Red Oleanders - Couverture souple

Tagore, Rabindranath

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 9381523215 ISBN 13 : 9789381523216

Editeur : Niyogi Books, 2012

Synopsis

Written immediately after his visit to the US in 1923, Tagore's creative stimulation behind this play was his response to the increasingly materialistic society that he had experienced first-hand in the States. He thus created an imaginary land Yakshapuri, a city full of wealth and riches where human beings are reduced to machines as they toil though their lives to cater to the insatiable greed of their ruler, the King. It is against this backdrop that the protagonist Nandini appears who dares to point a finger at the dominating authority eventually bringing about a change in the King while leading the soulless citizens to the discovery of happiness in its truest form. However, this liberation comes at a cost.

With the degradation of humanistic values and the specter of another World War looming large before them, the Western society found much relevance in Tagore's vision of the revolutionary world portrayed in this piece of translated literature. However, despite this topical allusion, the greatness of this book remains unchanged and continues to be a source of inspiration for the free-spirited, independent-minded readers even today.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

"Red Oleanders" ("Rakto Karabi" in Bengali) is regarded as one of Tagore's best plays, written at the age of sixty-three. When he wrote the original play in 1924, he envisioned that the Western capitalistic, utilitarian approach to society would eventually destroy universal human values. Vast industrialization throughout the world would result in diminishing human compassion and cause an ecological imbalance. To convey this message he utilized his characters as metaphors of human instincts, such as greed, power and envy, as well as love, trust and sacrifice. This play, written in 1923-24, was begun during a visit to Shillong, Assam, and inspired by the image of a red oleander plant crushed by pieces of discarded iron that Tagore had come across while walking. The play's theme is unscrupulous capitalism, environmental exploitation and the importance of human relationships. It's a powerful and moving play: the story of Nandini, a girl who recognises no social barriers and taboos and who disregards them in her search for happiness. Nandini is one of those individuals who bring out the best in human nature. Entering a town where men are enslaved to mine gold, she makes them aware of their bondage and creates in them a desire to be free. Her symbol, the red oleander, can be variously interpreted as frailty or as the red badge of courage.

Biographie de l'auteur

Written and translated by the author-Rabindranath Tagore (7 May 1861-7 August 1941), was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its 'profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse', he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Niyogi Books
• Date d'édition: 2012
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 9381523215
• ISBN 13: 9789381523216
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 148
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible