Partition: title , theme, analysis, MyInfocontent

                                                             

  Partition by W.H. Auden 

 Historical Background 

 In the mid of the 20th century, Subcontinent was struggling with the Partition. During this period of the separation, the country was occupied by colonizers (British). After hundred years of ruling the subcontinent, the British decided to free the country in 1947. The British government appointed Sir Cyril Redcliffe to complete the task. Sir Redcliffe was a British lawyer and law lord best known for his role in the Partition of India. The colonized country had a great impact on the partition as well as the ruled Government. W. H . Auden addresses the behaviour of Sir Redcliffe during the period of separation. This poem deals with historical and political impacts. 

 About W.H . Auden

 Wystan Hugh Auden was a British – American poet. Auden poetry is known for its technical and stylistic achievement. He deals with morals, love, religion and politics. He is also known for his Chameleon ability to write poems in a variety of content, tone and form. He is considered one of the most influential poets of 20th-century poetry. Auden attempts his love of poetry influenced by old English verse and the poems of Thomas Hardy, William Blake and Robert Frost. He won the Pulitzer award in 1948. This “ Partition” poem artfully and fearlessly depict the situation of partition in the Subcontinent. 

 About Title “ Partition”

 The poem Partition is a political and historical context poem. It is about the event of separation of the Subcontinent. The poet criticised the method of separation. Cyril Redcliffe parted the area of the country on the idea of outdated maps and incorrect information. He stayed for a brief interval of five weeks. In this short period, he complete the task and left over a million people's fate. The tone of the poem is critical and sarcastic. Auden presents the theme of unjust partition and the perspective of colonizers. 

 Themes of Partition

  Biased Redcliffe 

 Unbiased at least he was when he arrived in his mansion,

 Having never set eyes on this land he was called to partition.

 Auden presented the idea that Redcliffe was unbiased at least when he arrived in India. The word"least" showed that he was biased after his arrival. His biasedness may have two aspects, Muslims can interpret it as proof that he favours Hindus, and Hindus can interpret it as proof that he favours Muslims. Auden critically examines the method of partition, a person who has no chance to visit India is called for Partition between two nations. They are religiously, culturally and socially different from one another.

 Authority

 The Viceroy thinks as you will see from his letter, 

That the less you are seen in his company the better,

 So we've arranged to provide you with other accommodation. 

The poem Partition explores the impact of authority. Auden analysis the letter of Mountbatten to Radcliffe which clearly stated that Sir has the authority to partition India. This can view that Auden must have read the letter which is why he refers to that letter in his poem. He says that the letter is evident from Mountbatten that he doesn't have a charge or concern for the partition of India. That means that he gave all the responsibility to Radcliffe and parted himself from the choices of partition. In these lines, Auden gave the edge to English authority that they had no connection to the partition of the Subcontinent. 

 Partition

 It explores the idea of Partition and the choices of rulers. The partition is the historical event which decides millions of fates. The people who don't know about Sir Redcliffe but they forced to obey his decision shut-in in a lonely mansion, 

with police night and day Patrolling the garden to keep assassins away, 

He got down to work on the task of settling the fate Of millions.

 Redcliffe shut himself in a lonely mansion, patrolling day and night to protect him from an unhappy situation. The reason to shut himself is to decide millions of destinies without external interference. His efforts to be an unbiased lawyer are seen in this mansion. But, his decision is meant to be biased and unjust. The partition can be favourable or unjust for both sides. 

 Weather 

 The weather was frightfully hot And a bout of dysentery kept him constantly on the trot.

 But in seven weeks it was done, the frontiers decided, 

 A continent for better or worse divided.

 Several phrases of the poem showed the weather of India as hot and frightful. Auden discusses the climate as the reason for Sir Redcliffe's hurries for Partition. Sir visit India in hot weather. It is quite hard to be a cool minded person and think about just decisions. Auden explains the Indian weather in a derogatory method by exaggerating the hot climate of the subcontinent using “frightfully”. Britain was afflicted by financial disaster after WWII. Britain couldn't able to run India subsequently so they decided to divide the country hasty within seven weeks of terrible weather  Then even cares about millions of life, and what good will come out of their choices of the unjust plan of partition. 

 Literary Analysis 

 Language

  The language is simple and understandable it conveys the idea of the hurdles faced by Radcliffe at the time of separation. The idea of those hardships comes in front of laymen because of biased decisions.

 Tone

  The tone of the poem is Critical and Sarcastic. The poet opens this poem by analysing the behaviour of Sir Redcliffe and other political members during the Partition of Subcontinent. 

Smilie

 The next day he sailed for England, where he quickly forgot

 The case as a good lawyer must. 

Auden uses the phrase “As a good, lawyer”. In this line, the poet compares Redcliffe with good lawyers. He goes back to England and forgot about the case of partition as other lawyer does with the case.

 Conclusion

 To conclude the poem is to show the unjust of the Britain Government. The character of Sir Cyril Redcliffe in doing partition of the subcontinent. The decision to divide into two nations within seven weeks. Auden criticised the method of separation of the subcontinent which relies on outdated maps and incorrect information. A person who never visited India beforehand has a responsibility to part the country with justice. The theme of unbiased Redcliffe, authority, partition and weather is present in the poem. One can also discover language, tone, and simile in this article.