The Last Bargain – Summary
Introduction
Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “The Last Bargain” explores the nature of true value in relationships and work. The speaker seeks employment and encounters various offers, each representing different societal values: power, wealth, and superficial happiness. Ultimately, he finds his most meaningful offer from a child, who hires him for nothing, symbolizing freedom and authenticity.
Poem and Explanation
Stanza 1: The King’s Offer
“Come and hire me,” I cried, while in the morning
I was walking on the stone-paved road.
Sword in hand the King came in his chariot.
He held my hand and said, “I will hire you with my power,”
But his power counted for naught, and he went away in his chariot.”
Word Meanings:
- Stone-paved: A surface suitable for travel.
- Chariot: A horse-drawn carriage.
- Naught: Nothing.
Explanation:
The poem begins with the speaker announcing his availability for work. The King approaches in his chariot, offering the speaker a job based on his royal power. However, the speaker values freedom over authority and declines the offer, indicating that such power means little to him.
Stanza 2: The Old Man’s Wealth
“In the heat of the mid-day the houses stood with shut doors.
I wandered along the crooked lane.
An old man came out with his bag of gold.
He pondered and said, “I will hire you with my money.”
He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.”
Word Meanings:
- Crooked: Not straight.
- Pondered: To think carefully.
Explanation:
As the sun blazes at midday, the speaker roams a winding path. An old man offers him a job in exchange for gold coins. Yet, the speaker finds the promise of wealth unappealing, suggesting that material possessions do not guarantee fulfillment.
Stanza 3: The Young Maiden’s Smile
“It was evening. The garden hedge was all aflower.
The fair maid came out and said, “I will hire you with a smile.”
Her smile paled and melted into tears, and she went back alone into the dark.”
Word Meanings:
- Hedge: A boundary formed by closely growing shrubs.
- Paled: To fade or diminish.
Explanation:
In the evening, amidst blooming flowers, a young woman offers her smile as payment. However, her smile quickly turns to tears, revealing her underlying sorrow. This moment reflects the superficiality of happiness, further disillusioning the speaker.
Stanza 4: The Child’s Offer
“The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke waywardly.
A child sat playing with shells.
He raised his head and seemed to know me and said, “I hire you with nothing.”
From henceforward that bargain struck in child’s play made me a free man.”
Word Meanings:
- Glistened: To shine with sparkling light.
- Waywardly: Unpredictably.
Explanation:
Finally, at the seashore, the speaker encounters a child playing with shells. The child offers to hire him for nothing, a gesture filled with innocence and freedom. This offer resonates deeply with the speaker, as it symbolizes liberation from societal expectations and the joy of simplicity.
Conclusion
In “The Last Bargain,” Tagore highlights the contrast between societal values—power, wealth, and superficial joy—and the profound significance of freedom and authenticity found in simple, honest relationships. The child’s innocent offer becomes the true bargain, granting the speaker a sense of liberation and fulfillment.
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