"Feeding the Poor at Christmas" by Eunice de Souza

-

 

1. About the Author: Eunice de Souza

  • Eunice de Souza (1940–2017) was a well-known Indian English poet, novelist, and academic from Goa, India.

  • She was recognized for her sharp, direct, and often ironic style.

  • De Souza's poetry often addresses social issues, women’s experiences, and the hypocrisies of society with wit and bitterness.

  • Some of her famous poetry collections include Fix, Women in Dutch Painting, and Learn From the Almond Leaf.

  • Her work reflects her Catholic upbringing, Goan roots, and a strong feminist voice.

  • She also wrote children’s books and edited several anthologies of Indian English poetry.

2. Detailed Summary: "Feeding the Poor at Christmas"

This poem is a satirical commentary on the false charity and superficial kindness shown by the rich towards the poor during Christmas.

The speaker describes how every Christmas, the wealthy organize an event to "feed the poor". However, their attitude is far from genuine compassion. They arrive late, showing disrespect to the poor who wait for hours like excited children hoping for a special treat.

Instructions are given in a rude, controlling manner:

  • The poor must bring their own plates.

  • They must not move, not ask for more, and even if they don't drink, they cannot take extra food for family members like husbands.

  • The poor are expected to be grateful, say "thank you", and even pray (say a rosary) for their benefactors every evening.

There is also a harsh denial of even basic needs — like a towel or a shirt — even if these items are old and unwanted by the rich.
When a poor man named Robert says something, he is mocked with the proverb "beggars can't be choosers" — though the speaker cuts it short ironically, showing contempt for both the poor and the proverb itself.

Tone and Style:

  • Bitter, sarcastic, and critical tone.

  • Simple and conversational language, but with underlying anger.

  • Irony is used heavily to expose hypocrisy.

Themes:

  • Hypocrisy of Charity: Helping the poor without respect or real care.

  • Class Divide: The arrogance of the rich towards the poor.

  • Loss of Human Dignity: How charity can be dehumanizing when done without empathy.

  • Religious Irony: The clash between Christian values of kindness and the actual cruelty in behavior.

3. MCQs with Answers:

1. What event is described in the poem?
a) A Christmas party for the rich
b) Feeding the poor at Christmas
c) A Christmas wedding
d) A church service
Answer: b) Feeding the poor at Christmas

2. How are the poor treated during the event?
a) With warmth and love
b) With indifference and rudeness
c) With respect and care
d) With fear and suspicion
Answer: b) With indifference and rudeness

3. What are the poor told to do after receiving food?
a) Go to the church
b) Say a thank you prayer and a rosary every evening
c) Distribute food among themselves
d) Leave immediately without eating
Answer: b) Say a thank you prayer and a rosary every evening

4. What common proverb is hinted at in the poem?
a) A stitch in time saves nine
b) Beggars can't be choosers
c) A bird in hand is worth two in the bush
d) Charity begins at home
Answer: b) Beggars can't be choosers

5. What attitude does the speaker criticize in the poem?
a) Genuine care for the poor
b) Hypocritical charity and superiority
c) Political corruption
d) Religious faithfulness
Answer: b) Hypocritical charity and superiority

4. Short Answer Type Questions (with little longer answers):

Q1. How does the poem criticize the attitude of the rich towards the poor?

Answer:
The poem shows that the rich treat feeding the poor as a duty rather than an act of kindness. They arrive late, speak rudely, impose strict rules, and expect gratitude without giving real respect or care. Through sarcasm, the poet criticizes how charity often becomes a way to show off superiority rather than genuinely help those in need.

Q2. What role does irony play in the poem?

Answer:
Irony is central to the poem’s message. While Christmas is supposed to be about love, generosity, and kindness, the behavior of the rich is unloving and humiliating. The act of feeding the poor becomes mechanical and demeaning, highlighting the contrast between religious ideals and actual practice. Irony exposes the hypocrisy of society.

Q3. What is the significance of the title "Feeding the Poor at Christmas"?

Answer:
The title suggests an act of charity and kindness, but the poem reveals the reality behind it — an event marked by rudeness, humiliation, and superiority. The title thus becomes ironic, making the reader question the true meaning of charity and the emptiness of such gestures if done without compassion.

Q4. How does the poem portray the poor?

Answer:
The poor are portrayed as helpless, submissive, and treated almost like children waiting for a treat. They are forced to accept indignities and are denied even the smallest extra comfort. Their dignity is crushed under the controlling and condescending attitude of the rich, highlighting the inhumanity in acts that are supposed to be kind.

Q5. Explain the meaning of "Beggars can’t be, exactly" in the poem.

Answer:
The speaker cuts short the famous proverb "beggars can’t be choosers", showing disdain and impatience towards a poor man, Robert. This unfinished sentence captures the harsh attitude of the rich — that the poor must accept whatever little is given without question. It reveals how charity is mixed with contempt, not compassion.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Indian Writing in English B A II Sem IV (Notes)

-
  Syllabus Semester IV I) General/Survey Topics:    (Credit: 01)                (Lectures-15) 1. Salient Features of Post-Independence Indian English Novel. (With special reference to prescribed text)   II) Poems Prescribed: ( Credit:01) (Lectures:15) 1. Dilip Chitre: Father Returning Home 2. O. P. Bhatnagar: On Beautiful Things 3. Keki N Daruwalla: Tiger 4. Eunice De Souza: Forgive Me, Mother 5. Gauri Deshpande: The Female of the Species III) Novel: (Credit: 02) (Lectures-30) R. K. Narayan: The Vendor of Sweets   Pattern of Question Paper                                                   Total Marks: 40 Q. 1 Rewrite the follo...
Read more

Features of Comedy of Manners- Notes (B. A. II)

-
 Features of Comedy of Manners  Introduction This genre refers to English Comedies written and performed in the Restoration Period from 1660 A.D. to 1710 A.D. It is also called as Restoration Comedy. It is an entertainment form which satirizes the manners and affections of social class or of multiple classes. A manner is a method in which everyday duties are performed. As compared to the tragedy of the Restoration Age, this genre achieved greater distinction and shame. It was the most characteristic product of Restoration Literature & reflects the spirit of the age more comprehensively than its prose and poetry. Dryden was the first to write Comedy of Manners with his Wild Gallant, which was a failure. He wrote several other Comedies of Manners also which were more successful. Features of Comedy of Manners 1. It depends upon the dramatists’ capacity to present the unemotional treatment of sex. 2. It is rich with wit and satire and gives the image of the time. 3...
Read more

Novel: Definitions and Characteristics

-
  B. A. I  Sem. II  Unit No. 3 Novel: Definitions and Characteristics I. Novel: Definitions A novel is a long, fictional narrative written in prose, which describes characters, events, and settings in a structured and imaginative way. Different literary critics and writers have defined the novel in various ways. Definitions of Novel by Critics and Writers E.M. Forster – “A novel is a fiction in prose of a certain extent.” Walter Allen – “The novel is a narrative of considerable length in which characters and actions represent real life in a plot that is of interest.” M.H. Abrams – “A novel is an extended fictional prose narrative, usually lengthy and complex, dealing imaginatively with human experience through a connected sequence of events involving a group of characters.” Dr. Johnson – “A novel is a small tale, generally of fictitious nature.” Richardson – “A novel is a large, complex, and continuous story tha...
Read more