The Letter

The Letter

                                By Dhumketu

 

Analysis :

·      The story ‘The Letter’ is written by Dhumketu Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi who writes with his pen name Dhumketu. It is an account of the life of a father, Ali and his unfathomable love for his daughter.

·      The story highlights mental condition and emotions of a father and his desperate wait for his daughter’s letter, which concludes with the ironical end that the letter arrives only after his death and is laid on his grave.

·      The story makes us understand that a father suffers hugely in absence of his daughter describing his desperate wait for her letter that leads to the life of loneliness, grief, anxiety and helplessness.

·      The letter written by Jim clearly states there are better ways to resolve ways. It also highlights that sports and festivals may unite people across the boundaries and war divides humanity causing loss of lives and property and making children orphans and wives widows.

·      The chapter successfully gives a beautiful message of love, kindness and compassion for the family as well as other creatures. It beautifully and impactfully helps us imbibe the values like concern, empathy, compassion, understanding, love and trust for the creatures in this universe.

·      The chapter explores beautifully the theme of love and trust between a father and his daughter.

·      It is about a father who is in pain as he doesn’t get the letter of his daughter, but is determined to get it. It helps him have the recognition and acknowledgement of his cruel behaviour towards birds as a hunter and he tries to change his ways and behaviour towards all the creatures.

·      The story helps the readers learn their mistakes and develop the sensitivity, sensibility and understanding among family members especially the parents and children.

 

Summary

‘The Letter’ is an emotional story of an old man named Ali who is all alone and waiting for a letter from his daughter, Miriam. But unfortunately, he receives that letter only after his death.

In the early morning when cold and biting wind was blowing, Ali walked through the town to the post office. Except for some women singing and working on the grinding mill, a dog’s bark, a workman going early to work and a bird’s disturbed chirrup, there was deathly silence in town. Most people were sleeping due to effect of cold. Ali was shivering and walking on his old staff. When, he reached the Post Office, a beautiful building with newest style, he was filled with the joy of a pilgrim on seeing the pilgrimage. Ali went in quietly and sat there on a bench in the verandah, waiting for his daughter’ letter. This has been his daily routine for last five years.

The people at the post office during their routine work would call out names such as Commissioner, Police Superintendent, Diwan Saheb and many other names and flung the letters to the waiting postmen. Sometimes, in between a post man in his jesting voice would call, ‘Coachman Ali!’ The old man would get up, expressing gratitude to God would ask for his letter. Then, the clerk would call out the name ‘Gokul Bhai’ and scold Ali calling him a mad man. Others used to laugh at him. The clerk told the postmaster that Ali is mad as he comes every day for his letter but letter never comes.

Ali has been a clever shikari in his young age. He derived pleasure to look at the terrorised faces of young birds after getting separated from family and the eyes of dying birds. He couldn’t stay for a day without hunting. His sharp eyes could see birds hidden among leaves and the hare hidden in the yellow brown scrub and in another moment, they were shot dead. He would also go for fishing. His life suddenly took a new turn when his only child, his daughter, Miriam left him after getting married with a soldier in the Punjab regiment. For the last five years he got no news of his daughter but he was living only to receive his daughter’s letter. Now, he understood the meaning of love and separation and could no longer enjoy hunting. Loneliness of his life made him reflect that the whole universe is built up through love and that the grief of separation is inescapable. From that day, with immense hope and faith, he is always the first to arrive at the post office that became his place of pilgrimage. People laughed at him. Even though there was no letter for him, they would call out his name to see him jump up and come to the door. Still, he came every day, and went away empty handed.

The post-master with serious face was inexpressive as a pumpkin, and with the features of village schoolmasters, office clerks or postmasters. At the end of day, Ali got up and saluting the post-office left the place. The post-master asked the clerk if he is mad. Clerk agreed and told that he comes every day whatever the weather is. The postman told, mad men are strange people. Then everybody started talking about and giving examples of mad people. They discussed about a postman in Ahmedabad making little heaps of dust, another going to the river and pouring water on a stone, a madman pacing up and down all the time, one declaiming poetry and another slapping himself and crying. The post master felt, mad-men are like the poets.

