CC - III: H.L.V Derozio : "Freedom to the Slave" Short Question & Answer

 

1. What is the source of Derozio's  poem "Freedom to the Slave" ?

  - The source of Derozio's poem "Freedom to the  Slave" is Thomas  Campbell's long poem "The Pleasures of hope (1799)" . "...And as the slave departs, the man returns" (1.27-28). Whereas Campbell in his poem denounces the slave trade and colonialism in India. Derozio's poem carries the idea of individual freedom that allows one to experience the greatness of one's own being.

2. Comment on the central them of Derozio's poem "Freedom to the Slave"?

- As a strong believer in free thinking and liberal values, Derozio thought  that without 'freedom' human being has no life of his own. In this poem, he shows what freedom means to a slave. A slave feels himself to be a man only when he acquires his freedom. Here, he speaks of the ultimate liberty of man and the supreme recognition of the person as a human being. To be precise, humanity is shown to gain more dignity when there is freedom in one's life. The poet focuses on the slave's emotional response on being free from all sorts of suppression and subjugation.

3. Comment on Derozio's sense of patriotism?

- Derozio was out and out an Indian patriot. Patriotism is the main inspiration in every vein of his poems. He is the first Indian nationalist poet of any language. In this respect , his poem Freedom to the slave is no exception. In fact, he speaks of championing the cause for the freedom of India which was under British rule . That's why , the poem carries an unmistakable authenticity of patriotic utterance which stamps Derozio as an Indian English poet Who is truly a son of  the soil.

4.Comment on the imagery in the poem "Freedom to the Slave"?

-In "Freedom to the  Slave" , Derozio does not portray the Freedom of a slave; rather he focuses on the slave's emotional response on being free through the use of striking and appealing imageries drawn from nature. When a man acquires freedom in all respects, his soul could fly like the wind("wild birds") and the flowing river("the running stream"). All these images evoke the sense if absolute freedom from all sorts of suppression and bondage.