THE FROG AND THE NIGHTINGALE
Vikram Seth is a well-known poet in India. He was born in 1952 in Calcutta
(Kolkata). The poem The Frog and the Nightingale is from his book of poems called
Beastly tales from Here and There (1991). As the title makes it explicit that the
poems are based on narratives from various parts of the world, Greece, China, India
and Ukrain not to mention the fantasy world of Gup. The poems highlight the
tension between good and evil. These tales in verse are simple to read and are like
the fables, teaching important lessons of life. The poem under study portrays the
cunning frog and the Naïve Nightingale who pays the price of her innocence by
losing her purity, her originality and ultimately her life.
The Frog and The Nightingale Summary
(Lines 1-34)Once upon a time a frog living in Bingle Bog (marshy area) croaked away in his
unpleasant voice all night.The other creatures hated his voice and did everything in
their power to make him quiet-threw sticks, stones, prayed, insulted, complained ,
threw bricks but all in vain. Nothing could stop the frog from minstrel ling (singing)
all night in his harsh voice.One night his renditions were interrupted when a
Nightingale perched itself on the Sumac Tree and burst into the most melodious song
ever heard under the Sumac Tree. The other creatures of the Bingle Bog unused to
such sweet voice heard her mesmerized by the beauty of the song. Creatures from all
over the forest were drawn towards the bird‘s song and asked for a repeat
performance. Toads, Tiddlers, teals Ducks and Herons cheered her song. Not used to
praise the Nightingale kept giving performance the whole night. Next night when the
nightingale got ready for the performance (She had all the mannerisms of an artistclearing
of throat, adjusting the mike, her appearance).
(Lines 35-60)
The Frog made his presence felt introduced himself as the owner of the tree, known
also for his deep voice and as a columnist for the Bog Trumpet (Magazine). Highly
impressed by the Frog‘s credentials, the Nightingale was too eager to hear about his
opinion. The Frog without mincing any words criticized her art as a professional.
Nightingale being too naïve believed and defended herself by claiming to be
original. The Frog brushed her claims aside and told her in no uncertain terms that
without his guidance she would be nobody.
(Lines 61-84)
Unable to hide her excitement at her good luck, the nightingale accepted the honour
of being trained by a musician of repute!The frog made it very clear that he would be
charging a modest fee but assuring her that she would be able to pay back. So the
Nightingale began her career as a performer-infused with confidence, filled with a
zest for performance and inspired by the fawning, sang and became a sensation
overnight.
The magical quality of her song attracted creatures of the Bingle Bog from far and
wide
The opportunist frog cashed on the crowd and started charging admission fee. The
arrogant and heartless frog never let an opportunity to make the Nightingale realize
who was in control. Without a care for the bad weather, he would order her to
practice, push her to her limit. In his role of a patron he became a hard task master,
pushing the Nightingale to the verge of collapse.
(Lines 85-110)
Day after Day this went on, the Nightingale now sleep deprived and exhausted went
on performing.The Sumac tree of Bingle Bog was humbled (honoured)by the
presence of the elite of the Bingle Bog (Poet is being sarcastic about people who
come to see musical performance only for the sake of showing off jewels, without
little bit of interest in the art. Employing the pun on words the poet lists few royal
titles-Duke, Count, Cardinal, Mallord, Earl who visited the Sumac tree to hear the
Nightingale perform. On one hand the Frog was happy as his business was so
profitable on the other hand he was jealous of the success of the Nightingale. His
greed made him unreasonable, every day he would point out her flaws, criticized her
singing, advised her on the technique; remind her of her goal of being successful and
how much she owed him.
(Lines 111-140)
This constant badgering by the Frog robbed the Nightingale of her creativity. She
started sounding bored, uninspired and no amount of mannerism could revive the
audience. The cash collection started falling and the disinterested applause of few
who still were coming gave her no happiness. It made her sorrowful and depressed.
The frog was livid as his business was getting affected. He lost his temper and
became cruel.He asked her to follow trends and give the people what they wanted.
The Nightingale tried very hard, collected her wits about her, performed but alas she
burst a vein and collapsed. The calculative Frog quickly washed his hands off the
Nightingale. He pointed out how the Nightingale was a stupid creature, he tried to
teach her but she was very nervous, easy on the ear and gullible. He became a little
brazen as he pointed out the Bird should have known that one‘s song should be one‘s
own (meaning -You can‘t let other people dictate your life. She should have known
when to say no.)The manipulative Frog not only cleared himself of all responsibility
of the Bird‘s death but also made it appear that the bird was responsible for her
death. He projects himself as a confident, practical and wise creature who sings with
a élan! Hence the Frog resumed his position in the Bog and continued to blare out in
his harsh and unpleasant voice undisputed and unrivalled. The moral of the poem is
that one has to pay for one‘s gullibility. Being inspired and influenced by someone
unknown and stranger is indeed a foolish work. The nightingale had to suffer for her
misjudgment. If our self-image is based on what others make us believe we are, we
will always be misguided. It is important to know your own worth. The Nightingale's
gullible servile nature results in her tragic death. The pompous, scheming frog plans
her destruction after winning her trust. Lack of confidence and good judgement of
character can bring misery from which there is no escape.
Frog:
He has been portrayed as arrogant, pompous, haughty, patronizing,
opportunist, condescending and boastful.
He is used to his position of the only singer of the Bingle Bog
The entry of the melodious nightingale is an eye opener
Being practical and worldly wise he uses his position to influence her
He impresses upon her his superiority by discussing her art condescendingly
He manipulates the situation to his advantage, starts making profit by charging
admission fee.
His haughtiness is evident when he doesn‘t tolerate any slips on the
nightingale‘s part.
He gradually works on the nightingale‘s weakness- of being rich and
Famous (downfall of many) A smooth talker brushes away the blame of nightingale‘s death by
philosophising it that ‗your song must be your own‘
Nightingale
She is portrayed as the innocent, naïve, gullible, polite, unsure, timid, shy and
nervous type.
The taste of appreciation enhances her self-esteem making her gullible.
The desire to impress makes her blind to the faults of the frog.
Her purity, originality and piousness get shadowed by the greed for status and
commercial success.
Trapped in the vicious circle of success, she pushes herself to a point of exhaustion.
Addicted to her status, unable to get out of the clutches of the frog she tries-
The misguided efforts result in her death.
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