For several days Ali had not come to the post-office. Noone had enough sympathy or understanding to think about him and the reason. At last, he came, he was weak and on his face were clear signs of approaching end. When he asked about letter from Miriam, the postmaster was in a hurry and shouted at him saying that nobody would eat his letter when it comes and he walked off hastily. Ali’s eyes were filled with tears of helplessness. His patience was exhausted but his faith was intact. Ali, giving five golden guineas to the clerk requested him to keep his letter on his grave whenever it came as the day was his last day. There were tears in Ali's eyes. Ali was never seen again, and no one troubled to inquire after him.

One day, the postmaster’s daughter lay ill in the town, and he was anxiously waiting for news of her well being. Among the post, there was a letter addressed to Coachman Ali. The post master became sad and anxious. He called Lakshmi Das and told him about the letter for Ali and asked him to find out Ali. That day he did not receive his letter and decided that he would hand over Ali’s letter himself. Now, the postmaster understood Ali's heart and had sympathy for him who had been sad and anxious in the same way for the last five years.

The next morning at five he heard the knock and expected Ali to be there. He opened the door and saw Ali leaning on a stick with tears in his eyes. His eyes had a light so unearthly that the postmaster got scared. He handed him the letter. But, suddenly he disappeared. Lakshmi Das, the clerk was shocked to hear the postmaster call out the name of Coachman Ali who had now been dead for three months. The letter was found lying near the door. The postmaster was perplexed, whether he had really seen Ali or it was Lakshmi Das. The daily routine began and the clerk read out the addresses. The postmaster now watched the letters as each contained a warm, beating heart and not as envelopes and postcards. In the evening Lakshmi Das and the postmaster went to Ali's grave and laid the letter on it. Now, the newly-wakened father's heart in him scolded him for not understanding Ali's anxiety. He was tortured by doubt and remorse when he was waiting for his daughter’s letter while sitting near the charcoal sigri. He repented as he should have been more sympathetic and helpful towards Ali. He was no longer ill-tempered.

Themes

•       The story highlights the theme of love, empathy and understanding towards all the creatures alike through the characters of Ali and the post master.

•       It explores beautiful relation of love & trust between father & daughter. Even after waiting for 5 years in vain Ali’s faith was intact. Post master changed due to his love for his daughter.

•       The chapter conveys that the whole universe is built up through love and grief of separation is inescapable. Ali left hunting as he could not see the young birds terrorised and separated.

 

Message

•       The chapter successfully gives a beautiful message of empathy, love, understanding and compassion for family as well as other people. We need to understand other people’s pain. We must not react before knowing the entire truth.

•       The story helps us imbibe the values like empathy love and kindness. We need to be kind towards all the creatures in the universe. Before doing harm to them we must think of their pain as we do for ourselves.

  

Important Question Answers

Q . Why did Ali give up hunting?

Ans. Ali gave up his passion for hunting because he grew old and weak physically in his later days. Though he lost his youthful stamina and energy, yet the instincts of hunting were still present in him. Truthfully, the main and the most important reason to leave hunting was his separation from his daughter after her marriage. His loneliness made him realise the pain of young birds after getting separated from family. Therefore, he stopped hunting as it causes separation. He understood, the universe is built through love.

Q. What had exhausted Ali’s patience but not his faith?

Ans. Ali was getting old and weak. His constant weakness took away   all his strength and stamina. He was also losing his patience due to his old age and weakness. It was impossible for him now to make a daily visit to the Post Office for his daughter’s letter.

He realised that his days were few, so his eyes were filled with tears. Though his physical infirmities and the shadow of approaching death exhausted his patience, yet they could not dampen his spirits and shake his faith. He believed that one day his daughter’s letter would certainly come so he gave 5 guineas to the clerk to deliver the letter to his grave. His faith won and the letter came for him.

 

 

Solitary Reaper

Solitary Reaper

By William Wordsworth

Analysis :

·      The poem ‘Solitary Reaper’ is composed by William Wordsworth who is a prominent poet of Romantic Era, 18^th century. He is also known as ‘worshipper of nature’. He said, “Let nature by thy teacher”.

