The Last Bargain

📖 Poem Overview

• Poet: Rabindranath Tagore

• Type: Allegorical and philosophical lyric poem

• Idea: True freedom and happiness come not from power, wealth, or beauty, but from innocence, love, and simplicity.

• Bargain = a symbolic deal or offer in life

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🧠 Stanza-wise Explanation (Simple Words)

💰 Stanza 1

“Come and hire me,” I cried, while in the morning I was walking on the stone-paved road.

• The speaker (poet) is looking for a job or purpose in life.

• A king comes in a chariot and offers him power, but the speaker refuses, realizing that power is temporary.

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🪙 Stanza 2

In the heat of the midday the houses stood with shut doors.

• A rich man appears with gold coins and offers him wealth.

• The speaker rejects the offer, saying money can’t buy happiness.

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🌹 Stanza 3

It was evening. The garden hedge was all aflower.

• A beautiful woman comes and smiles. She offers love or beauty.

• The speaker turns away because beauty fades and love based on charm isn’t lasting.

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👦 Stanza 4

The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke waywardly.

• The speaker sees a little child playing in the sand.

• The child asks for nothing, only wants to play.

• The speaker feels free and joyful — this is the “last bargain” he accepts.

• It brings him true happiness without any cost.

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🧩 Form and Meter

• Form: Free verse

• Structure: 4 stanzas (each presents a different offer or "bargain")

• Rhyme Scheme: None (free verse)

• Meter: Irregular; natural speech rhythm

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✨ Poetic Devices (with examples)

1. Symbolism

   • Each character (king, rich man, beauty, child) stands for something:

     • King = power

     • Rich man = wealth

     • Woman = beauty/love

     • Child = innocence/freedom

2. Metaphor

   • The “bargain” stands for the choices we make in life

   • The final “bargain” with the child = freedom and true joy

3. Repetition

   • “Come and hire me” is repeated to show the speaker's search for meaning

4. Alliteration

   • Example: “sun glistened on the sand” (repetition of ‘s’ sound)

5. Personification

   • The rich man’s gold, the woman’s smile, and the child’s play are presented almost like talking offers

6. Imagery

   • The poet paints vivid scenes: morning road, midday heat, evening garden, seaside

   • Helps readers visualize and feel the changes in time and emotion

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🌟 Themes

• Rejection of materialism (power, money, beauty)

•  Value of innocence and simplicity

•  True freedom comes from love and joy, not possessions

•  Life is about choosing the right “bargain” — one that brings peace, not pressure

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