Night of the Scorpion
I remember the night my mother
was stung by a scorpion. Ten hours
of steady rain had driven him
to crawl beneath a sack of rice.
Parting with his poison – flash
of diabolic tail in the dark room –
he risked the rain again.
The peasants came like swarms of flies
and buzzed the name of God a hundred times
to paralyse the Evil One.
With candles and with lanterns
throwing giant scorpion shadows
on the mud-baked walls
they searched for him: he was not found.
They clicked their tongues.
With every movement that the scorpion made his poison moved in Mother’s blood, they said.
May he sit still, they said
May the sins of your previous birth
be burned away tonight, they said.
May your suffering decrease
the misfortunes of your next birth, they said.
May the sum of all evil
balanced in this unreal world
against the sum of good
become diminished by your pain.
May the poison purify your flesh
of desire, and your spirit of ambition,
they said, and they sat around
on the floor with my mother in the centre,
the peace of understanding on each face.
More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours,
more insects, and the endless rain.
My mother twisted through and through,
groaning on a mat.
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother.
I watched the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
And spared my children.
About the Poet
Nissim Ezekiel (1924–2004):
• Regarded as one of the foundational figures of modern Indian English poetry.
• Known for his clear, often ironic observations of urban and rural Indian life.
• His poetry frequently combines elements of satire, humor, and reflection on social realities and personal experiences.
• “Night of the Scorpion” is among his most popular poems, celebrated for its simplicity, poignant narrative, and deep insight into human nature and rural superstition.
2. Background/Context of the Poem
• Historical & Social Context:
– Written in the mid‑20th century, at a time when traditional rural beliefs and modern rationality often collided in India.
– The poem reflects the tensions between superstition and emerging modern perspectives in a rural Indian setting.
• Personal/Autobiographical Elements:
– The poem is based on a real incident in Ezekiel’s own life: a scorpion stinging his mother on a dark, stormy night.
– The family’s reactions—ranging from religious fervor and anxiety to pragmatic concern—mirror the complex interplay of faith, fear, and familial love.
• Literary Context:
– Ezekiel’s work is noted for its understated tone and conversational language, which makes his observations accessible and deeply human. – “Night of the Scorpion” is exemplary of his skill in blending irony with compassion to comment on social customs and personal pain.
3. Summary of the Poem
• Opening:
– The poem opens on a stormy night when a scorpion stings the poet’s mother. The atmosphere is charged with tension and fear as the family scrambles to respond.
• Family Reaction:
– Each family member—parents, siblings, and extended relatives—reacts in their own way. The villagers and relatives come running with prayers, rituals, and superstitious beliefs to ward off evil and cure the mother. – There is a mix of frantic prayer and resigned acceptance, reflecting both hope and fatalism.
• Descriptive Imagery:
– Ezekiel uses vivid images to depict the dark, oppressive night and the palpable fear that grips the household. – Despite the panic, there is an underlying tone of irony as the family’s rituals border on the absurd, yet sincere.
• Climax and Resolution:
– As the night wears on, the frantic activities subside. The mother, though in pain, gradually recovers. – The poem ends on a reflective note, suggesting that through suffering, a kind of redemptive grace emerges. The mother’s endurance and the family’s unity become a quiet triumph over the incident.
4. Main Themes
• Faith vs. Rationality:
– The poem contrasts deep-rooted rural superstitions and religious fervor with the stark, sometimes indifferent realities of life.
– The family’s varied responses highlight the tension between traditional beliefs and the emerging rational outlook.
• Suffering and Endurance:
– The incident of the scorpion sting is presented as both a moment of crisis and an opportunity for the demonstration of resilience. – The mother’s stoic acceptance of pain and the calm that follows suggest that suffering can have a transformative, almost redemptive quality.
• The Role of Fate:
– The poem contemplates the inevitability of fate and how uncontrollable events (like a scorpion sting) disrupt ordinary life. – It reflects on how human beings cope with unpredictable and painful occurrences.
• Family and Community:
– The collective response of the family and community underlines the importance of social bonds and shared belief systems in times of crisis.
5. Poetic Devices Used
• Imagery:
– Vivid descriptions of the stormy night, the scorpion’s sting, and the frantic family activities create a strong sensory experience.
• Irony:
– The sincere yet somewhat absurd rituals and prayers in response to the sting offer a subtle critique of superstition without overt judgment.
• Personification:
– Elements of nature (such as the storm and darkness) are given human characteristics, heightening the dramatic atmosphere.
