Alexander Selkirk: The Pain of Solitude and the Longing for Society
ଏହି ବିଭାଗରେ ଆଲେକ୍ସାଣ୍ଡର ସେଲକିର୍କ ଏକ ନିଛାଟିଆ ଦ୍ୱୀପରେ କିପରି ଏକାକୀ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ସମାଜ ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କର ଇଚ୍ଛା କିପରି ଥିଲା, ତାହା ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରାଯାଇଛି ।
Alexander Selkirk, a sailor, found himself stranded on a desolate (ନିଛାଟିଆ) island after a shipwreck. This island was a "no man's island," inhabited only by beasts and birds [[3]]. Initially, he might have felt a sense of power, declaring, "I AM monarch of all I survey" [[1]]. However, this feeling quickly gave way to the profound (ଗଭୀର) pain of solitude (ଏକାକୀତ୍ୱ).
The Illusion of Monarchy and the Reality of Isolation
ପ୍ରଥମେ ସେଲକିର୍କ ନିଜକୁ ଦ୍ୱୀପର ରାଜା ଭାବୁଥିଲେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଏକାକୀତ୍ୱର ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣା ଅନୁଭବ କଲେ ।
Selkirk's initial declaration of being a "monarch" [[1]] soon transforms into a lament (ଦୁଃଖ ପ୍ରକାଶ) about the "horrible place" he inhabits. He questions the "charms That sages have seen in thy face" in solitude, preferring to "dwell in the midst of alarms" rather than reign alone [[1]]. This highlights the stark contrast between perceived freedom and the harsh reality of being cut off from humanity.
The Absence of Human Connection
ମନୁଷ୍ୟର ସ୍ୱର ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ନପାଇବା ଏବଂ ପଶୁମାନଙ୍କର ଉଦାସୀନତା ତାଙ୍କୁ ଅଧିକ ଏକା କରିଦେଲା ।
One of Selkirk's deepest sorrows is the lack of human interaction. He laments, "I am out of humanity's reach, I must finish my journey alone, Never hear the sweet music of speech" [[1]]. His own voice startles him, emphasizing his complete isolation. The animals on the island, such as the "beasts that roam over the plain" and the "seafowl" [[1], [5]], see him "with indifference" because "They are so unacquainted with man" [[1]]. Their tameness, born of unfamiliarity with humans, is "shocking" to him, underscoring his alienation.
The Divine Gift of Society, Friendship, and Love
ସମାଜ, ବନ୍ଧୁତା ଓ ପ୍ରେମକୁ ସେ ଭଗବାନଙ୍କ ଦାନ ଭାବୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଏସବୁକୁ ଖୁବ୍ ମନେ ପକାଉଥିଲେ ।
Selkirk deeply yearns for the "Society, friendship, and love Divinely bestow'd (ପ୍ରଦାନ କରାଯାଇଥିବା) upon man" [[2]]. He wishes he had "the wings of a dove" to return and "taste you again" [[2]]. He believes these connections would allow him to "assuage (ଶାନ୍ତ କରିବା) My sorrows," "learn from the wisdom of age," and "be cheer'd by the sallies (ଆନନ୍ଦଦାୟକ କଥା) of youth" [[2]]. This shows his recognition of the profound spiritual and emotional benefits of human companionship.
The Appeal to the Winds
ସେ ପବନକୁ ନିଜ ବନ୍ଧୁମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ପଠାଇବାକୁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କରୁଥିଲେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହା ସମ୍ଭବ ନଥିଲା ।
In his desperation, Selkirk appeals to the natural elements. He asks the "winds that have made me your sport" to "Convey to this desolate shore Some cordial endearing report Of a land I shall visit no more" [[2]]. He longs for any news, any sign that his friends remember him, asking, "O tell me I yet have a friend, Though a friend I am never to see" [[2]]. However, the wind, in a dialogue, states, "It's not possible. I can't cross my limit" [[3]], crushing his hope.
The Torment of Recollection and Despair
ନିଜ ଦେଶ କଥା ମନେ ପକାଇବା ତାଙ୍କୁ କ୍ଷଣିକ ଆନନ୍ଦ ଦେଉଥିଲା, କିନ୍ତୁ ପୁଣି ନିରାଶାକୁ ଫେରାଇ ଆଣୁଥିଲା ।
Selkirk's mind, though swift, becomes a source of torment. He notes, "How fleet is a glance of the mind!" and that "the tempest itself lags behind" its speed [[2]]. When he thinks of his "own native land," he feels as if he is there "in a moment." But this brief escape is fleeting, as "recollection at hand Soon hurries me back to despair" [[2]]. The contrast between mental escape and physical reality intensifies his suffering.
Brief Reconciliation
କେତେବେଳେ କେମିତି ସେ ନିଜ ଭାଗ୍ୟକୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରୁଥିଲେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହା ସ୍ଥାୟୀ ନଥିଲା ।
Despite the overwhelming longing, there are moments where Selkirk attempts to find peace. He observes that even as "the seafowl is gone to her nest" and "the beast is laid down in his lair," there is "a season of rest" [[5]]. He finds a glimmer of hope in the thought that "There is mercy in every place," which "Gives even affliction (କଷ୍ଟ) a grace And reconciles man to his lot" [[5]]. However, this reconciliation is a temporary respite, as the dominant theme remains his profound yearning for human society.
Worked Example:
Question: Explain the meaning of the line "I start at the sound of my own" in the context of Selkirk's longing for society.
Answer: This line means that Selkirk is so utterly alone on the island that he is startled (ଚମକି ପଡ଼ିବା) by the sound of his own voice. In a normal social setting, we hear many voices, but Selkirk hears no one else. The fact that his own voice, a familiar sound, now frightens him emphasizes his extreme isolation and the unnatural silence around him, highlighting his deep longing for the "sweet music of speech" from other humans [[1]].