·      The poem is about a girl from the highlands of Scotland.

·      This poem is about a day when the poet saw a beautiful woman working in the fields, harvesting the grain and singing a sad song which had a great impact on the poet.

·      The tone of the poem is admiring.

·      The theme of the song is overpowering impact of music and peaceful joy of solitude and beauty of nature.

Line by line Explanation :

Stanza 1

Behold her, single in the field,

Yon solitary Highland Lass!

Reaping and singing by herself;

Stop here, or gently pass!

Alone she cuts and binds the grain,

And sings a melancholy strain;

O listen! for the vale profound

Is overflowing with the sound.

Explanation

The poet is telling the readers to look at a girl who is working alone in the field. The girl who the poet can see in front of himself, is from the Scottish Highlands and she is working all by herself. She is involved in all sort of works in the process of harvesting such as cutting crops and binding the grain. The work is tedious and time taking so she prefers to sing at the same time, completely alone. The words related to loneliness highlight the fact that the girl is there alone. The poet tells the passersby to either stop and listen carefully, or walk quietly so they don’t disturb her. She is harvesting the crop and tying it into bundles all by herself, there is no one to help her. While being at work, she is singing a sad song about the battles. The poet asks the passersby to listen carefully and feel the impact of the song. The song is resonating the entire valley which appears to be overflowing with the overpowering sound.

 

Stanza 2

No nightingale did ever chant

More welcome notes to weary bands

Of travellers in some shady haunt,

Among Arabian sands:

A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard

In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird,

Breaking the silence of the seas

Among the farthest Hebrides.

Explanation :

Here, the poet is comparing the solitary reaper’s song with two most melodious birds, nightingale and Cuckoo who are known for sweet singing) But, the poet says that even nightingale must have never sung so melodiously to the tired travellers, walking in the desert sand of Arabia and resting in a shady place, as this girl is singing. The poet makes this comparison to emphasise that the reaper’s song is even more refreshing. He further says that such a captivating and powerful voice has never been heard. Even the cuckoo who sings in spring time is not so pleasing and melodious as the solitary reaper who is singing to break the silence of quiet surroundings in Hebrides, the distant Scottish islands. According to the poet, her song is more beautiful than nature’s best sounds.

 

Stanza 3

Will no one tell me what she sings?

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow

For old, unhappy, far-off things,

And battles long ago:

Or is it some more humble lay,

Familiar matter of to-day?

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,

That has been, and may be again!

Explanation :

The poet wonders what the girl is singing about or what could be the subject matter of her song. The poet is unable to understand the words and their meaning as the girl is singing in regional language which the poet is unfamiliar with. He makes a guess that her sad song may be about some past unhappy event or some mishappening in her past. He also thinks for the possibility that she may be singing a song on the theme of ancient wars and violent struggles. There is also a possibility that she is singing a simple, ordinary song on simple theme or it can be a song about everyday life which may be expressing sadness, loss, or pain happening normally in human life and such things must have happened in past and, can happen in future, too.

 

Stanza 4

What’er the theme, the maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending;

I saw her singing at her work,

And o’er the sickle bending –

I listen’d motionless and still;

And, as I mounted up the hill,

The music in my heart I bore

Long after it was heard no more.

Explanation :

The poet feels that she is singing so meditatively that it appears as if she is singing fo ever and it will never end. The poet closely observes her while she works, bending over her sickle to cut the crops. As he listens the song, he stands completely still, gets immersed in the song. Even when he walks up the hill and moves away, he feels the vibrations of the song. He feels that even after sound is left behind and the song is no more heard, its effect stays with him. He feels that he is carrying the sweet memory of her song in his heart which will remain intact for ever.