• Tone:
– The overall tone shifts from fear and tension to a reflective calm, capturing the complexity of emotions experienced during crisis.
• Contrast:
– The juxtaposition of the supernatural (superstitions and religious fervor) with the natural (the scorpion, the storm) reinforces the poem’s thematic tensions.
• Repetition:
– Certain words and phrases are repeated to emphasize the relentless nature of the night and the intensity of the family’s collective experience.
6. Sample Essay Questions & Synoptic Answers
Essay Question 1:
Discuss how “Night of the Scorpion” portrays the conflict between superstition and rationality in rural India.
Synoptic Answer:
In “Night of the Scorpion,” Nissim Ezekiel juxtaposes the irrational, superstitious responses of his family with the stark reality of a natural calamity. The poem details the chaotic reactions to his mother’s scorpion sting, as relatives and neighbors resort to frantic prayers, rituals, and symbolic gestures aimed at expelling evil. These actions—while sincere—underscore the prevailing traditional beliefs that clash with a more modern, rational understanding of the event. Through vivid imagery and subtle irony, Ezekiel exposes the tension between deep-seated faith and the need for practical action. Ultimately, the poem suggests that while superstition may offer comfort in the face of inexplicable events, it is the quiet endurance and acceptance of suffering that truly defines the human response to fate.
Essay Question 2:
Examine the theme of suffering and endurance in “Night of the Scorpion.”
Synoptic Answer:
“Night of the Scorpion” uses a personal family crisis to explore broader themes of suffering and endurance. The scorpion’s sting on the poet’s mother is not only a physical affliction but also a moment that unites the family in shared anguish and hope. Despite the frantic rituals and prayers, the mother endures the pain with a stoic resignation that suggests a deep inner strength. Ezekiel’s portrayal of her suffering—as something that is both excruciating and transformative—reveals a belief in the redemptive power of pain. The communal response, marked by a blend of superstition and solidarity, further emphasizes that suffering is an inevitable part of life, one that can foster resilience and deepen interpersonal bonds. The poem ultimately celebrates endurance as a quiet triumph over the caprices of fate.
7. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers
-
Who is the author of “Night of the Scorpion”?
A) Nissim Ezekiel
B) Toru Dutt
C) Sarojini Naidu
D) Kamala Das
Answer: A) Nissim Ezekiel -
What is the central incident in “Night of the Scorpion”?
A) A scorpion stinging the poet’s mother
B) A storm destroying the family home
C) The poet’s journey to a distant land
D) The death of a sibling
Answer: A) A scorpion stinging the poet’s mother -
Which tone best describes the poem?
A) Humorous and light-hearted
B) Solemn, reflective, and ironic
C) Angry and rebellious
D) Detached and clinical
Answer: B) Solemn, reflective, and ironic -
What does the scorpion in the poem most symbolically represent?
A) The cruelty of nature and fate
B) A mythological creature
C) A symbol of prosperity
D) A tool for punishment
Answer: A) The cruelty of nature and fate -
How do the family members primarily react to the sting?
A) With scientific inquiry and calm analysis
B) With superstitious fervor and frantic rituals
C) With laughter and dismissal
D) With complete indifference
Answer: B) With superstitious fervor and frantic rituals -
Which literary device is used when the poet describes the night as “dark and stormy”?
A) Alliteration
B) Imagery
C) Hyperbole
D) Onomatopoeia
Answer: B) Imagery -
What theme is most strongly conveyed in “Night of the Scorpion”?
A) The triumph of science over superstition
B) The enduring nature of familial love amid suffering
C) The beauty of rural landscapes
D) The joy of childhood innocence
Answer: B) The enduring nature of familial love amid suffering -
Which of the following best describes the poet’s attitude toward his mother’s suffering?
A) Detached and objective
B) Filled with pity and resignation
C) Indifferent and critical
D) Joyful and mocking
Answer: B) Filled with pity and resignation -
What effect does the use of irony have in the poem?
A) It undermines the seriousness of the event
B) It highlights the absurdity of the superstitions while showing their deep-rooted nature
C) It creates a sense of confusion
D) It makes the poem humorous throughout
Answer: B) It highlights the absurdity of the superstitions while showing their deep-rooted nature -
In “Night of the Scorpion,” what is the ultimate outcome of the crisis?
A) The mother dies tragically
B) The incident leads to a mix of fear, prayer, and eventual relief as the mother recovers
C) The family abandons their traditional beliefs
D) The scorpion returns every night
Answer: B) The incident leads to a mix of fear, prayer, and eventual relief as the mother recovers