Four Ways of Dying by Steve Chimombo: The Poem and Complete Analysis

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General Introduction

The poem "Four Ways of Dying" by Steve Chimombo presents a contemplation on different approaches to life and conflict through the metaphor of animals. The celebrants in the poem call for a blood sacrifice, setting the tone for exploring various responses. The Crab represents avoidance and indecision, choosing to meander rather than confront. The Chameleon, on the other hand, symbolizes adaptation and camouflage, willing to match colors and strategies to the situation at hand.

Four Ways of Dying by By Steve Chimombo

The celebrants chanted to the reluctant martyrs-to-be:

 We would have a blood sacrifice!

The Crab's response:

I crawl in my shell sideways, backwards, forwards;

Avoid

direct action on public matters, confrontation, commitment,

Meander

to confuse direction or purpose, meaning.

to balance the issues weigh,

consider.

The Chameleon's answer:

Until I have exhausted my wardrobe, 

lost my dye to a transparent nothingness,

 free of reflection, true to my image, 

I'll match my colours with yours, 

make my tongue out to your fears,

 bare my teeth to puncture your hopes,

 tread warily past your nightmares, 

carl my tail round your sanctuaries,

 clasp my pincer legs on your veins,

 to listen to your heart beat.

Figures of Speech

Here are the figures of speech in the poem:

1. Metaphor: 

   - "The celebrants chanted to the reluctant martyrs-to-be":

     - The celebrants are metaphorically compared to those who chant for a ritual sacrifice.

   - "I crawl in my shell sideways, backwards, forwards":

     - The crab's movement within its shell is metaphorically used to depict avoidance and indecision.

   - "Until I have exhausted my wardrobe":

     - The chameleon's changing colors are metaphorically referred to as exhausting a wardrobe, suggesting a wide range of adaptability.

2. Personification:

   - "I'll match my colors with yours":

     - The chameleon is personified, as it is given the ability to match its colors with others, implying adaptability and camouflage.

3. Imagery:

   - "lost my dye to a transparent nothingness":

     - This imagery evokes the idea of the chameleon losing its ability to change colors, becoming transparent and losing its essence.

   - "clasp my pincer legs on your veins":

     - This vivid imagery depicts the chameleon's action of grasping onto something, suggesting a sense of control or influence.

4. Alliteration:

   - "make my tongue out to your fears":

     - The repetition of the "m" sound in "make my" and "tongue" creates an alliterative effect, drawing attention to the chameleon's actions with its tongue.

5. Symbolism:

   - The crab and chameleon serve as symbols for different attitudes or approaches to conflict and life's challenges. The crab symbolizes avoidance and indecision, while the chameleon represents adaptability and camouflage.

These figures of speech contribute to the overall imagery and symbolism of the poem, enhancing its themes and conveying the author's message effectively.

Context

In 1994, Malawi was undergoing a significant political transition following decades of authoritarian rule under President Hastings Banda. Banda's regime, which lasted from 1964 to 1994, was characterized by political repression, human rights abuses, and censorship of the press and artistic expression. During this period, writers and intellectuals faced immense challenges in expressing dissenting views or criticizing the government openly.

Against this backdrop, Steve Chimombo's poem "Four Ways to Die" serves as a reflection of the political and literary landscape in Malawi during the transition from dictatorship to democracy. Written in 1994, the poem captures the lingering effects of decades of oppression on the country's writers and artists.

The celebrants' call for a "blood sacrifice" in the poem echoes the atmosphere of fear and intimidation that permeated Malawian society under Banda's rule. It symbolizes the regime's demand for loyalty and conformity, as well as the sacrifices required to maintain power. The chant serves as a stark reminder of the brutality and repression faced by those who dared to oppose the dictatorship.

The responses of the crab and the chameleon in the poem reflect the strategies adopted by writers to navigate the constraints of the authoritarian regime. The crab's evasion and indecision represent writers who chose to avoid direct confrontation with the regime, opting instead for subtlety and ambiguity in their work. The chameleon's adaptability and camouflage symbolize writers who sought to survive by conforming to the regime's expectations or by subtly subverting its authority through coded language and allegory.

The context of Malawi in 1994 provides the backdrop for Chimombo's exploration of the different ways in which writers responded to political oppression and censorship. The poem serves as a testament to the resilience and creativity of Malawian writers in the face of adversity, while also highlighting the challenges and sacrifices endured during the struggle for freedom of expression and democracy.

The poem "Four Ways of Dying" by Steve Chimombo reflects on different approaches to life's challenges and conflicts, using the metaphor of animals to illustrate various attitudes. The context of the poem likely lies within a broader societal or political discourse, where individuals or groups are faced with difficult decisions or confrontations.

The celebrants' call for a "blood sacrifice" suggests a situation of heightened tension or conflict, where sacrifice or confrontation seems inevitable. Against this backdrop, the responses of the crab and the chameleon represent contrasting strategies for dealing with such circumstances.

