The Bangle Sellers Summary by Sorojini Naidu

The Bangle Sellers Summary by Sorojini Naidu

The poem begins with the speakers introducing themselves as bangle sellers who sell their articles at the temple fair. They call out to the people to buy their bangles. These hawkers describe their bangles as delicate, bright, rainbow tinted- circles of light. They advertise by questioning who will buy these bangles for their daughters and wives.

The second stanza onward, the speakers talk of the kinds of bangles they have. Some of these bangles are suited for a maiden’s wrist. They are silver and blue in colour like the mountain mist. Some of them are ‘flushed’, that is pink and light red in colour like flower buds growing beside a woodland stream. Still others are bright green like the colour of new bom leaves.

Next, the bangle sellers say that some of their bangles are yellow like ‘fields of sunlit com’. Bangles of this colour are perfect for a bride on her bridal morning. Some of the bangles they have are bright red. They represent the flame of a newly turned bride’s marriage fire, that is, the passion of her newly made relation. The red bangles also stand for her heart’s desire. The bangles are ‘tinkling, luminous, tender and clear’. They express both her joy of starting a new life with her husband and the sorrow of leaving her parents behind.

In the final stanza of the poem, the speakers continue to advertise their bangles. They shout that some of their bangles are purple and gold flecked grey. These are suited for a middle-aged woman who has journeyed through life. They are for her who has raised her children well and has remained faithful to her husband and family. They say that these bangles are perfect for she who has maintained her household with pride and has worshipped the gods at her husband’s side.

The Bangle Sellers Poem Summary Introduction

The poem The Bangle Sellers was first published in the year 1912 by Sarojini Naidu in her collection of poems called The Bird of Time. The poem is associated with bangles and the implementation of role assigned to a woman in a traditional Indian society. The poetess makes strong connections between the bangles and their role in giving happiness to daughters, wives and mothers. The poetess shows that the bangles which the hawkers sell, are of religious and symbolic importance. No widow is allowed to wear the bangles. Hence the wearing bangles is considered to be very auspicious and of great symbolic value for married women and aspiring brides.

The significant factor of the poem is that the bangle seller does not say a word about his poverty, miseries and hardships, nor does he say anything about the profit or loss. He sells the product of religious and spiritual significance with full of enthusiasm and shows no signs of unhappiness. While selling the bangles he remains calm and in joyous mood. His focus is only on the human element associated to bangles. The poem is a lyric which depicts the social and cultural life of Indian women through various images associated with bangles.

The Bangle Sellers Summary Stanzawise Word-Meanings, Paraphrase and Explanation

1. Bangle sellers…………………… happy wives.

Word-meanings : Shining loads = bundles containing radiant bangles.
Rainbow-tinted light = shining circular bangles in rainbow colours. A highly picturesque description. Lustrous tokens…. lives = bright and shining bangles are the symbols of gay and cheerful life. Lustrous = having a glow. Radiant = gleamed with brilliant light.

Paraphrase: The bangle sellers go to the temple fair. They carry a shining load of the colourful bangles to sell in the fair. Though they carry the load of bangles, they do not feel unhappy and remain in cheerful mood while selling their bangles. They call their buyers in a very soft voice ask them to buy delicate, bright and rainbow coloured bangles from them. The multi-hued bangles are symbolic of radiant lives of happy daughters and happy wives. The daughters who are expected to be married soon, wear bangles to express their happy longing. The wives wear the bangles for expressing their happiness and contentment in their marital life.

Reference to the Context: These lines depicting religious, spiritual and social significance of the beautiful colourful bangles for Indian woman in Indian culture and tradition, have been extracted from the poem entitled The Bangle Sellers, written by Sarojini Naidu.
Here the poetess tells us that the bangles of different colours have religious, spiritual and symbolic importance in a traditional Indian set up. She also points out that the multihued bangles are symbolic of radiant lives of happy daughters and happy wives. She does not forget to mention the miserable state of the bangle seller who sells the bangles joyfully and happily.

Explanation : A group of bangle sellers sets out to a temple fair to sell the bangles of different colours in a gayful spirit. The bangle sellers carry the load of the shining bangles without showing any signs of their poverty, miseries and unhappiness. They seem to be in great enthusiasm while inviting the buyers to buy the bangles which are delicate, bright and rainbow-tinted circles of light. The bangles they sell, are symbolic of happiness and prosperity in the lives of daughters and wives.

