Poem Enterprise Summary & Theme
Nissim Ezekiel’s “Enterprise” is about a quest for some pilgrims.
Enterprise Summary
A group of pilgrims sets off to an unknown destination. At the outset of the journey, they are thrilled.
Soon, their excitement fades as they reach a desert. Arguments start among them over crossing a desert patch. As a result, an intellectual member of the group leaves the group. Thereafter, a series of misfortunes come to them.
They confront an attack from outside twice and lose their path. Some want to leave the group. They feel exhausted, and they do not have even basic needs like soap.
Finally, after a long, tiring journey, they reach their destination.
Instead of becoming thrilled, the experience of the entire journey makes them sad and disillusioned. Nothing is exciting at the end of the journey.
They realize, “Home is where we have to gather grace.”
The Theme of the poem Enterprise
The theme of the poem “Enterprise” is the theme of quest. A group of pilgrims is in search of grace.
The expedition can have two interpretations: literal and metaphorical. One is the quest for grace and the quest for a home.
I have explained these two interpretations in the video below.
Quest for Grace
We can relate the pilgrimage to any other pilgrimage. Human beings are always on a quest to find God’s grace. Ezekiel’s poem gives a different notion concerning finding grace.
Enterprise probably suggests that there is no need for an arduous journey. One does not need to walk to distant places for the grace of God.
Finding grace outside might be a waste of time and energy. Instead, one can seek solace and attain it by doing the right things in the right direction. One doesn’t need to travel far to achieve that.
But this realization is missing in the beginning. In the initial stage, they are exultant. Their spirit is so high, they do not have the time to ponder whether or not it is important to undertake the journey. The sun stands as a natural obstruction, but they endure the scorching sun.
Similarly, people in real life set off on a journey without questioning. They start a journey thinking it will change their lives and make them happy.
The pilgrims encounter problems on their journey when they reach a desert. Their arguments over the best way to cross the desert patch spilled themselves.
As a result, they lose their unity. As a result, a talented member of the group departs the group and follows his path.
We can interpret this as different opinions to achieve grace. We can also understand it as a reflection of their egos and lack of understanding. They could resolve the matter through understanding between themselves. Even the most talented one exhibits no sign of understanding.
This incident dispirits them and their spirit wanes quickly. In the consecutive stages, they encounter a series of obstacles. Despite such difficulties, they keep continuing their journey with little hope and enthusiasm.
At the last stage, we can compare their state of mind with their first stage. Both are contradictory. Their enthusiasm has faded away. The enthusiastic group has become “a straggling group of little hope.” The tedious expedition breaks them mentally and could hardly stand on their own.
Towards the end of the tiresome journey, instead of becoming happy, their happy faces have turned into “darkened faces”. Their very purpose of being there becomes unclear.
In real life, the result does not make people happy. However, it does give some kind of solace, but that is momentary. It does not give the way people expect.
In the end, it ends with disillusionment. Therefore, it is much better to find grace at home than to encounter severe difficulties.
Quest for a Home
We can interpret the entire journey as a journey of Ezekiel’s ancestors. A long time ago, Ezekiel’s ancestors begin an expedition to find a homeland.
They are quite excited at the initial stage but soon they confront rough terrains. They also face problems while interpreting scripture, as it induces disagreements within themselves.
Later, they reach India, but India turns out to be different. It does not accept foreigners like the Bene Israel Jewish community. It treats them as a neglected minority in India. However, after crossing rough terrains, instead of returning, they decide to find a place for themselves in India itself.
Like his ancestors, he also finds a place in India. The search for a place in India is a recurrent theme in Ezekiel’s poems such as “Island” and “Background Casually. After undergoing many issues in life, he finally accepts to consider India as his home.
His autobiographical poem “Background Casually” tells how, from childhood to adulthood, others trouble him as a member of a minority in India.
In school, boys from other religions accuse him of “I had killed the Christ,”. Not only in childhood but also he experiences loneliness in his adulthood. People often treat him as an alien. Though people have mistreated him, he says:
I have made my commitments now.
This is one: to stay where I am,
As others choose to give themselves
In some remote and backward place.
My backward place is where I am.
His backward place is the place where his ancestors have landed numerous decades ago.
In “Island” the poet also says,
“I cannot leave the island,
I was born here and belong.”
Finally, he finds he belongs to the island, Bombay, where he is born and spent most of his life.
In this way, we can interpret the theme of the poem “Enterprise” in both literal and metaphorical ways.
Structure of Enterprise
The poem comprises six stanzas, and each stanza has five lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABA, and it is in iambic tetrameter.
The Significance of the Title Enterprise
For the significance of the title, watch the video below on our YouTube channel.
References
- Mahanta, Pona, et al., editors. Poems Old and New. Macmillan, 2011, pp. 405-406.
- Naik, M.K. A History of Indian English Liteature. Sahitya Akademi, pp. 203, 205.
- Nannaparaju, Pratima. “Nissim Ezekiel: An Approach & Analysis.“ International Journal on English Language and Literature, vol 1, issue 1, 2013.
