Summary of "Death the Leveller"
"Death the Leveller" is a powerful funeral song written by James Shirley that reflects on the ultimate equality brought by death. The poem conveys that worldly glory, power, and status are temporary and meaningless in the face of death.
The poet begins by stating that the glories of our blood (family lineage) and state (position or rank) are merely shadows, not real or permanent things. There is no protection or armor against fate and death. Death places his icy hand even on kings - the powerful sceptre and crown that symbolize royal authority must eventually tumble down and become equal in the dust with the poor man's crooked scythe and spade, which represent common laborers.
Some warriors may conquer battlefields with their swords and earn fresh laurels (honors) by killing their enemies. However, even their strong nerves must eventually yield to death. They may tame and conquer one another through battles, but they cannot conquer death. Whether early or late in life, everyone must bow down to fate and give up their complaining breath as pale captives who creep to death.
The poet warns that the garlands of victory wither on the brow of the conqueror. He advises people not to boast about their mighty deeds because even the victor becomes a victim on Death's purple altar, bleeding like a sacrifice. Everyone's head must eventually come to the cold tomb.
However, the poem ends with a hopeful message - only the actions of the just and good people will be remembered forever. Only the good deeds done during one's lifetime will smell sweet and blossom in the dust after death. Material glory fades, but moral worth endures.
The poem's central message is that death is the great leveller that makes all people equal, regardless of their earthly status, power, or achievements. What truly matters and survives death is not worldly glory but the good deeds we perform during our lifetime.
"Death the Leveller" സംഗ്രഹം
ജെയിംസ് ഷെർലി രചിച്ച "Death the Leveller" മരണം കൊണ്ടുവരുന്ന ആത്യന്തിക സമത്വത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് പ്രതിപാദിക്കുന്ന ശക്തമായ ഒരു ശവസംസ്കാര ഗാനമാണ്. ലൗകിക മഹത്വവും അധികാരവും പദവിയും മരണത്തിന്റെ മുൻപിൽ താൽക്കാലികവും അർത്ഥശൂന്യവുമാണെന്ന് കവിത പറയുന്നു.
നമ്മുടെ രക്തത്തിന്റെ (കുടുംബ വംശാവലി) മഹത്വവും പദവിയും (സ്ഥാനം) വെറും നിഴലുകൾ മാത്രമാണെന്ന് കവി ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു, യഥാർത്ഥമോ സ്ഥിരമോ അല്ല. വിധിക്കും മരണത്തിനും എതിരെ യാതൊരു സംരക്ഷണവുമില്ല. രാജാക്കന്മാരുടെമേൽ പോലും മരണം തന്റെ തണുത്ത കൈ വയ്ക്കുന്നു - രാജകീയ അധികാരത്തെ പ്രതീകപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന ശക്തമായ ചെങ്കോലും കിരീടവും ഒടുവിൽ താഴെ വീഴുകയും പൊടിയിൽ സാധാരണ തൊഴിലാളികളെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിക്കുന്ന ദരിദ്രന്റെ വളഞ്ഞ അരിവാളിനും പാരയ്ക്കും തുല്യമാവുകയും ചെയ്യും.
ചില യോദ്ധാക്കൾ വാളുകൾ കൊണ്ട് യുദ്ധക്കളങ്ങൾ കീഴടക്കുകയും ശത്രുക്കളെ കൊന്ന് പുതിയ വിജയമാലകൾ (ബഹുമതികൾ) നേടുകയും ചെയ്യാം. എന്നിരുന്നാലും, അവരുടെ ശക്തമായ ഞരമ്പുകൾ പോലും ഒടുവിൽ മരണത്തിന് കീഴടങ്ങണം. അവർ യുദ്ധങ്ങളിലൂടെ പരസ്പരം കീഴടക്കിയേക്കാം, പക്ഷേ മരണത്തെ കീഴടക്കാൻ കഴിയില്ല. ജീവിതത്തിൽ നേരത്തെയോ വൈകിയോ എല്ലാവരും വിധിക്ക് കീഴടങ്ങുകയും മരണത്തിലേക്ക് ഇഴയുന്ന വിളറിയ തടവുകാരായി അവരുടെ പരാതിപ്പെടുന്ന ശ്വാസം ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയും വേണം.
