” The Pigtail is a very humorous poom but it contains messages which are universal. ” Do you agree ? Prove your view.
I agree with the statement that The Pigtail is a very humorous poem but it contains messages which are universal. It is written by William Makepeace Thackeray. He gives a lot of humour throughout this poem. And also it gives sarcasm. In this poem, the poet speaks about a wise man who hasn’t practical knowledge.
As the poet tells , the sage lived a long time ago. And he had a beautiful , handsome pigtail. He worried much about his pigtail because it hung behind him. After thinking about this very much, he took a decision.
” And swore he’d change the pigtail’s place ”
It is really funny to just think about something like that. Because we can’t change a pigtail’s place. Then that sage decided to have it at his face. He turned him round and round. But it still hung behind him.
” But still it hung behind him ”
Then he tried and tried. But it did not change. He turned into right and left, out and in, up and down. But it did not change even a little.
” In vain – it mattered not a pin ”
But he never gave up. Then he twist and twirl. But it was still there like before.
” Alas ! Still faithful to his back ”
The poet tells finally that the pigtail still hangs behind him steadily.
The poem is written in past tense as it tells a story that happened in past. But the last line is written in present tense.
” The pigtail hangs behind him ”
Maybe because he wants to tell that sage is still doing that and the pigtail still hangs benind him. Through that line and also from the whole poem , the poet gives us a deep meaning which is universal. The poet has given birth to sarcasm through humour.
From this poem, the poet laughs at the wise people who haven’t common sense. Some people don’t know to do a simple work properly in their day – to – day life. This is also like that. The sage didn’t know that we can not change the pigtail’s place. So the idea that gives from the poem is universal. The poet tells a humorous story about a sage. But that sage represents all the educated people who don’t have practical knowledge.
Normally , sage means a wise, educated man. But in this poem it is used in an ironical way. He is not a wise man or he hasn’t a bit of common sense. And maybe he is a wise man. Because some educated people think that they are educated and they can do anything from their own even if it is an order of nature. But I think most probably this is an exaggerated story. A normal person can’t do such things that he has done to change the pigtail’s place.
This poem gives a lot of humour to the reader. But I think he wants to give the idea of sarcasm. He tells that the educated people haven’t common sense. Throughout that sage, he represents not only all the wise people but also the people who haven’t practical knowledge. So I think he wants to tell to the people to live with common sense. It was relevant for old people and it is relevant for modern people and it will be also relevant for the future people who read this poem. So I can agree with the statement ” The Pigtail is a very humorous poem but it contains messages which are universal “.