 

Summary

One day, the poet William Wordsworth saw a young woman from the Highlands region of Scotland working alone in a field and harvesting grain with a sickle. Words referring to solitary, loneliness. She was attractive. She was singing a luring song, whose melody sounded sad and melancholy. Her voice was as melodious as a nightingale’s and could be heard echoing throughout the valley. It was a pleasant voice that was suitable for welcoming some travellers to the deserts of Arabia. It was a voice which was more thrilling than that of a cuckoo bird, which was powerful enough to break the silence in the most remote group of islands that lie to the north-west of Scotland. The poet could not know the real reason or story behind the sad song, so he thinks of several possible backstories behind the song. He even questions if no one would tell him the reason behind her sad song. He says that the song may have been just a plaintive flow about old, unhappy battles and wars. Next, he says that the song may have been an ordinary song about the hardships of ordinary life, a collection of what happens every day and will continue to happen every day. Also, it could be due to a loss of a loved one or a family member. The poet observed that, regardless of the theme, the sad song of the lonely reaper seemed endless, just like her work. The poet was so affected by the melody that he stopped moving altogether. He climbed the hills, his heart full with the melody. The song was still playing inside him although he could not hear it any longer which shows the effectiveness of the melodious voice. He went back to the same fields where the young woman was working but the woman was no longer there and he could no longer hear the melodious voice or know the real backstory behind her sad song. The poet never saw the woman again, but the song remained in his mind forever.

 

Difficult Words

Behold - look

Solitary - lonely

Lass - girl

single - lonely

Yon (yonder) – in front of

melancholy strain - sad saong

reaping - cutting the crop

vale profound - deep valley

weary bands - tired group of travellers

shady haunt - cool shady place

farthest - very far

Hebrides – Scottish islands

Plaintive numbers– sad song

far off - past

Humble lay – ordinary song

Sickle – tool to cut grass

Bore (bear) - carried

 

Rhyme scheme (irregular) – abcbddee / ababccdd

Poetic devices

Behold her, single in the field, - Assonance, Imagery

Yon solitary Highland Lass! – Poetic license, Assonance, Imagery

Reaping and singing by herself; - Assonance, Imagery

Stop here, or gently pass! - Assonance

Alone she cuts and binds the grain, - Imagery

And sings a melancholy strain; - Alliteration

O listen! for the vale profound – Poetic License, Assonance, Imagery, Metaphor, Enjambment

Is overflowing with the sound. – Assonance, Imagery

No nightingale did ever chant – Alliteration, Imagery, Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia, Enjambment

More welcome notes to weary bands – Assonance, Alliteration, Hyperbole, Enjambment

Of travellers in some shady haunt, - Imagery, Hyperbole, Enjambment

Among Arabian sands: - Imagery, Enjambment

A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard - Hyperbole, Enjambment

In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird, - Imagery

Breaking the silence of the seas – Alliteration, Repetition, Personification

Will no one tell me what she sings? - Assonance

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow - Alliteration

For old, unhappy, far-off things, - Assonance

And battles long ago: - Assonance

Or is it some more humble lay, - Assonance

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, - Assonance

That has been, and may be again! - Assonance

What’er the theme, the maiden sang - Repetition

As if her song could have no ending; - Alliteration

I saw her singing at her work, - Repetition, Imagery

And o’er the sickle bending – Imagery

I listen’d motionless and still; - Poetic Repetition

And, as I mounted up the hill, - Assonance, Imagery

The music in my heart I bore - Alliteration

Long after it was heard no more. - Assonance

Seven Ages

Seven Ages

By William Shakespeare

Analysis : 

·      This poem ‘Seven Ages’ is taken from the play ‘As You Like It’ written by William Shakespeare, the greatest dramatist ever in English Literature.

·      These lines are a monologue spoken by Jaques, a melancholy and philosophical man in Act II, Scene VII of the play. Today, this monologue is considered one of the greatest pieces of English literature.

·      'The Globe Theatre' opened by Shakespeare’s playing company used the Latin motto as the theme "Totus mundus agit histrionem," which means ‘the whole world performs as actor' and the same idea is used to open this monologue.

·      It is a narrative poem composed in iambic pentameter, consisting of five pairs or iambs of 2 syllables each, in total 10 syllables.