Critical Comments :

1. It is important to note here though the speakers of the poem are several, it appears as if there is a single speaker. This is due to the fact that they all have the same purpose and are thus seen sigularly as a ‘class essence.’
2. Bangles are called ‘lustrous tokens of radiant lives’. It shows us the Indianness of the poem where bangles are brought on special occasions and are associated with happiness and prosperity.
3. The heaviness of the bangles, i.e., ‘shining loads’ is the only reference made to the hardships of the bangle sellers.
4. Rainbow light: This is an instance of a metaphor. The colours of the bangles are likened to the colours of the rainbow.

2. Some are…………………… born leaves.

Word-meanings: Meet = fit; suit. Maidens = virgin girls; the young girls who are not married yet. Mist = droplets of water suspended in the atmosphere. Silver mist = bangles of white and blue colours. The mountain mist looks blue from distance. Flushed = glowing; turning red. Flushed dream = red
like the dreaming buds which have not fully bloomed. Tranquil = calm. Brow = the top part of a hill; slope. Wood land = land that has a lot of trees growing on it; a small forest. Stream = river or rivulet. Aglow = glowing, shining. Bloom = flower. Cleaves = sticks fast to. Limpid = unclouded, clear. Glory = brightness. New bom leaves = freshness of unmarried girls.

Paraphrase : The bangle sellers say that they carry different kinds of bangles, each catering to different types of women with different needs and preferences. They say that some are blue and silver like the mist in the mountains, which are fit for a maiden’s wrist. Some bangles are of reddish we like the flushed buds found along a stream. Some of the bangles glow like newborn leaves, owing to the dew and water from the stream. These are all representative of a young girl in her prime.

Reference to the Context: These lines presenting the first stage in the life of an average Indian woman, have been extracted from the poem entitled The Bangle Sellers, written by Sarojini Naidu.
Here the poetess mentions the different colours of the bangles which are used by different women, according to their ages. For the maiden who is always dreaming of a happily married life it is a misty silver and blue.

Explanation : The bangle sellers give an account of the bangles which match a maiden. They say that the silver and blue coloured bangles are suitable to a maiden. These are like the mist on the mountain in their colour. Further they say that they have bangles which are like buds on a woodland stream. Some are shining like flowers. All these bud-like and flower-like bangles are suitable for the unmarried girls.

Critical Comments :

1. The word “buds’ is suggestive by chastity.
2. ‘Buds that dream’: It presents before us an image of young girls dreaming of marriage.
3. ‘Some leaves’: Here is imagery. This represents some of the bangles by comparing them to the transparent glory of the new born leaves.

3. Some are…………………… bridal tears.

Word-meanings : Sunlit = having bright light from the sun. Fields com = it refers to the golden yellow colour of the bangles. Meet = fit, proper, suitable. Bridal mom = the morning on which a girl has to become a bride. Flame fire = it refers to the fire-coloured bangles which express the passions of the bride’s heart. The red colour also symbolises the sacredness of marriage. Hue = colour. Tinkling = cause to make a light, clear singing sound. Luminous = shining. Tender = delicate, soft. Bridal laughter = it shows the bride’s happiness at her marriage. Bridal tears = it shows the bride’s sorrow at the separation from her parents.

Paraphrase : Some bangles are of the colour yellow like sunlit com fields. They represent the happiness of a bride-to-be on the morning of her wedding. Then there are bangles which are flame coloured—red, orange; symbolic of a bride’s passion and desire, especially on her wedding night. These bangles are shining and transparent, but also tender. The tinkling sound they make, reminds one of the sound of a new bride’s laughter and the clear, tender finish of the bangles bespeak her tears as she leaves her childhood home for her husband’s.

Reference to the Context: These lines describing the colours of bangles which are fit for a bride, have been extracted from the poem, entitled The Bangle Sellers, written by Sarojini Naidu.

Here the poetess tells us that the brides choose to wear corn coloured bangles. They also choose bangles of fire colour. The fire coloured bangles are like the colour of the fire during their marriage.

Explanation : The bangle sellers say that they have some bangles which look like com fields. They are suitable for a bride on her bridal morning. Some bangles look like the flame of her marriage fire. Some are rich with colours of heart’s desire. They make soft sounds just as the bride makes at the time of her wedding. The bride laughs as she is getting married and weeps as she is going to leave her parental abode.

Critical Comments :

1. ‘Bridal tear’: These words convey the whole of a woman’s transition in life from a maiden to a wife. They also suggest the emotional feelings of a bride.
2. The ‘flame’ poetess talks about has sexual connotations to it. It is a euphemism for the consummation of her marriage with her husband.
3. The com fields – a proof of mother nature’s fertility is symbolic of the fertility of a young girl getting married.

