically appreciate the poem “The Lonely Road” written by Manmohan Ghose        

                Manmohan Ghose was the first man in India to write poems in English.  He was the sibling of “Sri Aurobindo Ghose” and Barindra Kumar Ghose.  While his brother Aurobindo Ghose was writing on nationalistic theme, Manmohan Ghose turned to England for his inspiration.  Ghose’s poetry expresses his sorrow and sense of loneliness and is autobiographical in nature. 

                In this poem “the Lonely Road” The poet is yearning for his motherland, by making England as his home.  His love and respect for his wife has inspired him to write two series of poems.  “Immortal love” and “Orphic mysteries”.  He addresses his beloved from whom he has derived inspiration.  His works reveal his poetic genius. 

                The poet feels for the demise of his beloved wife “Malalti Banerjee” in this poem.  He feels that his wife has taken a casual and cheerful step on the road of death which has ultimately resulted in her death.  So she has left for the other world, leaving the poet alone.  In his life’s journey, now the poet is undertaking a lonely journey on the lonely road.  So, the title of the poem is symbolic.  The poet cries for the warmth of his wife.  Without his wife, his life has become rough and stormy.  He feels that he is walking on a thorny and ticklish path.  When his wife was alive, he walked on bed of roses.  When the poet walks on the plain ground, he is highly exhausted and h takes heavy steps.  When he crosses the moorland, he is not ale to enjoy the music of the drums.  The sweetness had bid farewell from him since his wife has passed away and now hollowness has surrounded him, since he has lost him togetherness with his wife. 

                During rainy season and at the time of lightning and thunder, when his wife was alive, they used to go out in one cloak and the poet has hidden his hand in her cloak and used to hold her hand for the warmth.  Now, she is gone and there isn0ne for him to give that warmth.  He is lonely now.  After the death of his life, the days are rolling.  Autumn season  has advanced and the trees started shedding the leaves.  Next follows winter season. 

                When Manmohan’s wife was alive, her voice resembled a musical note foe him.  The poet’s wife’s words were musical and he was captivated by its sweetness.  He was elevated to a fairy land.  Now, variety of birds such as warbling, linnet, thrush and starling sing songs and give variety of musical notes.  Such song birds fill the entire bushy land with their sweet voices.  Those sweet sounds remind the poet, the sweet voice of his beloved wife.  Immediately the poet feels that the sweetness in the voices of the birds has completely changed in to mournful songs.  This is felt by the poet, because his wife is not with him.

                At present, the poet feels a hollowness emptiness around him.  None can substitute his wife.  Silver is a costly metal and he compares his wife indirectly with silver.  Now, such a costly metal silver (his wife) is gone from this world.  Along with her, her fresh and musical voice is also gone.  He reveals his doubt, whether he is imagining that he is able to find the voice of his wife in the voice of his wife in the voice of the birds.  He also reveals his intention of following his spouse, after his demise.  He is eagerly expecting that day to follow his wife.

                The title of the poem is having a symbolic note.  In his life’s journey, the author is going alone in a lonely road, as his wife is no more.  For two reasons, he has written this poem, the first reason is, he feels his loneliness since he has lost his togetherness with his wife.  Secondly, the poet yearns to return to England.  Though he is an Indian, he considers England as his motherland and he yearns to go there.  The poem is in first person singular.  The author reveals about his lonely journey in his life, without his wife.  This poem contains an autobiographical element.

                Manmohan has used various images in this poem.  “Your voice like music’s oar”-in this line he has directly compared his wife’s voice with a music’s oar.  So, the figure of speech is “simile”.  “Since the silver is flown”.  In this line, the poet has indirectly compared his wife with a costly metal “silver”.  It can be interpreted otherwise.  Here, his wife is personified as a “silver”.  So, here we can notice that he has used two images.  He has used both “Metaphor” and “Personification” in this line.  His poem reveals the poetic genius of the poet.  He has been unfailing sense of rhythm and a facility for nature description.  This poem shows the deep attachment of Manmohan Ghose to his wife Malati Banerjee.  The poem is in first person singular and the poet is the narrator.