Isolation, Resilience, and Hope: Analyzing Simon Armitage’s ‘Lockdown’ Through an Indian Lens

This blog is written as a task assigned by the head of the Department of English (MKBU), Prof. and Dr. Dilip Barad Sir. Here is the link to the professor's research article for background reading: Click here.

Here is the link to the TED-ED lesson: Click here.

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Poetry is ‘by definition consoling’ … the UK’s poet laureate Simon Armitage.
Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian

Writing this blog on Simon Armitage’s 'Lockdown' feels deeply personal, given the resonance it holds both globally and through the specific lens of my experience in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The themes of isolation, fear, and hope captured in Armitage's poem echo the emotions many of us felt as we navigated these unprecedented times. Rooted in historical references such as the plague in Eyam and literary allusions to Kalidasa’s 'Meghadūta', 'Lockdown' transcends boundaries of time and place, uniting readers in shared emotions. Through this analysis, I’ll explore how 'Lockdown' reflects global and Indian experiences during the pandemic, and how the poem connects to my personal journey during lockdown.

Central Themes: Global and Indian Experiences of Lockdown:

At the heart of 'Lockdown' are themes of isolation, resilience, and human connection amid adversity. These themes resonate universally, but they take on distinct hues when viewed through the Indian experience.

Isolation:

Armitage begins his poem by transporting us back to the 17th century, where "infected fleas" spread the bubonic plague through the village of Eyam. This historical event mirrors the lockdowns implemented globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Eyam, residents chose self-isolation to protect neighboring villages, and this idea of enforced solitude is a familiar one for many of us during the pandemic. In India, the suddenness of the lockdown in March 2020 took everyone by surprise, leading to widespread isolation. For daily wage earners, isolation wasn’t just about physical disconnection—it meant economic paralysis, displacement, and uncertainty.

In both Eyam and India, isolation was a survival strategy, but it also came with a heavy emotional toll. In India, this was particularly evident in the struggles of migrant workers, who walked hundreds of kilometers to return to their villages. Their plight was a stark reminder that isolation affects people differently depending on their socioeconomic status, and Armitage’s depiction of isolation speaks to these universal and specific experiences.

Resilience:

Armitage’s poem also reflects the resilience of people during times of crisis. The villagers of Eyam knew they were facing near-certain death, yet they persisted in their isolation for the greater good. In India, we saw similar acts of resilience, as communities found ways to support each other despite the challenges. In my own neighborhood, people organized food distributions, volunteered their time, and supported each other through virtual gatherings. This sense of resilience is a central theme in 'Lockdown', as people continued to survive, adapt, and find meaning even in the face of adversity.

Connection:

Despite the physical separation caused by the lockdown, Armitage emphasizes the importance of connection, whether through shared memories or imaginative journeys. His reference to Kalidasa’s 'Meghadūta', in which an exiled lover sends a message to his wife through a cloud, reminds us that even in isolation, we can still find ways to connect with others. In India, digital platforms became lifelines for connection, allowing families and friends to stay in touch despite being physically apart. The theme of connection in 'Lockdown' speaks to our shared human desire for companionship and communication, even when we are forced to be alone.

Armitage’s historical reference to Eyam’s self-isolation during the plague, as noted in The Guardian, reminds us of the sacrifices made in the name of community health. Similarly, India’s lockdown saw collective sacrifice as people complied with restrictions to prevent the virus from spreading. This parallel underscores the universality of Armitage’s themes and their relevance across cultures and time periods.

Language and Imagery: Isolation and Hope:

Armitage’s use of language is both evocative and precise, capturing the emotional weight of the lockdown. He describes the scene in Eyam through haunting images like "infected fleas" in the "warp and weft of soggy cloth," evoking the spread of disease. The mention of "the boundary stone" with "six dark holes" filled with "vinegar wine purging the plagued coins" symbolizes the villagers’ attempts to cleanse and protect themselves from the contagion—a stark reminder of the measures we took during the pandemic, from hand sanitizers to social distancing.

Armitage’s second dream sequence, which draws on Kalidasa’s 'Meghadūta', stands in contrast to the bleak imagery of Eyam. The "streams like necklaces" and "fan-tailed peacocks" symbolize the beauty and hope that can persist even in times of isolation. This imagery, which references the landscapes of India, resonates deeply with my experience of the lockdown. I, like many others, found solace in nature—whether it was tending to a garden or simply watching the changing skies from my window. The dream of the yaksha sending a message through the cloud felt like the virtual messages we sent to loved ones, bridging the physical distance through technology.

