The Discardment - Poem Analysis

The video introduces Alan Paton, a prominent South African writer and anti-apartheid activist (1903-1988). His famous novel, "Cry the Beloved Country," was published in 1948, the same year apartheid officially began in South Africa, setting the historical context for the poem "The Discardment."

The title "The Discardment" refers to something thrown away as no longer valuable. The lack of specificity about the item emphasizes its valuelessness to the giver, highlighting that the only important aspect is its uselessness. The use of the definite article "the" suggests the speaker is reflecting on a specific incident.

The first stanza details the opulent family giving a 'discardment' to their domestic worker. The poem highlights the contrast in perceptions: the family sees it as a useless trifle, while the domestic worker reacts with overwhelming joy and gratitude, singing, dancing, and calling out blessings. Her intense reaction, which even leads her to call on 'all the continent of Africa' to witness her joy, is hyperbolic and ironic, considering the item's true worthlessness.

The phrase "intolerable Joy" is a key oxymoron in the poem. It can be interpreted as the servant being so excited she can barely contain herself. More deeply, it serves as a commentary on the irony that a discardment from the rich family's 'garbage' can bring so much joy to the servant, making it almost unbearable for the observer to witness such an extreme reaction to so little.

The second stanza reflects on what the 'nothing' of the discardment has purchased: loyalty, trust, and “unquestioning obedience.” This is presented paradoxically, as something so insignificant yields profound and vital human values. The servant's reaction, described as innocent and childlike, suggests a dangerous vulnerability that the family exploits, gaining loyalty for free. The line "the destruction of a world" alludes to the destruction of South Africa due to inequality, the dignity of the black population, or the moral world order.

The poem is ironic, depicting an unexpected appreciation for a worthless item, conveying an upsetting message about inequality in South Africa. The structure begins with the item's value to the speaker, moves to the servant's celebratory reaction, and concludes with a reflection. The mood shifts from ironic and cynical to joyous, ultimately becoming reflective, contemplative, and deeply depressing. The main theme is the palpable inequality and disparity between classes and races.