വിജയമാലകൾ വിജയിയുടെ നെറ്റിയിൽ വാടിപ്പോകുമെന്ന് കവി മുന്നറിയിപ്പ് നൽകുന്നു. തങ്ങളുടെ ശക്തമായ പ്രവൃത്തികളെക്കുറിച്ച് അഭിമാനിക്കരുതെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം ആളുകളോട് ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു, കാരണം വിജയി പോലും മരണത്തിന്റെ ധൂമ്രവർണ്ണ യാഗപീഠത്തിൽ ഒരു യാഗം പോലെ രക്തം ഒഴുക്കുന്ന ഇരയാകുന്നു. എല്ലാവരുടെയും തല ഒടുവിൽ തണുത്ത ശവകുടീരത്തിലേക്ക് വരണം.
എന്നിരുന്നാലും, കവിത പ്രതീക്ഷാപൂർണ്ണമായ ഒരു സന്ദേശത്തോടെ അവസാനിക്കുന്നു - നീതിമാന്മാരുടെയും നല്ല ആളുകളുടെയും പ്രവൃത്തികൾ മാത്രമേ എന്നേക്കും ഓർമ്മിക്കപ്പെടുകയുള്ളൂ. ഒരാളുടെ ജീവിതകാലത്ത് ചെയ്ത നല്ല പ്രവൃത്തികൾ മാത്രമേ മരണശേഷം പൊടിയിൽ മധുരമായി മണക്കുകയും പുഷ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുകയുള്ളൂ. ഭൗതിക മഹത്വം മങ്ങുന്നു, പക്ഷേ ധാർമ്മിക മൂല്യം നിലനിൽക്കുന്നു.
മരണം എല്ലാ ആളുകളെയും അവരുടെ ഭൗമിക പദവി, അധികാരം, നേട്ടങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയെ കണക്കിലെടുക്കാതെ തുല്യരാക്കുന്ന മഹത്തായ സമനിരപ്പാക്കിയാണ് എന്നതാണ് കവിതയുടെ കേന്ദ്ര സന്ദേശം. യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ടതും മരണത്തെ അതിജീവിക്കുന്നതും ലൗകിക മഹത്വമല്ല, മറിച്ച് നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതകാലത്ത് നാം നിർവഹിക്കുന്ന നല്ല പ്രവൃത്തികളാണ്.
About the Author
- James Shirley was born in 1596 and died in 1666
- He is known as the last of the Elizabethans
- He was a prolific writer for the stage (playwright)
- He published four small volumes of poems and plays
- "Death the Leveller" is one of his most famous poems
- It is written as a funeral song
- The poem appeals to readers to think about human actions
- The central theme is the vanity and impermanence of earthly glory and power
Questions and Answers
Why does the poet think that the glories of our blood and state are shadows?
The poet calls the glories of our blood and state "shadows" because they are not substantial or permanent. Just like shadows have no real existence and disappear when light is gone, worldly glory, family lineage, and high positions are temporary and meaningless. They appear impressive during life but vanish completely when death comes. They are illusions that give a false sense of importance and power, but have no lasting value or reality.
What do 'sceptre and crown', and 'scythe and spade' stand for and what do they symbolize?
"Sceptre and crown" stand for kings and rulers. They symbolize royal power, authority, wealth, and high social status. The sceptre is the ornamental rod carried by kings as a symbol of their sovereignty, and the crown represents their royal position.
"Scythe and spade" stand for poor laborers and common workers. They symbolize poverty, hard manual work, and low social status. The scythe is a tool used to cut crops and the spade is used for digging - both represent the working class.
Together, these symbols represent the two extremes of society - the powerful rich and the powerless poor - all of whom become equal in death.
Why does the poet say that 'there is no armour against fate'?
The poet says "there is no armour against fate" because death is inevitable and unavoidable. No matter how powerful, wealthy, or protected a person is, they cannot escape death. Even kings with all their power and resources cannot defend themselves against fate and mortality. Armour protects soldiers in battle, but there is no such protection against death. Fate is the ultimate power that overcomes everyone, regardless of their earthly defenses or privileges.
'Some men with swords may reap the field'. What does this mean?
This line means that some warriors or soldiers may conquer battlefields and win victories through warfare. "Reap the field" is a metaphor that compares winning battles to harvesting crops. Just as farmers reap or harvest fields with their tools, warriors conquer battlefields with their swords. They may defeat enemies, win territories, and achieve military glory through their fighting skills and strength.
What is the fate of the men with swords who hope to reap the field?
