Summary And Critical Appreciation of Enterprise By Nissim Ezekiel.

SUMMARY AND CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF “ENTERPRISE” BY NISSIM EZEKIEL

 

INTRODUCTION TO ENTERPRISE:

The poem, Enterprise is written by an Indian poet Nissim Ezekiel. Enterprise is one of the best poems of Ezekiel. The poem revolves around a metaphorical journey to pilgrimage started by enthusiastic people. But gradually they faced lot of obstacles in their journey. They reached their destination but they had a doubt that whether it was really worth it to take such vigorous journey. The poem consists of six stanzas and each has five lines.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF ENTERPRISE:

Nissim Ezekiel is considered the most modern Indian poet. Nissim Ezekiel was born on 16 December 1924 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was a professor of English in Bombay University and intellectual & a philosopher as a poet. Nissim Ezekiel father was a professor of botany at Wilson College and his mother was principal of her own school. Nissim Ezekiel family belonged to Marathi-speaking Jewish community, known as “Bene Isreal”. Nissim Ezekiel was awarded with the Sahitya Akademic Award in 1983 for his poetry collection, “latter-Day P Salms”. Nissim Ezekiel passed away on 12 January, 2004.

SUMMARY OF ENTERPRISE:
Stanza 1:

The poem, Enterprise starts with the group of people and poet himself. They are in the journey of pilgrimage (a journey to holy place). In the beginning of the journey, their mind was full of ideas to reach the destination. When the journey started, it started with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. They all were very sure that they can easily overcome all the difficulties they will be facing in the journey. Difficulty seemed insignificant to them.

 

The traveller reached the second stage of their journey. In the second stage they faced unfavourable natural difficulties, symbolizing the blazing sun. But till now nothing can stop them to reach their destination and can decrease their enthusiasm. Their passion to reach the destiny had more heat than the heating sun. The second stage was little bit challenging for them but they overcome the difficulty and continued their journey.

 

Stanza 2:

In the second stanza, the group of people (travellers) were continuing their journey experiencing difficulties in their way. Pilgrims fleeing uncontrolled enthusiasm kept a record of the events they witnessed – goods brought and sold by peasants by the method of snakes and goats.

 

They travelled and passed through three cities. On their way a sage taught them but they did not paid so much attention on what the stage taught and what was his message and they moved on.

 

Stanza 3:

In the third stanza, the poet talks about the difference cropped up among the members which pierced their unity as they continued the journey. As they reached a dessert, difference arose over the questing of overcoming the challenging landscape.

 

 One of the members, who was an excellent prose writer left the enterprise. That person was considered the most intelligent among the group (travellers). Therefore, the venture was overshadowed and continued to grow as one of the participating members of the group left the group.

 

 

Stanza 4:

In the fourth stanza the poet describes the obstacle that followed the venture(enterprise). In the next stage of their journey, the travellers are attacked twice and in order to save themselves they lose their way and forget their noble ambition that inspires them to come this far.

 

Then slowly the enterprise breaks into two. Some members who claimed their freedom left the journey and went their own way. The poet feels upset and helpless at the breaking of enterprise. The only thing he could do was to pray, seeking the help of divine person when human effort goes in vain.

 

Stanza 5:

There is still an assurance from the leader of the group. He assured them that the destination is very near. The member has lost their enthusiasm and hope as they couldn’t find anything noticeable as they are moving forward. They were all exhausted to stand erect and were not bothered about the roar of the thunder.

Stanza 6:

In the final stanza of enterprise, the poet tells us that they reached their destination totally exhausted and frustrated. They didn't have any satisfaction. They now started to doubt the importance of the journey and there was no sense of satisfaction. In the end they feel that going back home would have been better than this dangerous journey.

CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF ENTERPRISE:

The style of writing of the poem “Enterprise” is conventional. There is total six stanzas, each having five lines and the pattern of the poem is iambic tetrameter. The poet describes a journey in the poem “Enterprise”. A group of people started a journey to achieve a specific goal. In the starting of journey all of them were very excited and had great enthusiasm, thus they proceeded on their expedition. The sun was throwing its blazing rays on them but despite unfavourable condition they showed great endurance.

They took notice of everything that crossed their path they were so attentive to their surroundings. They observed the peasants selling and buying variety of commodities, behaviour of serpents and goats. They behold the sight of three cities. There a sage was delivered his spiritual and intellectual speech. The group fell into argument over how to cross a desert. One of the travellers gave up on the group and took his own way. At this juncture others felt a sense of deprivation.

The group experienced another trouble, they were attached twice and lost their way. At this point of time many travellers left the group and took their separate way. At this the poet approached the leader and requested him to handle the situation but at this the leader showed no concern and said that they were near to their destination. Such attitude of the leader annoyed the poet. After resuming the journey all of them were deprived from basic amenities. Most of the travellers tired and frustrated from the stain of the journey.

After facing all the difficulties eventually, the travellers reached their destination. The pilgrimage felt that their achievement was not very noteworthy. After achieving their unsatisfied goal, they understood that home is far superior place where one can achieve peace. With the poem the poet gives a message of self-satisfaction with what we have and not run after materialism and not to forget our fundamental duties.