Solitude

Solitude

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone.

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air.

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from a voice of care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go.

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all.

There are none to decline your nectar’d wine,

But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a large and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow aisles of pain.

একাকীত্ব

এলা হুইলার উইলকক্স

হাসো, আর সারা বিশ্ব হাসবে তোমার সাথে;

কাঁদো, আর কাঁদবে একা।

কারণ এই দুঃখী পুরোনো পৃথিবীর আনন্দ ধার করতে হয়,

কিন্তু তার নিজেরই আছে যথেষ্ট কষ্ট। গাও,

আর পাহাড়গুলো সাড়া দেবে;

দীর্ঘশ্বাস ফেলো, তা বাতাসে হারিয়ে যাবে।

প্রতিধ্বনিগুলো আনন্দের শব্দে ঝাঁপিয়ে পড়ে,

কিন্তু কষ্টের কণ্ঠস্বর থেকে দূরে সরে যায়।

আনন্দ করো, আর মানুষ তোমাকে খুঁজবে;

শোক করো, আর তারা ঘুরে চলে যাবে।

তারা তোমার আনন্দের সবটুকু চায়,

কিন্তু তোমার দুঃখের তাদের কোনো প্রয়োজন নেই।

খুশি থাকো, আর তোমার বন্ধু অনেক হবে;

দুঃখী হও, আর তাদের সবাইকে হারাবে।

তোমার অমৃত–ভরা ওয়াইন প্রত্যাখ্যান করার কেউ নেই,

কিন্তু জীবনের তিক্ততা একা তোমাকেই পান করতে হবে।

ভোজ দাও, আর তোমার হল ঘর লোকে ভরে যাবে;

উপবাস করো, আর পৃথিবী পাশ কাটিয়ে চলে যাবে।

সফল হও আর দাও, আর তা তোমাকে বাঁচতে সাহায্য করবে,

কিন্তু কোনো মানুষ তোমাকে মরতে সাহায্য করতে পারে না।

আনন্দের হল–ঘরে অনেক জায়গা আছে

একটি বিশাল আর অভিজাত দলের জন্য,

 কিন্তু একজন একজন করে আমাদের সবাইকে এগিয়ে যেতে হবে

বেদনার সংকীর্ণ পথ দিয়ে।

Theme: The poem conveys that joy attracts company, but sorrow often leaves one isolated. It highlights the selfish nature of society, where people seek pleasure but avoid pain. True emotional support is rare, and solitude becomes a companion in hard times.

আনন্দ মানুষকে কাছে আনে, কিন্তু দুঃখ প্রায়ই মানুষকে একা করে দেয়। এটি সমাজের স্বার্থপর স্বভাবকে তুলে ধরে, যেখানে মানুষ সুখ চায় কিন্তু দুঃখ এড়িয়ে চলে। সত্যিকারের মানসিক সহায়তা বিরল, আর কঠিন সময়ে একাকীত্ব সঙ্গী হয়ে যায়।

Summary: Solitude explores how human relationships change depending on one’s emotional state. When you are happy, people gather around to share your joy. But when you are sad, most people avoid you and leave you alone. The poet suggests that society prefers to consume joy but shuns sorrow. Ultimately, the poem reminds us that loneliness is often inevitable in times of grief.

Solitude কবিতায় দেখা যায় কিভাবে মানুষের সম্পর্ক আবেগের অবস্থার উপর নির্ভর করে বদলে যায়। যখন তুমি আনন্দে থাকো, মানুষ তোমার সুখে শরিক হতে ভিড় জমায়। কিন্তু যখন তুমি দুঃখে থাকো, বেশিরভাগ মানুষ তোমাকে এড়িয়ে চলে ও একা রেখে যায়। কবি ইঙ্গিত দেন যে সমাজ আনন্দ গ্রহণ করতে চায় কিন্তু দুঃখ এড়িয়ে চলে। শেষ পর্যন্ত, কবিতাটি আমাদের মনে করিয়ে দেয় যে দুঃখের সময় একাকীত্ব প্রায়শই অনিবার্য।

Answer the following questions:

(a) Why does the poet contrast fasting and feasting in “Solitude”?

