Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Shakespeare’s vision of life from Sonnets


At the outset, to reveal what the wonderfully penned sonnets have, fair amount of understanding on Shakespeare’s life is absolutely necessary. As a lucid, prudent poet, we can see his verses bring out the essence of sorrow and fresh sense of inspiration in the very same sonnet. Almost every sonnet connects to Shakespeare’s life interpersonally.

Two people that play crucial roles both in the sonnets and Shakespeare’s life are the Earl of Southampton and the Dark Lady, Mary Fitton; the former being breath of fresh air and the latter corresponding to embodiment of deciet and wickedness. However, only the second set of sonnets talk chiefly about the flirtatious, faking attitude of the poet’s mistress, the Dark lady. Many sonnets picture Shakespeare warn his friend on the Dark Lady’s crooked, coquettish character to attract men for her sexual pleasures. Sadly, the Earl subjects to the mistress’s activities emotionally dumping Shakespeare. Such a turn disrupts the personal relationship of two men who were termed to have respected each other equally. Subsequently, Shakespeare’s life became helpless, deserted and critics term this as his darker side of life.

A lot of other sonnets in the second set exceptionally talk about Shakespeare’s love for his mistress and the urge for union. But, the inconsistency of love in a woman is the main theme of the second set of sonnets, basically an acceptable truth of the era. Not only did the mistress utilize her turn to separate Shakespeare from the Earl, also the rivalry between the poets to get closer to the Earl was heating up. Shakespeare apparently lost!!! And sonnets numbered 77, 80, 81,87,89,90 theme it beautifully.

Through Sonnets, the ultimate logic that Shakespeare wanted to present is the paradox of Time. All that exists on earth is developed, controlled and at last destroyed by time with no excuses. The Earl and Shakespeare are no exceptions where each of them experience time’s cruel hand in the form of the Dark Lady. Words like “wasteful wars”, “sluttish time” reflect the wicked face of time.

Nevertheless, setting aside the damaging effects of time, Shakespeare constantly repeats one good logic. “Whatever happens and tends to destruction from time, my sonnets about the praise of the Earl in black ink will never fade away” is something that emits an enthusiastic feeling all through the complete set of sonnets penned. 

Anaikatti -- an escapade of unexplored whereabouts


Trekkers’ paradise, nature’s eminent tool to ultimate bliss, Scary wildlife corridor and a place that’s worth an escapade--- an unmatched synonym to all the above is undoubtedly ANAIKATTI… Everyone who lives in and around Coimbatore would know whereabouts of this spot but not all people know that the hotspot is a home of unexceptionally rich herbal plant life and rarest species of birds and animals. 

Anaikatti forest corridor houses less frequented unsafe routes from one of the ghat roads on the way uphill… The road is initially blocked with a steel bar to literally prevent poaching and penetration. However, through jeeps tribes from the settlements reach the very block to travel further to towns. This route also connects itself to the town from the rear of the Salim Ali center for Natural History and Ornithology (SACON), an abode of bird watching and elephant trafficking. A very dangerous road to take, the SACON passage was blocked long ago. 

The steel block & the Check post 
 Salim Ali centre for Ornithology & Natural History 

Until now, the routes to the unnamed village, sometimes called china gudalur by resident tribes, are not explored completely but show transparent mapping from another isolated tribal settlement. The path from the regular ghat road of Anaikatti takes roughly two hours to access the unnamed village on trek. Numerous roads, not neatly paved though lead to this village and the occupation there chiefly is agriculture and milking. This village falls well within the limits of Tamilnadu... However, there is another isolated settlement, which is originally called Narasipuram perched atop the hills of wild Vaidehi falls, which is an element of confusion as it lies along the edge of the two states. People speak a blend of tamil and Malayalam forming their own dialect, and Irulas form the majority of the population... This segment is a delightful confluence of the hills that stand facing eastern colonies of Narasipuram, Marudhamalai and strongly connecting the stretch at Thuvaipathy & Anaikatti...To walk downhill to reach the TN side of Vaidehi falls, it could take an entire nerve whacking 3 hours. I promise, this could be one of the most treacherous trekking domains yet with intense care… Never break your bamboo sticks and if, remember you are doomed… 

Google Earth View of the Tribal Settlements 





If you take the chance to trek with protected permission that is no doubt the perfect blend of irresistible adventure, dangerous yet amazing routes and something that will leave a memorable trekking experience of a lifetime.