Despite their strength and victories, the fate of these warriors is the same as everyone else - they must eventually die. The poet says "their strong nerves at last must yield" meaning even their powerful bodies and courage must surrender to death. Early or late in life, they must "stoop to fate" (bow down to death) and give up their "murmuring breath" (complaining life). They become "pale captives" who "creep to death" - meaning they become helpless prisoners of death, approaching it weakly and without power. All their military glory and conquests cannot save them from mortality.
What does 'Death's purple altar' refer to?
"Death's purple altar" refers to the battlefield where blood is shed. Purple is the color associated with royalty and also with blood. An altar is a sacred place where sacrifices are offered to gods. The poet creates a powerful image comparing the battlefield to a sacred altar where both victors and victims are sacrificed to Death. The purple color suggests the blood spilled in battles. It emphasizes that death treats both winners and losers equally - all become sacrifices on death's altar.
What does the phrase 'victor-victim' mean?
The phrase "victor-victim" is a paradox that means even the victor (winner) becomes a victim of death. A person may win battles and conquer enemies, earning the title of victor. However, in the end, this same victor becomes a victim when death claims him. The hyphenated phrase emphasizes that there is no real distinction between victor and victim in the face of death - both meet the same fate. Victory in life means nothing when death ultimately defeats everyone.
What can survive death? What are the things that blossom in the dust? Why?
Only the good deeds and just actions of people can survive death. "The actions of the just smell sweet and blossom in their dust" means that the memory and impact of good deeds remain alive even after a person's body has turned to dust. These actions blossom (flourish and grow) because they inspire others, create positive change, and leave a lasting legacy. Unlike material wealth, power, and physical glory which perish with the body, moral goodness and righteous actions continue to live in people's memories and influence future generations. Good deeds have eternal value and fragrance that death cannot destroy.
Why is Death called the Leveller?
Death is called "the Leveller" because it makes everyone equal. "Leveller" means something that brings everything to the same level, removing all differences and distinctions. In life, there are vast differences between people - kings and laborers, rich and poor, powerful and weak, victors and victims. However, death removes all these distinctions and reduces everyone to the same state - dust in the grave. The sceptre and crown (symbols of royalty) become equal with the scythe and spade (symbols of poverty) in death. No amount of wealth, power, or glory can prevent or delay death. It treats all humans equally, making it the ultimate leveller of social hierarchies and earthly achievements.
Elaborate the ideas in the following lines: "Only the actions of the just smell sweet and blossom in the dust"
This powerful concluding couplet presents the poem's ultimate message of hope and moral instruction. While the entire poem emphasizes that death destroys all worldly glory, power, and physical existence, these final lines tell us what truly survives death.
"The actions of the just" refers to good deeds, righteous behavior, and moral actions performed by virtuous people during their lifetime. "Smell sweet" is a metaphor suggesting that these actions have a pleasant, lasting fragrance - meaning they are remembered fondly and positively by others. "Blossom in the dust" is another metaphor indicating that even after the person's body has turned to dust in the grave, their good deeds continue to grow, flourish, and bear fruit.
The poet is conveying that material achievements, military victories, royal power, and physical strength all perish with death. However, the memory and impact of good deeds live on forever. These actions inspire future generations, create positive change in society, and ensure that the person's moral legacy continues. Just as flowers bloom and spread fragrance, good deeds bloom in people's memories and spread their positive influence long after the doer has died. This gives meaning to life and suggests that the only thing worth pursuing is moral excellence and virtuous actions, not temporary worldly glory.
Elaborate the ideas in the following lines: "The glories of our blood and state are shadows, not substantial things; There is no armour against Fate"
These opening lines establish the central philosophy of the poem regarding the vanity and impermanence of worldly power and status.
"The glories of our blood and state" refers to the pride people take in their family lineage (blood) and their social position or rank (state). Many people boast about their royal ancestry, noble birth, high positions in society, wealth, and power. However, the poet dismisses all these as mere "shadows, not substantial things."
A shadow has no real existence or substance - it is just an absence of light, an illusion that changes shape and disappears. Similarly, worldly glory, inherited status, and social position are not real or permanent. They appear important during life but have no lasting reality. They are illusions that give people a false sense of superiority and importance.
"There is no armour against Fate" reinforces this idea by stating that death is inevitable and inescapable. Armour protects soldiers from swords and arrows in battle, but there is no protection against fate and death. No matter how powerful or well-defended a person is, death will eventually claim them. This line emphasizes human mortality and the futility of trying to escape or resist death.
Together, these lines teach us that we should not be proud of temporary worldly achievements or social status because they are meaningless shadows that death will destroy. Instead, we should focus on what truly matters - good deeds that outlive us.