·      In this poem the poet discusses a man’s life and the various roles he plays in his lifetime, which terms as ‘Seven Ages’. He compares life to a play. Just like in a play all the actors appear on the stage and perform their specified roles before leaving this world. These roles represent the seven stages of human life, such as infancy, childhood, teenager, youth, adulthood, old age, and last stage is nearing death.

·      This poem is written in blank verse with no rhyme scheme.

·      The tone of the poem is philosophical.

·      Themes of the poem are transience of life and the universal human experience in this world. It also highlights the transience and futility of life and cyclic nature of life, giving the impression of philosophical thinking about life during the Renaissance.

 

Line by Line Explanation

Lines 1-5

All the world’s a stage, 

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,                      

His acts being seven ages.

Explanation :

Shakespeare compares the world to a stage and people to actors. Just like actors enter and exit the stage during a play, human beings are born into the world and eventually leave it after their death. During their lifetime, they perform various roles, similar to actors playing different characters. These roles represent the seven stages of human life, such as infancy, childhood, teenager, youth, adulthood, old age, and last stage is nearing death.

Thus, the poet suggests that life is like a dramatic performance where each person plays several roles before finally leaving the stage of the world.

 

Lines 5-9

At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;

And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school.

Explanation :

These lines describe the first stage, infancy and childhood, the school-going stage of life.

The first stage is of an infant. The baby cries and sometimes vomits while he is being fed and taken care by the mother or a nurse. This shows the helplessness and dependence of a newborn child over the one who takes care of the child.

In the second stage, the child steps into the school going age. He carries his school bag to his school and moves very slowly to the school. At this age he has a fresh and bright face just like the new morning. However, he goes to school unwillingly and moves very slowly, to his school. It appears as if he is burdened with his school bag and creeping very slowly like a snail creeps under its shell. The lines show that children often dislike going to school.

 

Lines 9-15

And then the lover,  

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon’s mouth.

Explanation

This stage represents youth, when a person falls deeply in love, and becomes love stricken. The lover sighs intensely like a burning furnace. His passion is so strong and his emotions are so fiery that his sigh is compared to hot furnace as fire of love is burning in his heart. He also writes sad love songs to praise his beloved’s facial beauty which is represented by his eye brow. He also writes sad love songs to express his intense feelings and helplessness. He admires the beauty of his beloved by writing poems about beautiful features like her eyebrow.

The next stage of life is that of a soldier who is brave, hot-tempered, and eager to defend his honor. The soldier symbolises bravery and action. He uses unusual oaths and pledges out of passion and aggression. He is ferocious like a leopard but very sensitive about his honour and reputation. He becomes angry very quickly and gets ready to fight at small instances. For him, his name and reputation matter most, which is, in fact, transient and short lived like a bubble which breaks within few moments. However, he is ready to face any amount of danger, go even in the mouth of a cannon at battle, or accept death to protect his name and honour.

Lines 15-25

And then the justice

In fair round belly with good capon lined,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound.

Explanation :

This stage represents a middle-aged man, usually wise and respected like a judge. He has a big belly, which shows that he enjoys good food and is leading a comfortable life. He has a serious expression on his face and has a formal beard, which reflects that he leads a life of dignity and ease. He often speaks wise sayings and proverbs, showing his experience and knowledge. Thus, he performs this role of a wise and respected man in society.

The next stage is old age, where a man becomes thin and wears slippers like a weak old person. He needs glasses to see clearly and loose skin hangs at his sides. The stockings  from his youth are now too loose for his thin legs. His once strong and powerful voice begins to weaken. His voice becomes thin and high-pitched like a child’s voice, sometimes sounding like whistles and pipes.

Overall, these lines describe how a man moves from the respected stage of maturity to the age of a weak old man.

 

Lines 25-28

Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Explanation :

These lines speak about the final stage of life, just like the last scene of a play. Human life is described as a strange and eventful history, which is full of strange and uncertain incidents and happenings and this stage brings that story to the final culmination. In extreme old age, a person becomes weak and dependent like a child again, and begins to lose memory and awareness.
In this stage, a person loses all abilities and senses such as eyesight, taste, teeth and almost all physical and mental powers.

