Describe, in your own words, the views of the writer on ‘Pleasures’.

Or

It is true that the ‘Pleasures’ are a great menace to our civilization. Discuss it.

Or

The need of the participation in the Pleasures. Discuss it.

Or

Modern Pleasures are only passive.

Or

Such Pleasures will destroy the modern civilization.

Ans.

Introduction

After reading this essay, ‘Pleasures‘ the writer shows the necessity to get pleasure in his life. As we need work for his living, in the same way we need pleasure or recreation in our life. In short man is a pleasure loving animal. There is an old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” holds good in the life of each and every man or woman. It is necessary for a man to amuse himself along with doing some work for his living. For this, both physical and mental amusement is very necessary in the life of all persons. The ‘Pleasures’ are a great menace to our civilization.

‘Pleasures’ as a real menace

The great writer makes it very clear in this essay that pleasures are a great menace in the life of all persons. It may be called as a menace organized by some associations in the name the entertainment for the masses without their active part in them. He asserts that war is also a serious menace to the whole mankind and our civilization. The mankind faced such menaces with a strong desire for reformation. By this time we have faced such menaces which are more dangerous than the search for such pleasures. In the past, earlier menaces were only local but at present we find such menaces in the organized pleasures. The writer has compared them as a great menace which have been “uptil now mere threats, barking more furiously than they bite.”

Participation in the pleasures is needed

The great writer Aldous Huxley has pointed out the great need of the participation in the pleasures which are organized for the entertainment of the masses. Some classes now do not need any participation because they are in the lack of variety and initiative. The writer has expressed his idea in these words, “Organized distraction tends to become progressively more and more imbecile.” In the past, the people took part in some distractions with the need of some intellectual effort. For example the King and the Queen and their noble courtiers enjoyed sermons and they also paid attention to the talk of the learned scholars on philosophical subjects. Secondly even the uneducated vulgar used to pay their attention to understand and enjoy the poetry of the great dramatist Shakespeare given in his great comedies and tragedies. In this way, the people enjoyed the pleasures which were intelligent and alive. They made their own efforts to get some real entertainment.

Modern pleasures are only passive

According to the great writer, the modern pleasures are only passive. Such pleasures are made by different organizations and industries. Some matches for the games of cricket and boxing are arranged and broadcast in the whole world. Some films are produced at an important city and they provide recreation to the numberless audiences. They enjoy them by using their mental efforts. They only sit in their room in order to enjoy with open eyes.

The writer further says that the passive enjoyment of violent scenes along with some bloodshed will make a bad effect on our civilization. They may destroy it in the long run. It will be the result of the evil of boredom which is very dangerous, it had destroyed the past civilizations because of such boredom. For example the Romans had seen it with their open eyes. The people of the world are reaching such a dangerous situation towards premature ruin of our civilization.

• Discuss Rabindranath Tagore as a poet.

• Write the critical appreciation of the poem No. 12 entitled Far Below Flowed.

• Write the critical appreciation of the poem No. 11 entitled Leave this Chanting.