Comparing Tagore's "Punishment" and Achebe's "Chike's School Days"

Introduction

"Punishment" by Rabindranath Tagore and "Chike's School Days" by Chinua Achebe are very different works. The first story is heavy and dramatic and shows what happens to people when they lie about the truth. The second story is gentle and innocent, telling the story of a young boy and what he learns at school. There is not much in common between the two stories except that both are explorations of human nature. This paper compares and contrasts these two stories to show both how they differ and how they are alike.

Tragedy and Deception in Tagore's 'Punishment'

"Punishment" deals with tragic consequences. The tragedy in the story is that Chidam convinces his wife Chandara to take responsibility for his brother Dukhiram's actions. Dukhiram has murdered his wife in a fit of rage. Chidam, fearing that his brother will be punished, invents a story claiming that his own wife accidentally killed Radha. Chandara goes along with it, but she is deeply upset by her husband's lie. In an act of quiet defiance, she confesses in a way that makes herself look guilty so that she will be executed — her way of getting back at her husband. She is willing to have her own life ended in order to hurt him.

It is a terrifying and sorrowful ending. Even as the brothers feel guilt and attempt to confess for themselves, the court will not hear them, because the jury is already convinced by Chandara's own confession. She dies, and before she does, she refuses to see her husband — the man whose lie placed her in that position. There is a sad and bitter spite in this story that makes the heart ache.

Innocence and Wonder in Achebe's Story

Achebe's story is very different from Tagore's at this point: where Tagore's work is dark and sorrowful, Achebe's is simple and heartfelt, centered on a small boy. Chike is mesmerized by the English language and loves to hear the sounds of words. This is a very innocent way of engaging with life, and it stands in stark contrast to the way the brothers live their lives in Tagore's story. The brothers complicate life by being untruthful, refusing to accept responsibility for their actions, and failing to consider the punishment their crimes might bring.

Chike, on the other hand, does think about punishment — specifically, the teacher's stick, which is used to discipline students. This keeps him cautious, and he does not want to do anything that might anger the teacher. If the brothers in Tagore's story had had this kind of fear, they might not have acted so badly. Dukhiram might not have killed his wife in wrath if he had feared punishment and exercised more self-control. Similarly, Chidam might not have pressured his wife into lying if he had feared being caught. The fear that Chike feels, then, is a healthy fear — one that keeps him from harm.

Conclusion

The stories by Achebe and Tagore are very different from one another in that Tagore's is dark and serious and told from an adult perspective, while Achebe's is light and told from a child's perspective. But they are also similar in that each explores a side of human nature and shows why it is better to hold onto innocence and honesty than to pursue selfish ends and face punishment. Chike fears the teacher's stick, and this is good, because it keeps him from wrongdoing. The brothers, however, should have feared the equivalent force of the law — had they done so, they would not have suffered the grief they brought upon themselves by following selfish, destructive passions.