 

Themes Highlighted in the poem

The poem highlights the transience and futility of life and the universal human experience, cyclic nature of life, Passage of time and aging, giving impression of philosophical thinking about life during the Renaissance. It speaks about even sins and qualities and weaknesses specific to age. It presents the world as a stage and people as actors. 

 

Blank Verse – The poem does not follow any rhyme. It is a narrative poem composed in iambic pentameter – five pairs or iambs of 2 syllables each, in total 10 syllables.

Poetic Devices

All the world’s a stage,  - Extended Metaphor 

And all the men and women merely players; - Metaphor, Alliteration

They have their exits and their entrances, - Metaphor, Alliteration, Repetition 

And one man in his time plays many parts, - Alliteration                    

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms; - Imagery, Consonance

And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel, - Assonance, Imagery

And shining morning face, creeping like snail - Simile, Consonance, Imagery

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, - Alliteration 

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad - Simile, Alliteration

Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, - Alliteration, Synecdoche

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, - Simile 

Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, - Assonance, Alliteration

Seeking the bubble reputation - Metaphor 

Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the Justice - Hyperbole, Alliteration, Repetition 

In fair round belly with good capon lined, - Assonance 

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, - Consonance

Full of wise saws and modern instances; - Consonance 

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts - Alliteration

Into the lean and slippered pantaloon, - Consonance, Imagery

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; - Repetition, Imagery, Alliteration

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide - Alliteration, Consonance 

For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, - Repetition, Alliteration, Consonance

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes - Metaphor 

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, - Metaphor 

That ends this strange eventful history, - Metaphor 

Is second childishness and mere oblivion, - Metaphor

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. - Repetition 

 

  

birth

Birth

                                       By A. J.Cronin

Analysis:

The story ‘Birth’ is written by A. J. Cronin, the Scottish novelist and physician. It is an excerpt from his novel ‘The Citadel’.

This story is a beautiful message of mental strength, courage, deterrence and resilience and commitment to profession.

It is an account of a complicated case of child birth tactfully dealt by a doctor, Andrew Manson who has just started his medical practice in Blaenelly. The family of Joe Morgan was expecting their first child after 20 years of his marriage, hence they were anxious still they had complete faith in Dr. Andrew.

It vividly captures his first experience of the childbirth, highlighting the emotional intensity, professional responsibility, and life-and-death dilemmas. 

The style of the story is narratives as it narrates small details, situation, surroundings, characters and the small acts of bravery and courage performed by the doctor.

The story is great lesson to all the people on how to fight the hurdles and emerge triumphantly in the time of crisis especially about the life-saving acts of the doctors who bring smiles on the grim faces.

Dr. Andrew Manson stood out as a true example of strong stamina and perseverance. He displayed amazing sensibility with sensitivity, great awareness of medical cases, and complete commitment to his profession with an amzing sense of kindness.

 

Summary :

The story is about Andrew Manson, a young doctor who has just started his career as an assistant to Dr. Edward Page in Blaenelly, a small Welsh mining town. This excerpt narrates one intense night in his career that tests his knowledge as well as his emotional strength.

It begins with Joe Morgan waiting for Doctor Andrew Manson as his wife was in labour pain even before the time of her child’s birth. She was in a critical situation. Andrew tried to come out of the unpleasant time with his girlfriend Christine. He got his bag, came out of his house and started walking towards Joe’s house 12 Blaina Terrace, Joe’s house. When they reached, Joe told, he won’t come in and showed full confidence in Andrew. Joe was tense and nervous.

Andrew entered the house and reached the bedroom which was not lavish, but was neat. Inside the room there were Mrs. Morgan’s mother, who was an elderly woman and a midwife to assist the childbirth. Mrs Morgan’s mother offered Andrew a cup of tea. Realising the old lady’s worry due to the waiting period, giving a gentle smile doctor comforted her saying that he won’t go anywhere before the child birth.

