“Abhisara – The Tryst” : Use of Imagery
Question : Comment on the use of imagery in the poem.
Answer: “Abhisara- The Tryst” by Rabindranath Tagore is full of appropriate and functional imagery. The poet uses several types of imagery to paint the pictures in the readers’ mind so that they can imagine the story if Upagupta and Vasavadatta, their characters, emotions and different settings in the poem.
There are two parts in the poem, set in two different moods and seasons – first is the rainy season of August and the second is the spring season of April.
When Vasavadatta first encounters with the ascetic Upagupta, it is the rainy season of August, the sky is “murky” and the “stars were all hidden” (visual imagery).
In the dark night of August, Vasavadatta’s beauty is shinning as she is “starred with jewels” and “clouded with a pale blue mantle” (visual imagery). But still she is in the darkness (metaphorically) that is she is ignorant of transitory nature of her youth and beauty. Upagupta does not need any light as he is spiritually enlighten with the light of wisdom.
This way the poet has used the visual imagery prominently throughout the poem. Imagery used here are not only sensuous but they are symbolic also. Light and darkness are used symbolically.
When Vasavadatta has encounter with Upagupta again the setting is changed , it is the spring season of April. Sky is no longer murky but it is bright with the “full moon” of “the shadows of the silent town”. But Vasavadatta’s life is changed it has become “dark” and stricken with “black pestilence” (visual imagery).
In the joyful spring there is a “festival of flowers” in woods, “the branches of wayside trees were full of blossom” (visual imagery).
“Gay notes of a flute came floating the warm spring airs from afar” (auditory Imagery).
These are all images that describe the nature beautifully in the poem.
Personification is also used along with imagery as – The “black night” is personified in, “showed its teeth in a flash of lightning” (visual imagery) .
The dancing girl’s feet were “tinkling with anklets” and storm “growled” (auditory imagery) .
Thunder and lightning foreshadows the coming sorrow and hardship and suffering of Vasavadatta’s life.
Vasavadatta “struck with the black pestilence”, “her body spotted with sores of small pox” and her beauty fades away and the same Vasavadatta, once “starred with jewels”, “clouded with a pale blue mantle” and “drunk with the wine of her youth” are the two contrasting visual images which shows the two different conditions in her life.
The “dusty earth” is another visual imagery which highlights the simplicity of Upagupta and also the pitiable condition of Vasavadatta.
This way the poet uses several images in the poem to add the details and beautify the description of the nature.