Paradise Lost v/s Savitri


  
Both are epics. Both are classics. Both are immortal pieces of literature. Both have enduring lines; lines that captivate and hold you spellbound. Both are written by masters. Both the masters – John Milton & Sri Aurobindo Ghosh - are champions in writing epics. Both these works run into several hundred pages and every single page has something to offer. There’s very little to choose between the two – but there is little to choose.
I have read both Paradise Lost and Savitri and were I asked to choose between the two, I would choose Savitri. I have no intention to downplay Paradise Lost. Who am I to do that? Its place is entrenched in literature’s Hall of Fame. But Savitri has its own charm, class and cult.
One line from Paradise Lost pales all other lines in it. ‘Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.’ This line has stayed with me since I read Paradise Lost almost twenty years back. But in comparison, there are several lines from Savitri that has stayed with me and they run through my mind as I write this blog:     
1.      The great are strongest when they stand alone
2.      Only the pure in soul can walk in light
3.      A memory quivered in the heart of Time
4.      A prayer, a master act, a king idea, Can link man’s strength to a transcendent Force
Milton wrote his epic poem after going totally blind. He was also ill and emotionally shattered and took about five years to compose the entire poem. On the other hand, Aurobindo took almost twenty years to create his masterpiece. His eyesight was also failing in later years. Both the poets dictated large portions of their works to friends. While Milton picked the idea for Paradise Lost from the Bible, Aurobindo took his from the Mahabharat. Paradise Lost has close to 10600 lines and Savitri, 24000 lines.  
What makes me go in favour of Savitri are the following points:
-          Savitri has a greater number of powerful lines than Paradise Lost
-          Milton is a native English writer, Ghosh is not, yet the mastery Ghosh has on the language is remarkable
-          Savitri has more enriching spiritual experiences than Paradise Lost
-          Paradise Lost is less rhythmic than Savitri   
-          Savitri has more repeat value than Paradise Lost
That’s it then! I have put my head on the block. Both the poets wear well-studded caps, but Aurobindo will have an extra feather now.  
-          NZ
29.6.2019



                                                


 

Comments

  1. Unknown29 June 2019 at 07:04

    Your blog has motivated me to read Savitri Thank you for your thought on both.

    ReplyDelete
  2. saiyid zaidi29 June 2019 at 07:10

    very impressive analysis

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rachna29 June 2019 at 12:53

    Love conquers death...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Faiyaz Mandlik29 June 2019 at 20:26

    I know one thing and that is India is India no one can beat us

    ReplyDelete

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