Wedding in the Flood: A Poetic Portrait of Pakistani Landscape, Culture and Society
Taufiq Rafat is a Pakistani poet who wrote in English and drew inspiration from the culture, history, and folklore of his region. In his poem "Wedding in the Flood", he narrates the story of a rural marriage that ends tragically due to a flood. The poem has four different personas who give their perspectives on the event, along with the omniscient narrator. The personas correspond to the four classic elements of Eastern symbology: earth, air, water, and fire. In this essay, I will analyze how the poet uses these personas and their voices to create a vivid and complex picture of the Pakistani landscape, culture, and society. I will also discuss how the personas differ in their attitudes, emotions, and values, how they relate to each other and to the narrator, and how they reflect the themes and messages of the poem.
The first persona is the bride's father, who represents the element of earth. He is a poor farmer and a widower, who arranges the marriage for his daughter, hoping to secure her future and happiness. He is also the one who pays the dowry, which consists of three items: a cow, a quilt, and a brass pot. He is proud of his daughter and his land, but he is also aware of his poverty and vulnerability. He says:
I have given her all I could:
A cow, a quilt, a brass pot.
My land is good,
But not enough for both of us.
(Rafat, 1985, p. 134)
His voice reveals his love, care, and sacrifice for his daughter, as well as his resignation and acceptance of his fate. He does not complain or regret his decision but rather trusts in God's will. He also shows his attachment and respect for his land, which he considers good and fertile. He contributes to the picture of the Pakistani landscape as a source of life and livelihood for the rural people, but also as a source of hardship and struggle. He contrasts with the other personas who are more critical or indifferent towards the land.
The second persona is the groom's brother, who represents the element of fire. He is a hot-headed youth who is angry at his brother for marrying a poor girl without consulting him. He thinks that his brother has wasted his money and reputation on a girl who is not worthy of him. He calls her "a pot-licking wench" (Rafat, 1985, p. 134), which is a derogatory and insulting term that implies that she is a low-class servant who only cares about food. He also contrasts her with his previous lover, whom he describes as having "slim fingers gripping the palankeen's side" (Rafat, 1985, p. 135). His voice reveals his contempt and resentment for the bride, as well as his arrogance and selfishness. He does not respect or empathize with her feelings or situation, but only judges her by her appearance, background, and dowry. He also does not respect or support his brother's choice, but imposes his own opinion and will on him. He shows his attachment and pride for his money and status, which he considers more important than love or happiness. He contributes to the picture of the Pakistani culture and society as a patriarchal and feudal system, where women are treated as commodities and objects of exchange, rather than as human beings with dignity and rights. He also exposes the hypocrisy and cruelty of this system, where men can exploit and abuse women without any consequences or remorse. He contrasts with the other personas who are more compassionate or tolerant toward the bride.
The third persona is the boatman, who represents the element of water. He is a professional sailor who transports people across the river during floods. He is hired by the groom's family to take them to their village after the wedding ceremony. He is an experienced and skilled boatman, who knows how to navigate through the dangerous waters. He says:
I know this river like my hand.
There's nothing to fear.
(Rafat, 1985, p. 135)
His voice reveals his confidence and calmness in facing the flood, as well as his indifference and detachment from the wedding party. He does not care about their happiness or sorrow, but only about his job and payment. He also shows his knowledge and respect for the river, which he considers his friend and ally. He contributes to the picture of the Pakistani landscape as a force of nature that can be both benevolent and malevolent depending on how one relates to it. He also reflects the theme of change and fate in the poem, as he witnesses how the river can transform the lives of people in a matter of seconds, for better or for worse. He contrasts with the other personas who are more affected or involved by the event of the wedding and the flood.
The fourth persona is the narrator, who represents the element of air. He is an omniscient and objective observer who tells the story of the wedding and the flood from a distance. He does not participate or interfere in the action, but only reports what he sees and hears. He says:
I saw it all from here,
The wedding party on its way
To the bridegroom's village
(Rafat, 1985, p. 134)
His voice reveals his curiosity and interest in the event, as well as his detachment and neutrality. He does not express any emotion or opinion about the characters or their fate but only describes them with factual and concrete details. He also shows his awareness and understanding of the Pakistani landscape, culture, and society, as he provides the background and context for the event. He contributes to the picture of the Pakistani landscape, culture, and society as a complex and diverse reality that can be seen from different angles and perspectives. He also reflects on the theme of death and tragedy in the poem, as he witnesses how the wedding party is swept away by the flood and drowned. He relates to the other personas by providing their voices and viewpoints, but also by contrasting them with his own voice and viewpoint.
In conclusion, Taufiq Rafat uses the four personas and their voices to create a vivid and complex picture of the Pakistani landscape, culture, and society in his poem "Wedding in the Flood". He shows how the personas differ in their attitudes, emotions, and values, how they relate to each other and to the narrator, and how they reflect the themes and messages of the poem. He uses this technique to convey his vision, purpose and style as a poet who celebrates his indigenous roots, but also criticizes his social realities.
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