Though he was mentally and physically exhausted due to the unpleasant encounter with Christine, he knew it was impossible for him to even get an hour’s worth of sleep if he went home.

He went upstairs after almost an hour to check upon Mrs Morgan and again come back. While he sat in the kitchen, Mrs Morgan’s mother sat in front of him wearing her black dress. She looked at him constantly with her wise eyes that were filled with hope.

He was still being haunted by the incident that took place at Cardiff station with Christine. He decided not to marry recalling some examples of failed marriages in his acquaintances, Bramwell, Dr. Edward Page and Denny.

The old lady tells the doctor that Susan was worried Susan due to her complicated situation and refused to have anaesthesia as it might affect the baby. She told him, they all want that child very badly. The doctor assured the old lady that the anaesthetic would do no harm to either of them.

Suddenly, the nurse called the doctor that Mrs. Morgan needed him as it was the time. After struggle of an hour the child was born with the first ray of the dawn, but the child was lifeless. As he looked at the lifeless child, a shiver passed down his spine. He was devastated as well as confused. He had to decide to address the still-born or the miserable mother. He intuitively addressed the mother first while giving the child to the nurse. Susan laid unconscious. He instantly broke the medicine’s glass to fill the syringe and inject it into her.

When he was assured that she was safe, he turned to the child without wasting a moment. The midwife had kept it under the bed, considering the child lifeless. He took the child out. The child had perfect shape and flawless soft skin. His body was warm and limbs felt boneless. He observed the child and knew it could only be a case of oxygen deprivation. He had seen a similar case in Samaritan. He instantly stood up and asked the nurse to bring hot water and cold water in separate tubs. The nurse hesitated as she thought the efforts were useless but the doctor shouted at her to follow his instructions.

Then, Andrew grabbed a blanket and placing the child on it, performed the CPR. The nurse arrived and he began with the procedure. In one basin, he put cold water and in the other, he put hot water at the temperature the child could bear. He started dipping the child in the basins, one after another. He did the procedure for about fifteen minutes. He was extremely tired and sweating badly. One of his sleeves got unfolded and wet with water. Despite all his effort, the child still laid lifeless. After the long struggle, the floor was extremely wet and dirty. He slipped and the child also almost slipped as he was wet like a white fish. The midwife then pleaded the doctor to stop as the child is stillborn.

He felt that he had failed so, was disheartened. All eyes were on him. Then, he thought of something else and rubbed the child with towel, and then clinched and released the child’s chest. He repeated this process again and again. Just then, like a miracle, the little chest which was enclosed in Andrew’s hands, took a breath. He continued heaving, leaving Andrew weak in his knees. The feeling of the little one’s breathing on his fingers was incredible. He, then doubled the efforts until the child breathed deeply. As he gasped, a bubble formed by the mucus came out of the baby’s tiny nostril, his pale skin turned pink and the body no longer felt like it was lifeless.

The nurse was praying with tears in her eyes. Andrew handed her the child, he felt extremely weak and tired. The mother lay still on the bed, the anesthesia still had its effect. Susan’s mother stood still in one place in wonder and gratitude.

Andrew told the nurse that he will take his bag later. After drinking a glass of water from kitchen he took his coat and hat and headed outside. He met Joe outside and told him that everything was fine. While walking towards his home, his heart was full of the thought that he finally accomplished something.

 Important Question Answers

What impression do you form of Andrew Manson on the basis of the story ‘Birth’?

Ans. Andrew Manson is a young doctor who has recently started his medical practice as an assistant to Dr Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. Andrew is mature enough to keep his private and professional lives apart. Once confronted with his responsibility, he discharges his obligations to the utmost capacity even though he was mentally exhausted and sad after his fight with his girl friend, Christine. He is duty conscious. 

He is not a theorist only. He believes in practical approach. He is pragmatic and is smart at trying new methods as per the demand of the situation.

Andrew is sensible as well as sensitive. He respects feelings of others. He knows how deeply Susan and her family loved her coming baby. He has polite manners and reassuring tone. On the whole, Andrew is a dedicated and committed doctor and a compassionate human being.