4. Same are…………………… husband’s side.

Word-meanings : Flecked = marked with small patches of colour. Grey = having the colour of ashes or smoke. Life midway = middle-aged. Cherished = cared tenderly and affectionately. Blest = blessed. Cradled = here used in the sense of bringing up. Fair sons = it shows discrimination between girls and boys. Faithful breast = it refers to mother’s tender love. Household = family members of her house. At her husband’s side = an Indian woman is given a place of pride when she succeeds in proving herself a worthy daughter-in-law, wife and mother.

Paraphrase: Finally, the bangle sellers say that they possess some bangles which are purple in colour and some are touched with gold and grey colours. These bangles are for that woman who has reached at the mid-point of her life where she has reaped the rewards of her strife. These bangles are for her who has raised her children and has remained faithful to her husband and family. These bangles are perfect for her who has maintained household with pride and has worshipped the gods at her husband’s side.

Reference to the Context: These lines describing the mothers and wives who choose to wear purple and gold-flecked grey colour bangles, have been extracted from the poem entitled The Bangle Sellers, written by Sarojini Naidu.

Here the poetess tells us about the socially accepted role of woman in Indian set up. The woman who has journeyed from maidenhood to a matured woman, choose to wear purple and gold-flecked grey colour bangles. The specks of grey add the touch of maturity that comes with age.

Explanation : The bangle sellers say that they possess some purple and gold-flecked grey coloured bangles for a middle-aged woman. These bangles are suitable for a mother whose hands have cared, loved, blessed and brought up her fair sons and for a wife who has proudly served her family by fulfilling all the household duties with great devotion and who has achieved social dignity and the honour of sitting by her husband’s side at religious ceremonies.

Critical Comments :

1. The use of‘fair sons’ shows great discrimination between boy and girl in Indian society.
2. This stanza has the air of royalty and bride etched in it.
3. ‘Purple and gold flecked grey’ are rich colours. They are representative of a woman who is rich in experience with a husband, family and religion.

The Bangle Sellers Summary About the Poet

Sarojini Naidu, a great patriot, freedom fighter and poetess of modem India, was born on February 13, 1879 at Hyderabad in a prestigious Brahmin family, which had migrated from East Bengal. Her father, Dr. Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, a professor, wanted her to be a great mathematician or scientist but her poetic instincts proved stronger, inherited from her mother, Varada Sundari. Her poetic career began at the age of thirteen with the poem ‘Lady of the Lake’, a poem of 1300 lines, though she started writing poem at the age of eleven.

She matriculated from Madras University at the age of twelve, ranking first in the entire presidency. In 1895, she was sent to England where she first studied at King’s College, London. Then she travelled to Italy and lived there till 1898. Under the critical but tender guidance of Arthur Symons and the poet Edmund Gosse, Sarojini’s poetic genius bore fruit. Pleasure or pain transported her.

In 1898, she returned India and married Dr. Govindarajulu Naidu. Between 1898 and 1917 she wrote in exquisite English prose with a sincerity of emotion and great imagery. She also possessed a great sense of humour. She was influenced by English Romanticism as well as by Persian and Urdu poetic traditions. Her first volume of poetry ‘The Golden Threshold’ was published in 1905, followed by ‘The Bird of Time’ (1912), ‘The Broken Wing’, (1917) and ‘The Sceptered Flute’.

In 1914, her meeting with Mahatma Gandhi gave a new direction to her life and career. She became involved in the struggle for independence. She became the first Indian women President of the Indian National Congress. She sacrificed her poetic career for the cause of freedom of her motherland. She became the first women Governor of free India. She was aptly given the title ‘Bulbulehind’ (nightingale of India) by Mahatma Gandhi.

She Composed poetry in which swift thoughts and strong emotion sprang into lyric by themselves. Her poems reveal the endless variety, colour, beauty and splendour of life. In her poetry, there is rainbow and romance, sunlight and starlight and also death and deprivation. Most of her themes are Indian in flavour. Her poems have great emotional intensity. She tried to fuse the riches of English vocabulary with subjects of her poetry, very peculiar to east.

She proved beyond all doubts that English language can be mastered and made a vehicle of one’s creativity. She is, perhaps, the foremost among Indians who have written poetry in English and no anthology of poetry is considered complete without some poems of Sarojini Naidu.

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