Punishment : Quotations
Punishment is a notable literary work by Seamus Heaney. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Punishment.
Quotations
Quotes
“I can feel the tug
of the halter at the nape
of her neck”
Exp: The poet imagines the girl being hanged. He feels her pain as if he can really sense the rope pulling her neck. This shows his deep sympathy and emotional connection to her suffering.
“Little adulteress,…
My poor scapegoat,”
Exp: The poet calls the girl a “little adulteress,” meaning she loved someone wrongly in the eyes of society. He also calls her a “scapegoat,” showing that she is punished unfairly by the cruel society.
“I almost love you
but would have cast, I know,
the stones of silence.”
Exp: The poet feels deep affection for the girl but admits he would have stayed silent when she was punished. “Stones of silence” means being quiet when someone is treated unfairly. These lines express the poet’s deep sense of guilt for society’s cruelty.
“The exact
and tribal, intimate revenge.”
Exp: These lines describe how modern people took revenge unfairly, just like ancient people. “Tribal revenge” means violent punishment based on group anger, not fairness.