Gitanjali · Chapter
III explained
W.
What happens
W. B. Yeats reflects on Rabindranath Tagore's unique literary quality, contrasting his spontaneous, soul-discovering simplicity with the dull pursuits of the world. Yeats highlights Tagore's humility, his childlike closeness to nature, and his hereditary innocence, drawing parallels to the saints and to the courtesy of legendary figures.
Themes in this chapter
Surrender and Egolessness
Tagore's surrender to the soul's spontaneity and his humble contrast with worldly pursuits exemplify egolessness.
Beauty of the Ordinary and Nature
Yeats emphasizes Tagore's closeness to birds, leaves, and the seasons, seeing them as great events.
Poverty and Humility
The poet sits like a beggar maid, drawing her skirt over her face, embodying humility and poverty of spirit.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
The poet is depicted as a beggar maid, filled with shame, who sits silently when asked what she wants.
- Rabindranath Tagore
Tagore is presented as one who has discovered the soul and surrendered to its spontaneity, contrasting with those who pursue worldly gains.
- The Divine
Referenced as the 'playmate of the empty days' who draws the poet's heart to him.
Key passages
“Men going home glance at me and smile and fill me with shame. I sit like a beggar maid, drawing my skirt over my face, and when they ask me, what it is I want, I drop my eyes and answer them not.”
Passersby look at me and smile, making me feel ashamed. I sit like a poor woman, hiding my face, and when asked what I desire, I remain silent.
Yeats uses this quote to illustrate Tagore's humility and contrast with worldly life.
“Many an hour I have spent in the strife of the good and the evil, but now it is the pleasure of my playmate of the empty days to draw my heart on to him; and I know not why is this sudden call to what useless inconsequence.”
I once struggled between good and evil, but now my heart is drawn to the divine playmate of my idle days, and I do not understand this call to seemingly pointless simplicity.
This reflects Tagore's shift from moral striving to joyful surrender.
“They build their houses with sand and they play with empty shells. With withered leaves they weave their boats and smilingly float them on the vast deep. Children have their play on the seashore of worlds. They know not how to swim, they know not how to cast nets. Pearl fishers dive for pearls, merchants sail in their ships, while children gather pebbles and scatter them again. They seek not for hidden treasures, they know not how to cast nets.”
Children build sandcastles, play with shells, and make boats from dry leaves, floating them on the ocean. They play on the world's shore, unable to swim or fish. While pearl divers and merchants seek wealth, children simply collect and scatter pebbles, not looking for hidden treasures.
Yeats cites this passage to show Tagore's childlike innocence and closeness to nature.