Discuss the theme of the poem ‘Enterprise’ by Nissim Ezekiel.

 The poem ‘Enterprise ‘has reference to the fallouts of frustration in a barbaric city. It is an allegory of the pilgrimage theme with a suggestion of futility.

The journey from the city to the hinterland is a metaphor for contrived change from frustration to fulfillment. 

Even here a ‘shadow falls’ on the group because “Differences arose/On how to cross a desert patch”.

The group ignores the thunder which is nothing but the inner voice of a man. It should have guided the group.

A man deprived of the inner voice or insensitive to the call of his own soul invariably rushes into impediments. There is complete disillusionment at the end of the journey.

Instead of bringing any sense of fulfillment, the trip had only darkened every face’. The pilgrims are like the Magi in Eliot’s poem.

The futility of the whole enterprise, the struggles on the way, the deprivations the group undergoes, and the failure to compromise the intention of the journey with its end are succinctly brought out in the final clinching line of the poem: Home is where we have to gather grace.

Enterprise indicates that the word has vast symbolic potential. It could refer to something as broad as the independence of India or it could even be a critique of romantic idealism.

There is a gradual progression of moods in the poem, from hope, almost to despair at the end, but what gives the poem both coherence and strength is the detached realism of the speaker’s voice. 

As the observer, witness and narrator, he holds a grim commitment to the truth of the moment, never letting himself slide into rage or self-pity.

The poem is also a rewriting of the ancient Biblical story of the Exodus. Here, the journey is to a promised land across deserts, but after all the travails and hardships, it isn’t all that fulfilling in the end.

A question mark is placed on the very value of such ventures. The poet concludes: “Home is where we have to earn our grace.”

This longer line has a lot of narrative weight in it, coming as it does at the very conclusion of the poem. 

The attitude that the poet encourages then, maybe called “stay at home” – stay where you are and all things will come to you.

No need to embark upon ambitious enterprises. The poem also criticizes all those who like the great imperialists and colonialists sought their fortunes upon distant shores.

Or else, this is an interrogation of all grand narratives with their false promises.

Such questions are not answered precisely but enough information is provided to give us a sense of what they are about.

It would be a good idea to make a careful inventory of all the information that is offered in the poem. 

How is this information controlled? What sort of gaps exists? How do these gaps enhance the richness of the text? As a modern poem, “Enterprise” offers rich dividends to the sort of close reading that New Critics recommend.

While many poets are satisfied with just a glimpse of the truth, Ezekiel probes the feelings of personal loss and deprivation till ultimately he reaches the core of truth.

This is one of his main characteristics. Scores of his poems are obviously written for personal and therapeutic purposes.

In this poem, a situation is viewed with an ironic angle with a hope that it would offer some consolation, a still point, or some momentary stay against the feelings of loss and deprivation.

The enterprise which was started as a pilgrimage ultimately filled a sense of loss in the group members. Some were broken, some merely bent’ Ezekiel says.

The concluding stanza throws light on the whole event.

This is the tragedy of modern humanity where every enterprise ends in futility. Life is like a pathless wood and there is no purpose in taking up any enterprise.

The Vedic man according to Nissim Ezekiel’s philosophy moved from darkness to light. Hence this enterprise was meaningful. 

But the modern man is simply a misfit for noble missions. Like Eliot’s Prufrock or Audents ‘hero he wastes a valuable life afflicted by fear in trivial acts.

The pilgrims in the ‘Enterprise’ ignore the call of conscience and consequently some are broken, some bent.

The poet makes an emotive use of language and through that emotive use of language he reaches the conclusion, “Home is where we gather grace”.

Like a Frost poem, ‘Enterprise’, begins in delight and ends in wisdom. The delight is in taking up the enterprise, in taking up the action.

Without action, no human being can live. Wisdom constitutes in the darkened faces and in their discovery that there was nothing unique about them.

The poem can be meaningfully related to Lord Krishna’s conception of Karma Yoga which expects us to remain active and to submit ourselves to law and duty.

Subcribe on Youtube - IGNOU SERVICE

For PDF copy of Solved Assignment

WhatsApp Us - 9113311883(Paid)