ENTERPRISE

Nissim Ezekiel

HOW TO DESCRIBE THE POEM

Nissim Ezekiel's "Enterprise" is a:

powerful, multi-faceted metaphor
for a:
journey, an expedition or a significant human activity
which a man:
dreams of, plans, and concretizes
but which ultimately ends up in disillusionment.

HOW TO DESCRIBE THE POEM

The poem Enterprise in general is an :

Allegory on Pilgrimage
Allegory on the human condition on this planet and
Allegory on the frequent efforts, failures and frustrations to which man
is subject to.
All the above have been woven into an extended metaphor of pilgrimage

Allegory:
A story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a
hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

THE BEGINNING

It started as a pilgrima
Exalting minds and making

The burdens light, The second sta

Explored but did not test the ca

The sun beat down to match o

rag

The pilgrimage begins, with so much of:

excitement and
fanfare
that the difficulties that lie ahead appear to be mere straws.

THE BEGINNING

It started as a pilgrima
Exalting minds and making

The burdens light, The second sta

Explored but did not test the ca

The sun beat down to match o

rag

In the first stage of the pilgrimage, people feel so much surcharged with:
emotion and
excitement
that all difficulties, all burdens seem insignificant:
Exalting minds and making all
The burdens light.
It's the stage of universal enthusiasm or mob-foolhardiness whose real
strength could be tested only in difficult times.
This stage is marked by the excitement and the joy that fills one up when
a call to such a journey is given

THE SUNS RAGE

It started as a pilgrima
Exalting minds and making

The burdens light, The second sta

Explored but did not test the ca

The sun beat down to match o

rag

The pilgrims are now faced with adverse natural difficulties

This is symbolized by the blazing sun
This however does not dry up their enthusiasm.
The scorching sun is an apt metaphor for "massive obstacles".
In fact, these obstacles only embolden them further as if to meet the
challenge.
The sun beat down to match our rage.

THE PILGRIMS RESPONSE

We stood it very well, I though

Observed and put down copio

no

On things the peasants sold a

boug

The way of serpants and of goa

Three cities where a sage h

taug
corresponding rage in the

The "Rage" Of the Sun seems to produce

people.
Carried away by excitement, the pilgrims minutely observe and note down
everything
They want to keep a record of the items significant and insignificant,
holy and mundane, human as well as non-human.

THE PILGRIMS RESPONSE

- INTERPRETATION

We stood it very well, I though

Observed and put down copio

no

On things the peasants sold a

boug

The way of serpants and of goa

Three cities where a sage h

taug
stage,

The poem here comments on the enterprise at this

The comment can be seen as:
A satire on the adventures of the urbanites' in rural and pastoral
situations,
The poem comments on the impracticalities of such enterprise.

THE PILGRIMS RESPONSE

- INTERPRETATION

We stood it very well, I though

Observed and put down copio

no

On things the peasants sold a

boug

Thesituation
way of serpants and of goa
The reference to serpents brings out the irony of the
citieson
where
How mentally ill-equipped the pilgrims are before theyThree
embark
the a sage h
taug
expedition.
The least they could have done was to gather basic knowledge of the
route and place of pilgrimageits geography, its people, the dangers and
difficulties likely to be encountered on the way.
But they seem to have done nothing of the kind.
Now in nothing down such commonly known objects, as serpents and
goats, they are frittering away their energies
As a result they are bound to miss the deeper meaning of life, which such
an expedition often reveals.

THE PILGRIMS RESPONSE

- INTERPRETATION

We stood it very well, I though

Observed and put down copio

no

On things the peasants sold a

boug

The way of serpants and of goa

The conscientiousness with which the pilgrims record minute

details
may
Three cities
where
a sage h
taug
appear to be worth appreciating
It however conceals their inherent shallowness they seem to be ignorant
of the true purpose of their journey
They have not made a spiritual search of the meaning of their journey and
its inner significance.
In this stage the pilgrims learn from the people on the route. taking down
notes and observation.
It is a stage of discovery, but a superficial one
This may also give us advance indications of the eventual failure of their
expedition.

