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Summary The Discardment IEB
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In depth line by line analysis of The Discardment by Alan Paton
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The Discardment - Alan PatonWe gave her a discardment
A trifle, a thing no longer to be worn,
Its purpose served, its life done.
She put it on with exclamations,
Her eyes shone, she called and cried,
The great bulk of her pirouetted
She danced and mimed, sang snatches of a song.
She called out blessings in her native tongue
Called to her fellow-servants
To strangers and to passers-by
To all the continent of Africa
To see this wonder, to participate
In this intolerable joy.
And so for nothing
Is purchased loyalty and trust
And the unquestioning obedience
Of the earth's most rare simplicity.
So for nothing
The destruction of a world.
, Analysis
The poem's tone initially exudes celebration and delight, expressed through enthusiastic
actions and exclamations of the character. However, as the poem unfolds, it transitions into
a more introspective and somber mood, evoking feelings of reflection and sorrow.
The poem follows a free verse structure, disregarding a specific rhyme scheme or meter.
This allows the poet to experiment with language and imagery, conveying a seamless and
uninterrupted narrative through the use of enjambment—continuation of phrases beyond
line breaks. The central theme revolves around the fleeting and meaningful nature of a
particular object or experience.
The lines imply that this object, possibly a garment or accessory, has surpassed its utility
and is being discarded. Nonetheless, when worn, it brings immense joy to the character,
prompting her to share this joy with others. The poem underscores how seemingly
insignificant or worn-out items retain the power to create moments of delight and wonder.
In the concluding lines, the poem accentuates the disparity between the experienced joy
and the object's ultimate insignificance, underscoring the transient essence of happiness in
contrast to the eventual demise of the world.
The title directs attention to the negative aspects of giving away the item, emphasizing
how a seemingly trivial item can evoke a profound sense of gratitude. It sheds light on the
racial inequalities prevalent during the apartheid era, illustrating how individuals with limited
resources, particularly black people, found immense joy in insignificant gifts. This portrayal
of their joy is humbling to the poet, serving as a critique of white supremacy and the
apartheid system. It suggests that a white person might have taken offense at receiving
such a modest gift, highlighting the poet's sympathy and understanding towards the
struggles faced by black people during that time.
The poem immediately immerses the reader in
something discarded, thrown away, rejected the narrative within its very first line,
1. We gave her a discardment commencing with a depiction of the action
described in the title: the act of giving 'her' a
'discardment' by 'we.' The inclusion of the
indefinite article 'a' before the noun implies
that the specific identity of the item being
given is either non-specific or unimportant.
The poem establishes that the mysterious item
thing of little importance or value is indeed a piece of clothing, as it is something
meant to be 'worn.' However, it becomes
2. A trifle, a thing no longer to be
evident that the item is in a state of disrepair
worn, or has outlived its usefulness, as it is described
as something that can 'no longer' be worn.
The poem accentuates the worn and shabby
the item state of the item by emphasizing that it has
3. Its purpose served, its life done. 'served' its 'purpose' and that its 'life' is 'done.'
This description helps to elucidate why it is
regarded as a mere trifle with no additional
value or utility by the 'we' mentioned in the
poem.
The poem takes an abrupt and unforeseen turn,
subverting the expectations established by its
title and opening lines. The speaker reminisces
servant about the shabby item, which was worn with
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