(b) What is the effect of repetition in “Solitude”?

(c) Explain the following lines in your own words

(i) “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone;”

(ii) “Succeed and give, and it helps you live, But no man can help you die.”

(d) Do the mountains echo the songs that we sing but not our sighs?

(e) When do you have many friends and when do they leave you?(f) Write a summary of the poem in your own words (100 words).

(g) Identify and explain a metaphor in the poem.

(h) How does the poet describe the reaction of society to sorrow?

(i) What does the poet mean by “Feast, and your halls are crowded; Fast, and the world goes by”?

(j) What message does the poet convey about friendship in the poem?

(k) How does the poet use contrast to emphasize the theme of the poem?

(l) What does the poet mean by “The echoes bound to a joyful sound, but shrink from voicing care”?

(m) What is the significance of the poem’s title, “Solitude”?

(n) If you were to describe the tone of the poem, how would you do so?

Answer

(a) In “Solitude,” the poet contrasts feasting and fasting to highlight the extremes of human experience. Feasting symbolizes indulgence, while fasting represents restraint and isolation. This contrast illustrates the balance and tension between indulgence and self-discipline in life.

(b) The repetition in “Solitude” emphasizes the contemplative and meditative nature of the poem. It draws attention to the contrasts and reflections on solitude and social life, making the theme of isolation more prominent and thought-provoking.

(c) (i) “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone:”
These lines highlight how society prefers happiness and joy. When you are happy, people enjoy your company and share in your laughter. However, in times of sorrow, you are left to face your pain alone, as others tend to avoid sorrow.

(ii) “Succeed and give, and it helps you live, But no man can help you die:”
This means that success and generosity attract support and admiration, making life more fulfilling. However, no one can share or ease the inevitable journey of death. It is a solitary experience that each person must face alone.

(d) Yes, the poet suggests that the joyful sounds of singing resonate and are echoed by the mountains, symbolizing how society amplifies and responds to happiness. In contrast, signs of sorrow are lost and ignored, reflecting how sadness is often overlooked or avoided.

(e) You have many friends when you are happy, successful, and celebrating life’s joys. Friends are drawn to pleasure and prosperity. However, they leave you during times of sadness, failure, or hardship, as people tend to avoid negativity and grief.

(f) The poem “Solitude” by “Ella Wheeler Wilcox” reflects on society’s tendency to embrace happiness but shun sorrows. It emphasizes how people celebrate joy, success, and pleasure but avoid sadness, grief, and hardship. The poet illustrates the fleeting nature of companionship, with friends surrounding you in good times but abandoning you in sorrow. She also underscores the isolating reality of life’s challenges, especially the inevitability of facing death alone. Through vivid contrasts between joy and pain, the poem conveys the harsh truth that while happiness is shared and amplified, sorrow must be borne in solitude.

(g) The phrase “There are none to decline your nectar’d wine, but alone must drink life’s gall” is a metaphor. Here, “nectar’d wine” represents joy and pleasure that everyone wants to share, while “life’s gall” symbolizes bitterness or hardship, which one must endure alone. It highlights the contrast between shared happiness and solitary suffering.

(h) The poet describes society as avoiding sorrow and grief. While people celebrate and seek joy, they turn away from sadness, leaving the grieving person to face his pain alone.

(i) The poet conveys that friendship is often conditional. Friends are plentiful during times of happiness and success but disappear when you face sorrow or hardship. This reflects the transient and self-serving nature of many relationships.

(j) The poet uses contrasts between laughter and weeping, success and failure, feasting and fasting, to show how society celebrates joy but shuns sorrow. This stark comparison underscores the loneliness of hardship and the conditional nature of human connections.

(k) The tone of the poem is realistic and slightly melancholic. It carries a realistic, perhaps cynical, perspective on human nature and societal behavior, emphasizing the isolation of grief and the transient support of others during happiness.