‘A Stone’s Throw’ – Cont’d
EAGER MUCH! What about? For us to continue examining the rest of Mitchell’s A Stone’s Throw, of course. We pick up this week’s lesson where the persona says that fair play must take place, and that it is particularly satisfying when “it tastes
good.” How would you read these words? I can almost see the speaker licking his lips as he says these words. He is, undoubtedly, pleased with what he sees as the inevitable outcome of this incident.
What a turn begins in the next verse! Do you remember what it would be called if this were a sonnet? The speaker’s reaction of displeasure is evident in his name-calling of the ‘judge’ to whom they have taken the woman. Their plans are falling apart. His disbelief is obvious as he struggles to find a suitable title for this man. He is outraged that the man talks to the woman and squats on the ground, for this means that he has aligned himself with the woman; he has sunk to the same level as the accused. He cannot believe that the man whom they would have believed to have no choice but to condemn the woman has, instead, made a mockery of their attempt to do what is right!
Can you feel the intensity with which the accusers watch the man as he writes something in the dust? Depending on the size of the crowd, some are quite likely craning their necks to see and try to read what was being written. It appears that, at first, they cannot. Gradually, they realise that this man sees and knows more about the woman than they do, and it causes them to take a better look at her when he looks at them, and then she does the same.They then are able to see themselves as they are: no better than the woman. It is as if he opens their eyes to the fact that they too are sinners and forces them, to confront their own wrongdoing. Ironically, in this same verse, before they realise their own wickedness, the speaker distances himself and his group from those (sinners) like the woman.
I find the last stanza really, really intriguing. For this reason, I am asking you to write down what you understand by this verse and how it makes you feel. On another occasion, we will deal with it. Here are some questions I’d like you to work on before our next class.
1. There are two possible interpretations of the title of this poem. Identify both and discuss them. 2. Is this poem an ode, a lament or a narrative? 3. What is the tone of this poem? 4. Identify the themes. Students of May Pen High School and The Queen’s School. 5. Identify examples of irony. 6. Comment on the poet’s use of “hail of kisses of stone”.
Similar to God’s Grandeur, A Stone’s Throw is a thoughtprovoking presentation of man’s conduct. As humans, we do not emerge looking good. We are shown to be selfish and cruel. In God’s Grandeur, we are a money grubbing and thoughtless set who show no appreciation for that which has been granted to us by God through nature. In A Stone’s Throw, we are judgemental and hypocritical and exhibit a callous disregard for others. In the former, we can have hope because God watches over and replenishes the earth for us. In the latter, we are determined to go our own way and only temporarily halt our downward slide, as we fail to accept that as humans we are all prone to sin. The idea of forgiveness as epitomised by the guru, Godmerchant, is completely lost on the members of the mob who believe that they have been robbed of their fun on this occasion. We are returning to our novel in the next lesson. Enjoy your school life and God bless!