The crab's response of avoidance and indecision reflects a reluctance to engage directly with conflict or commitment. It chooses to "crawl in [its] shell sideways, backwards, forwards," symbolizing a retreat into passive evasion rather than facing challenges head-on.

In contrast, the chameleon's response embodies adaptability and camouflage. It is willing to "match my colors with yours," indicating a readiness to adjust and blend into the environment or situation, suggesting a more flexible and strategic approach to dealing with conflict.

Themes

The poem "Four Ways of Dying" explores several themes through the metaphorical depiction of animals and their responses to conflict and challenges. Some of the prominent themes in the poem include:

1. Conflict and Confrontation: The poem delves into different attitudes towards conflict, ranging from avoidance and indecision (represented by the crab) to adaptability and camouflage (represented by the chameleon). It highlights the diverse ways individuals or groups approach confrontation and the consequences of their choices.

2. Adaptability and Flexibility: Through the chameleon's response, the poem emphasizes the importance of adaptability and flexibility in navigating difficult situations. The chameleon's ability to change colors and adjust to its environment symbolizes the need to be versatile and adaptable when faced with challenges.

3. Indecision and Avoidance: The crab's response reflects themes of indecision and avoidance. By choosing to retreat into its shell and meander without commitment, the crab represents a reluctance to engage directly with conflict or make firm decisions.

4. Identity and Authenticity: The chameleon's reference to matching colors and staying true to its image raises themes of identity and authenticity. It suggests the importance of remaining true to oneself while also adapting to external circumstances, highlighting the tension between authenticity and conformity.

5. Power Dynamics: The imagery of sacrifice and confrontation invoked by the celebrants' chant hints at underlying power dynamics and struggles for control. The varying responses of the animals underscore different strategies for navigating power dynamics and asserting influence in challenging situations.

Overall, the poem explores complex themes related to conflict resolution, decision-making, identity, and power dynamics, using the metaphorical language of animals to offer insights into human behavior and attitudes towards adversity.

Language and Diction

The poem "Four Ways of Dying" by Steve Chimombo employs vivid language and carefully chosen diction to convey its themes and imagery effectively. Here's an analysis of the language and diction used in the poem:

1. Imagery: The poem uses rich imagery to paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind. For example, phrases like "crawl in my shell sideways, backwards, forwards" and "lost my dye to a transparent nothingness" create striking mental images that enhance the reader's understanding of the crab and chameleon's responses.

2. Metaphor: Metaphors are used throughout the poem to convey deeper meanings. For instance, the celebrants' call for a "blood sacrifice" metaphorically represents a demand for sacrifice or confrontation. Likewise, the chameleon's changing colors are metaphorically referred to as "exhausting my wardrobe," adding depth to its adaptability.

3. Alliteration: The poem employs alliteration at times to create rhythm and emphasis. For example, in the line "make my tongue out to your fears," the repetition of the "m" sound adds a musical quality to the phrase and draws attention to the chameleon's actions.

4. Symbolism: The choice of animals as symbols for different attitudes towards conflict adds layers of meaning to the poem. The crab represents avoidance and indecision, while the chameleon symbolizes adaptability and camouflage. These symbols help convey the poem's themes in a concise and impactful manner.

5. Figurative Language: Various forms of figurative language, such as personification ("make my tongue out to your fears") and symbolism (the celebrants as symbols of societal pressure), contribute to the poem's depth and complexity.

Overall, the language and diction in "Four Ways of Dying" are carefully crafted to engage the reader's senses, evoke powerful imagery, and convey the nuanced themes of the poem effectively.

Referencing the Types of Writers that Emerged During Dictatorship Era.

During the period of dictatorship in Malawi, Steve Chimombo's poem "Four Ways to Die" serves as a poignant reflection of the diverse responses of writers to the oppressive regime. Through the metaphorical depiction of animals, Chimombo maps out the different types of writers that emerged during this tumultuous time:

1. The Crab: In the poem, the crab represents writers who chose to avoid direct confrontation with the oppressive regime. They "crawl in [their] shell sideways, backwards, forwards," symbolizing their reluctance to engage in overt resistance or criticism. These writers may have resorted to subtle forms of dissent or opted to remain silent out of fear of reprisal.

2. The Chameleon: The chameleon in the poem embodies writers who adapted to the changing political landscape by blending in with their surroundings. They "match [their] colors with yours," indicating a willingness to conform to the expectations of the regime in order to survive. These writers may have compromised their artistic integrity or self-censored their work to avoid persecution.

3. The Celebrants: The celebrants in the poem represent those who actively supported the dictatorship and called for sacrifices to maintain the status quo. Their chant for a "blood sacrifice" reflects the propaganda and rhetoric employed by the regime to suppress dissent and instill fear in the population. Writers who aligned themselves with the regime may have produced propaganda or propaganda-adjacent literature to uphold the dictator's agenda.

