The Rebel by D J Enright. summary and Explanation

 

The Rebel 

Summary

 

The Poem the Rebel
This poem may be a criticism of the behaviour of a rebel. The poet describes the attitude and point of view of a rebel as compared with an ordinary normal man. The poet says that the attitude of a rebel is usually opposing to the traditional human attitude under various circumstances. The rebel always gives an opposite opinion. He prays for rain when everyone wants the sun to seem. At the top of the poem, the author tells that the deviations of the rebel from norms also are beneficial for the society in a way. He tells that if there's no rebel within the society, we cannot recognize the varied opinions of the people.
The poet says:

It is excellent that we've rebels
You may not find it excellent to be one.

The rebel is a superb poem by D.J Enright. The poet has beautifully described the likings and disliking of a rebel within the context of varied social states. The poem is indeed a satire on the attitude of a rebel. The rebels are against every situation. They need to take care of their individuality. they're the people that are uninterested in dull and boring social traditions. They need to vary social norms with their behaviour and attitude.

When people have short hair, the rebel grows his hair long. He grows his hair long and become different from others. When the opposite grow their hair long, the rebel cuts his hair short. In this way, he looks different from others and maintains his individuality.

In the class, when there's a question-answer session and students ask questions, the rebel won't utter a word. He is going to be quiet taking note of others carefully. But when there's a lecture and everybody is silent taking note of the lecture carefully, the rebel speaks and tries to become outstanding. He disturbs the category but is satisfied together with his acts.

In dressing, a rebel is again a weird man. He dresses differently from others. He wears colourful clothes when others wear plain and

straightforward dresses. When others wear colourful and showy clothes, the rebel would wear plain and straightforward dresses. In this way, he looks different from others and is definitely recognizable.

In the company of dog lovers, the rebel would mention cats and can show his love for cats. And when people are talking about cats, he would say some words in favour of dogs. His sole motive is to form himself distinct.

When the people are praying for sunlight, the rebel would demand rain and clouds. He will pray for rain. When people want weather, he wants weather. And when people enjoy a time period, a rebel will pray for the sun to return out. Similarly, when everyone stays in reception, the rebel attends functions and gatherings. And when all the people attend the meetings and gatherings, the rebel stays reception. When everyone says "YES" the rebel would say "NO". Hence every act of rebel is strictly contradictory to what others do. this is often his strange and conflicting acts that become his identity.

The poet says that rebel remains an honest thing for society. it's good to possess rebels among us. They are a source of contrast and fill colours in our life. Without rebels, the planet would have just one colour. The poet has expressed his soft feelings about the rebels. The poet wants us to understand the emotions of a rebel when people start criticism of them. They bear the criticism with courage. They’re considered abnormal persons of society.


"The Rebel" by D.J. Enright (Reference to the Context)
Reference:
These lines are taken from the poem “The Rebel” written by D.J. Enright.
Context:
This poem deals with the attitude of a social rebel. Actually a rebellion may be a manner to seem different from others. Such a social rebel is neither dangerous nor vicious. He doesn't make the opposite people’s lives miserable. He just wants to seem different. Young dissatisfied people may behave like this. But society shouldn't have social rebels.
Lines 1 – 2

When everybody has short hair,

 The rebel lets his hair grows long.

Explanation:
In these lines, the poet expresses the attitude of a social rebel. When everyone keeps short and uniform hair, the rebel knowingly grows his hair long. This, he does for the very fact that he wants to seem different from others.
Lines 3 – 4

When everybody has long hair,

 The rebel cuts his hair short.

In these lines, the poet says that the rebel goes against the custom and traditions of the society. When the remainder of the society grows long hair, the rebel cuts his hair short. This he does just to possess a difference from others.

 

 

Lines 5 – 6

When everybody talks during the lesson,

 The rebel doesn’t say a word.
In these lines the poet expresses the thought when every member of the society talks during a lesson or meeting, the rebel keeps silent because he wants to be prominent.
Lines 7 – 8

When nobody talks during the lesson,

 The rebel creates a disturbance.

In these lines the poet says when no-body talks during the lesion or meeting, the rebel creates disturbance by talking loudly just to seem distinct.
Lines 9 – 10

When everybody wears a uniform,

 The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes.

These lines show a special position of a rebel. When everyone in society wears simple and uniform clothes, the rebel uses strange and odd clothes. He wants to seem distinguished from others.
Lines 11 – 12

When everybody wears fantastic clothes,

The rebel dresses soberly.
In these lines the poet says when all other members of the society use queer and strange clothes, the rebel dresses very seriously and soberly.
Lines 13 – 14

In the company of dog lovers,

 The rebel expresses a preference for cats.

In these lines the poet expresses his idea of a rebel. If some people love dogs as pet animals, the rebel talks about the usefulness of cats. He prefers cats to dogs.
Lines 15 – 16

In the company of cat lovers,

 The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.

If a rebel is in the company of these people that love cats, he prefers dogs to cats. He wants to seem different at the least cost.
Lines 17 – 18

When everybody is praising the sun,

 The rebel remarks on the need for rain

The poet says if people require daylight and praise the sun the rebel is against them. He says that the sun isn't required and there's a need for rain.
Lines 19 – 20

When everybody is greeting the rain,

The rebel regrets the absence of the sun.

When everybody in society welcomes and requires rain, the rebel says something about the sun. He feels pitying the absence of the sun. Consistent with him, there's a need for daylight.
Lines 21 – 22

When everybody goes to the meeting,

 The rebel stays at home and reads a book.

When every members of the society goes to some gathering and attends the meeting, the rebel stays reception and keeps himself busy by reading a book indoors.
Lines 23 – 24

When everybody stays at home and reads a book,

 The rebel goes to the meeting.

When everybody of the society stays reception and reads a book, the rebel tries to seek out some crowd of the people and needs to attend to them.
Lines 25 – 26

When everybody says, Yes please,

The rebel says, No thank you.

When everyone asks for something, the rebel rejects an equivalent with thanks. Because he's an individual quite different from others.

 

Lines 27 – 28

When everybody says, No thank you,

The rebel says, Yes please.

 

When everybody of the society doesn't like and doesn't receive anything and says thanks, for that, the rebel, intentionally, requires that thing and asks for it.
Lines 29 – 30

It is very good that we have rebelled.

 You may not find it very good to be one.

In these lines, the poet concludes that it's excellent that we've social rebels within the society. But naturally, it's not good to become a social rebel. The poet further suggests that if we have already got the social rebels, we should always tolerate them. Without them life will become monotonous and dull.
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