Theme of the Poem The Bangle Sellers
The poem explores the life of Indian women, the Indian culture and traditions revolving around women. It revolves around the bangles, which is an important ornament for embellishment of women in Indian society. It is an expression of stages in a woman’s life in traditinal Indian society. The entire concept of making connection between different coloured bangles and their role in imparting happiness to young maidens, brides, wives and mothers is rooted in Indian culture.
In the poem, the poetess shows how the Indian woman is whole-heartedly submissive in fulfilling her social, religious and spiritual responsibility in this male dominated society. Many hints of patriarchal set up are found in the poem. A man performs an important role in woman’s life as a father, husband and son. The last four lines have been criticised as a tacit approval of patriarchal ideology by the poetess.
In the last four lines the poetess says that the hands of the middle-aged married woman have cared, loved, blessed and brought up her fair sons and she has proudly served her family and has the honour of sitting by her husband’s side at religious ceremonies. In fact the poetess has showed feeling of gender discrimination in the male-dominated society of India.
The poetess also describes the pathetic and miserable state of the life of the bangle sellers who, inspite of suffering through many hardships and bearing the loss or profit sell the bangles in joyous voice and never make any grudge with their profession, but feel proud of selling the bangles which are a human product of religious importance.
Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers