What is the Effect of Lotos on the Sailors?
Andrea del Sarto is a notable literary work by Robert Browning. 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, to various questions of Andrea del Sarto.
Answer
What is the effect of Lotos on the Sailors?
In the poem “The Lotos-eaters” (1832), Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) portrays the transformative effect of the Lotos plant on sailors. The impact of the Lotos plant on the sailors is central to the description. It portrays a seductive escape from reality. It traps the sailors in a dreamlike state. Here are key points illustrating this effect from the poem:
Causes a State of Dreamlike Serenity: The Lotos plant drops the sailors into a tranquil and otherworldly state. Tennyson describes the island in such a way,
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
Here, the air is inactive, and the surroundings are enveloped in an endless calm. The effect on the sailors is profound. They feel detached from their previous struggles. Tennyson emphasizes the hypnotic and relaxing influence of the Lotos.
Detachment from Reality: The Lotos influences not only physical inactivity but also emotional detachment. It numbs the sailors’ senses and emotions. It creates a barrier between them and the harsh realities of their lives. Tennyson portrays this emotional numbness vividly:
And deep-asleep he seem’d, yet all awake…
This detachment makes them appear as though they are sleepwalking through life. This disconnection from the deep emotions challenges human existence.
Abandonment of Responsibilities: The sailors consume the Lotos fruits. They desire a permanent retreat from their duties and hardships. It promotes a desire to leave their responsibilities. They embrace a life of endless comfort and laziness. They articulate their decision to stay on the island in such a way,
Then some one said, ‘We will return no more’;
This decision highlights their priority for the seductive comfort of the Lotos. It causes tranquillity over the challenges and uncertainties of their former lives.
In conclusion, Tennyson’s portrayal of the Lotos plant in “The Lotos-eaters” highlights its profound effect on the sailors. It draws them into a state of idle surrender and emotional detachment. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, he explores the temptation to escape from life’s hardships and responsibilities. He warns against the dangers of forsaking ambition for transient comfort.