Dr. Dilip Barad, in his research article 'Unifying Power of Literature in Times of Pandemic: an Analysis of 'Lockdown' by Simon Armitage,' argues that Armitage’s use of Kalidasa’s work serves as a bridge between East and West, between historical plague and modern pandemic, and between isolation and connection. Armitage’s imagery evokes a sense of timelessness, reminding us that the emotions we feel in moments of crisis—fear, hope, longing—are universal and have been felt by people across centuries.

Personal Reflections: Lockdown in India:

The lockdown in India was a period of profound introspection for me. Initially, the uncertainty and fear were overwhelming. Every day brought new reports of rising cases, overwhelmed hospitals, and the struggle of daily wage workers. It felt as though the world had stopped, and the isolation was suffocating.

But as the weeks passed, I began to find ways to cope. Virtual gatherings with friends and family became a source of comfort, and I found solace in literature. Armitage’s 'Lockdown' felt especially poignant during this time, as it articulated the complex emotions I was experiencing. His imagery of isolation, fear, and hope mirrored my own journey. Just as Armitage suggested moments of hope amidst despair, I too found moments of positivity—whether through small acts of kindness from neighbors or the beauty of a quiet, empty street at dawn.

In India, the pandemic exposed deep inequalities, and the images of migrant workers walking along highways were a painful reminder of the hardships faced by many. These scenes reminded me of the star-crossed lovers Emmott Syddall and Rowland Torre in Armitage’s poem, separated by quarantine lines, their love constrained by the physical distance enforced by the lockdown. The plight of the workers, and the resilience they showed, became a symbol of the challenges we faced as a country.

Literature’s Unifying Power: Insights from Dr. Dilip Barad:

Dr. Barad’s analysis of 'Lockdown' emphasizes the role of literature in uniting individuals during crises. In his TED-ED lesson, he explains that literature acts as a mirror to our collective experiences, offering solace by articulating shared fears and hopes. This is evident in 'Lockdown,' where Armitage draws on both historical and mythical references to create a tapestry of emotions that resonate with readers globally.

As Dr. Barad notes, literature provides comfort by allowing us to see our experiences reflected in the words of others. For me, reading 'Lockdown' during the pandemic was a way of processing the fear and uncertainty I felt. It reminded me that while we were physically isolated, we were not alone in our experiences. The poem’s exploration of resilience, connection, and hope served as a reminder that we would emerge from this crisis, slowly but surely.

Conclusion: A Slow but Necessary Journey:

As the world slowly recovers from the pandemic, the lessons of 'Lockdown' remain relevant. The journey was "long and slow" but "necessarily so." Armitage’s poem, with its vivid imagery and emotional depth, serves as a poignant reflection on the shared human experience of living through a global crisis. For those of us in India, the poem also resonates on a personal level, reminding us of the resilience we found in ourselves and our communities during the lockdown.

Ultimately, 'Lockdown' stands as a testament to humanity’s enduring spirit in the face of adversity. It reminds us that even in isolation, we can find ways to connect, support one another, and emerge stronger on the other side.

References:

1. Barad, Dilip. “UNIFYING POWER OF LITERATURE IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC: AN ANALYSIS OF ‘LOCKDOWN’ BY SIMON ARMITAGE.” ResearchGate, Nov. 2021, www.researchgate.net/publication/372537191_UNIFYING_POWER_OF_LITERATURE_IN_TIMES_OF_PANDEMIC_AN_ANALYSIS_OF_'LOCKDOWN'_BY_SIMON_ARMITAGE. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.

2. Barad, Dilip [DoE-MKBU]. “Lockdown: Pictorial Journey of a Pandemic Poem by Simon Armitage.” YouTube, 19 July 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QacfiCC-m8Q. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.

3. ---. “Pictorial Journey of a Pandemic Poem ‘Lockdown.’” TED-Ed, 19 July 2020, ed.ted.com/on/nvZdQQLH. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.

4. Beaumont, Peter. “Eyam recalls lessons from 1665 battle with plague.” The Guardian, 15 Mar. 2020, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/eyam-derbyshire-coronavirus-self-isolate-1665-plague. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.

5. Flood, Alison. “Lockdown: Simon Armitage writes poem about coronavirus outbreak.” The Guardian, 21 Mar. 2020, www.theguardian.com/books/2020/mar/21/lockdown-simon-armitage-writes-poem-about-coronavirus-outbreak. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.

 Thank you!