But when the differences aro

CRACKS IN THE FACADE OF UNITYOn how to cross a desert patc

We lost a friend whose stylish pro

Was quite the best of all our batc

A shadow falls on us and gro

Now the true examination begins that suggests cracks in the facade of
their unity.
But when the differences arose
On how to cross a desert patch,
This phrase "desert patch " alludes to lack of inspiration and faith.
The "desert patch" takes on symbolic significance in this stanza.
Earlier they had passed through lands of friendly peasants and cities of
faith.
Now they have to cross religions which lack faith and are like a "desert "

But when the differences aro

CRACKS IN THE FACADE OF UNITYOn how to cross a desert patc

We lost a friend whose stylish pro

We lost a friend whose stylish prose

Was quite the best of all our batc
Was quite the best of all our batch.
A shadow falls on us and gro
Here Ezekiel emphasizes the difference between:
a theorist and a practical man,
an idealist and a realist,
A theorist skilled in writing "stylish prose" failed to provide a workable
solution to overcome obstacles symbolized by "a desert patch."
Here the 'stylish prose' is mocked at for its inability to overcome the
practical difficulties and impediments symbolised by "a desert patch."
This is an example of how intellectual opinions and arguments often lead
to disintegration.
As always happens in such cases, the theorists become the first to leave
the feared-sinking ship of expedition.

THE UNITY OF PURPOSE IS

SHATTERED

Another phase was reached when w

Were twice attacked, and lost o

wa

A section claimed its liber

To leave the group. I tried to pra

In the fourth stanza, Ezekiel writes of other impediments
Our leader said he smelt the s
Outsiders' assault on the team and the resultant loss of way by the
enterprise.
The sense of being lost is a very powerful expression as it indicates both
the physical as well as the spiritual crisis.
Some quit the team.
The leader of the group tries to inject some encouragement by assuring
them that the destination was at hand.
Looking at the disorganized lot of pilgrims, the poet had a feeling of utter
helplessness in which the only thing he could do was to pray to God.
The act of praying implies seeking the divine help for the expedition
because of the failures of human efforts.

THE UNITY OF PURPOSE IS

SHATTERED

We noticed nothing as we wen

A straggling crowd of little hop

Ignoring what the thunder mean

Deprived of common needs like soa

Some were broken, some mere

be

The grim picture of the pilgrimage in the fifth stanza is diametrically

opposed to the rosy one painted in the first two stanzas of the poem.
Earlier, in the heat of the pilgrims' enthusiasm, all burdens had appeared
light.
Unlike a long distance runner, who smartly uses his energies by evenly
spacing it on the race track
He uses his last reserves strength only at the finishing point in order to
snatch a victory
The pilgrims in the poem could also have preserved their energy for the
final part of the journey instead of frittering it away in observing and
noting down even insignificant things! `

THE UNITY OF PURPOSE IS

SHATTERED

We noticed nothing as we wen

A straggling crowd of little hop

Ignoring what the thunder mean

Deprived of common needs like soa

Some were broken, some mere

be

Now they are a demoralized, disintegrated and exhausted lot

Thus, the pilgrims have their power of vision clouded so much that nothing
remarkable can be seen by their eyes.
Rather than being bound by an idealized goal, the pilgrims tum into a
disorganized crowd of aimless wanderers
They have forgotten the original, lofty motive which had prompted their
expedition.

THE UNITY OF PURPOSE IS

SHATTERED

We noticed nothing as we wen

A straggling crowd of little hop

Ignoring what the thunder mean

Deprived of common needs like soa

Some were broken, some mere

be
aimless wanderers

They no more remained the curious idealists but

They even ignore the thunder, which symbolises spiritual regeneration.
Remember they have been through the raging sun and the desert patch
Thunder was a sign of the approaching rains which had the power to
revitalize them
Finally only disillusionment is the outcome of the journey.
Same condition is there in the journey of life.
In the beginning of this journey, a man is full of hope, desires and
enthusiasm.
But when the end approaches, there is total disillusionment and
disappointment.

THE UNITY OF PURPOSE IS

SHATTERED

When, finally , we reached t

plac

We hardly know why we were the

The trip
darkened every fac
Finally, all the hopes of gaining spiritual regeneration
arehad
lost.
Our deeds were
neither
great n
When the narrator makes an estimate of the achievements
of this
journey,
ra
there is absolutely nothing
Home is where we have to gath
The pilgrims realize that their actions have been neither pioneering,
grac
nor extraordinarily great.
The closing line sums up the enterprise in a moralistic tone
The poet realises that the journey or the quest to find something different
is a vain attempt.
Grace' or redemption can be obtained through life itself, in the very act of
living in the world.
Home' can also be a metaphor for the self,
Hence redemption has to be won also through one's mind or through
victory over our inner world