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How does Ramanujan handle the theme of decadence in Obituary?

How does Ramanujan handle the theme of decadence in Obituary?

2 Answers

  1. Decadence means decline of morals due to excessive indulgence in luxury and pleasure. It also means corruption. In the poem Obituary the poet talks about the death of his father and various problems which arise because of Brahmin culture and tradition.

    He was not sad or sorrowful because his father died but because the burden of his family got on him because of the patriarchal culture of Brahmins in which women are not allowed to work.

    In addition, he describes his father greedy and emotionless though he was considered as a divine and holy because of his caste. The poet believes that his father was just an ordinary man with no special powers. He died in a market because of a heart attack. He could have known this if he had some power.

    Finally the poet describes the funeral and after funeral practices which seem to be useless to him. e.g. cremation of the body which pollutes the air, throwing of bones in the water which affects the aquatic life and also celebration of death anniversary which costs money.

    Read summary of this poem.

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