4. The Unnamed: Although not explicitly mentioned in the poem, there may have been writers who courageously resisted the dictatorship and risked their lives to speak out against injustice. These writers, akin to the unnamed figures in the poem, may have faced persecution, censorship, or even imprisonment for their defiance. Their voices, though not highlighted in Chimombo's poem, are crucial in documenting the resistance movement and preserving the truth for future generations.

Through "Four Ways to Die," Steve Chimombo provides a nuanced portrayal of the different strategies adopted by writers during the period of dictatorship in Malawi. By using animals as metaphors, he illuminates the complexities of literary responses to oppression, inviting readers to reflect on the moral dilemmas faced by writers in repressive regimes.

Tone and Mood

The tone and mood of "Four Ways of Dying" by Steve Chimombo fluctuate throughout the poem, reflecting the contrasting attitudes and responses of the animals depicted. Here's an analysis of the tone and mood:

1. Tone:

   - The tone varies between different sections of the poem, depending on the animal's response being described.

   - When the celebrants call for a "blood sacrifice," the tone is ominous and intense, suggesting a sense of impending conflict or sacrifice.

   - The tone of the crab's response is hesitant and evasive, characterized by phrases like "crawl in my shell sideways, backwards, forwards," which convey a sense of indecision and avoidance.

   - In contrast, the chameleon's response is more assertive and adaptive, with phrases like "match my colors with yours" indicating a willingness to engage and adapt to the situation.

2. Mood:

   - The mood of the poem shifts between tension, uncertainty, and adaptability.

   - At the beginning, the mood is tense and foreboding as the celebrants chant for sacrifice, creating a sense of unease and anticipation.

   - As the crab and chameleon respond, the mood becomes more reflective and introspective, exploring different ways of facing conflict and challenges.

   - Overall, the mood is complex and layered, reflecting the ambiguity and complexity of human responses to difficult situations.

the tone and mood of "Four Ways of Dying" evolve as the poem progresses, reflecting the different attitudes and responses of the animals depicted and contributing to the overall depth and complexity of the poem.

Literary Devices

"Four Ways of Dying" by Steve Chimombo employs several literary devices to enhance its meaning and impact. Here are some of the literary devices used in the poem:

1. Metaphor: The poem uses metaphorical language to compare human behavior to the actions of animals. For example, the celebrants' call for a "blood sacrifice" is a metaphor for conflict or confrontation.

2. Symbolism: Animals such as the crab and chameleon are used symbolically to represent different attitudes towards conflict and challenges. The crab symbolizes avoidance and indecision, while the chameleon represents adaptability and camouflage.

3. Personification: The poem personifies the animals, giving them human-like qualities and actions. For instance, the chameleon is described as "matching colors" and "bare[ing] teeth," anthropomorphizing its behavior.

4. Imagery: Vivid imagery is used throughout the poem to create mental pictures and evoke emotions. Phrases like "crawl in my shell sideways" and "exhausted my wardrobe" paint vivid images that enhance the reader's understanding of the animals' responses.

5. Alliteration: Alliteration, or the repetition of consonant sounds, is used for emphasis and rhythm. For example, in the line "make my tongue out to your fears," the repetition of the "m" sound creates a rhythmic quality and draws attention to the action described.

6. Irony: The poem employs irony to highlight contradictions or contrasts between expectations and reality. For example, the celebrants' call for sacrifice contrasts with the reluctance of the animals to engage directly in conflict.

7. Hyperbole: Hyperbolic language, or exaggeration, is used at times to emphasize certain ideas or emotions. For instance, the phrase "lost my dye to a transparent nothingness" exaggerates the idea of losing one's identity or essence.

Overall, these literary devices contribute to the richness and depth of "Four Ways of Dying," enhancing its themes and imagery and engaging the reader on multiple levels.

Conclusion

"Four Ways of Dying" by Steve Chimombo is a thought-provoking poem that explores different attitudes towards conflict and challenges through the metaphorical depiction of animals. Through vivid imagery, symbolism, and literary devices such as metaphor and personification, the poem delves into themes of conflict resolution, adaptability, and identity.

The contrast between the celebrants' call for sacrifice and the animals' responses highlights the complexity of human behavior in the face of adversity. The crab symbolizes avoidance and indecision, while the chameleon represents adaptability and camouflage. These contrasting responses invite readers to reflect on their own approaches to conflict and challenges in life.

Overall, "Four Ways of Dying" encourages readers to consider the diverse ways individuals or groups navigate difficult situations, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, authenticity, and resilience. Through its vivid language and layered meanings, the poem leaves a lasting impression, prompting readers to ponder the complexities of human nature and the ways we confront life's challenges.