Thinking Activity : Vulture Poem

   'Vulture' by Chinua Achebe

This blog is a part of thinking activity about the poems in which I am going to discuss about the poem 'Vulture' by Chinua Achebe assigned by Megha Trivedi Mam, Department of English, MKBU.

Q : What is the connection between The Nazis and Vultures? Illustrate your answer with the help of Chinua Achebe’s Vulture

The Nazis and Vultures: A Reflection through Chinua Achebe’s Vultures

Introduction

The interplay between love and cruelty, tenderness and brutality, has long been a paradox of human nature. Chinua Achebe’s poem Vultures masterfully explores this paradox by drawing a striking comparison between scavenger birds and human perpetrators of evil. The poem particularly references the Commandant of Belsen, a Nazi officer, illustrating how even the most monstrous individuals can exhibit moments of tenderness. This essay delves into the connection between the Nazis and vultures, examining how Achebe uses the imagery of these birds to reflect on the nature of evil and its unsettling coexistence with love and familial affection.

This video is based on the poem 'Vulture' and it discusses line by line explanation.

Background of the Poem

The title Vultures suggests that the poem is about the bird vulture, but as the poem progresses, it becomes evident that the bird serves as a metaphor. The first section vividly describes vultures, their physical appearance, and their habits, while the latter sections introduce a deeper, satirical commentary on the Nazi commandant of the Belsen concentration camp. The metaphor of the vulture serves to highlight the cruelty of humankind, drawing a connection between the scavenger bird that feeds on death and the Nazi officer who supervised the mass killing of Jews.

Inspiration of the Poem

Chinua Achebe was deeply affected by the cruelty he witnessed during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), a conflict between the Nigerian government and the Republic of Biafra. This historical context informs his depiction of human brutality in Vultures. The reference to the Nazi concentration camp at Belsen further extends this theme, portraying the chilling ability of individuals to commit horrific atrocities while maintaining personal relationships and emotional warmth.

The Symbolism of Vultures

Vultures are often viewed with revulsion due to their association with death and decay. Achebe opens the poem with a bleak and dreary description of these creatures, emphasizing their grotesque yet paradoxically affectionate nature. The birds, despite their grim existence, display a form of companionship as they nestle close to each other. However, this moment of tenderness is juxtaposed against their earlier actions feasting on the decomposing remains of a corpse.

The juxtaposition in the first stanza mirrors the moral contradictions in human nature. Just as vultures can exhibit warmth towards their mates while indulging in grotesque scavenging, human beings, too, can compartmentalize their emotions expressing kindness to loved ones while committing acts of inhuman cruelty. This sets the stage for Achebe’s comparison to the Nazi Commandant, who embodies this duality in an even more disturbing manner.

The Connection to the Nazi Commandant

In the latter half of the poem, Achebe draws a direct parallel between the vultures and the Nazi Commandant at Belsen. The mention of “fumes of human roast clinging rebelliously to his hairy nostrils” is a harrowing reference to the atrocities committed in concentration camps, where millions of innocent people were subjected to inhumane conditions and mass extermination.

Despite his monstrous role, the Commandant is portrayed as a seemingly ordinary man, a father who stops by a sweet shop to buy chocolates for his child. This image is profoundly disturbing because it underscores how individuals responsible for genocide and immense suffering could simultaneously exhibit love and care in their personal lives.

The Coexistence of Love and Evil

Achebe’s poem raises an unsettling question: does the presence of love in a cruel heart redeem it, or does it make the cruelty even more horrifying? The closing lines suggest a grim conclusion: “in the very germ / of that kindred love is / lodged the perpetuity / of evil.” This implies that the capacity for affection does not absolve a person of their atrocities; rather, it perpetuates a cycle where acts of horror can be committed without disrupting the normalcy of everyday life.

The Nazis, much like the vultures in the poem, were able to detach their acts of cruelty from their personal lives. They followed orders, executed their roles in the Holocaust, and then returned home to their families as if nothing had happened. This psychological compartmentalization made them even more terrifying, as it suggested that monstrous acts do not necessarily require monstrous minds; ordinary individuals can carry out unimaginable horrors while maintaining an illusion of normalcy.

Forms and Technicalities

The poem is written in free verse, without a fixed rhyme scheme or rhythm. Achebe employs several literary devices to create a haunting and thought-provoking atmosphere:

• Imagery: Disturbing visuals such as the “bones of a dead tree” and “fumes of human roast” reinforce themes of death and cruelty.

• Personification: Love is depicted as a woman who chooses to reside in a “charnel house,” turning her face away from the horrors around her.

• Alliteration: Phrases like “drizzle of one despondent dawn” enhance the bleak mood of the poem.

• Enjambment: The continuous flow of lines reflects the persistence of cruelty and love’s uneasy coexistence with it.

• Juxtaposition: The stark contrast between the tenderness of the vultures and the savagery of their feeding habits mirrors the contrast between the Commandant’s paternal love and his inhumane actions.

The Moral Implications

Achebe’s poem serves as a stark warning about the dangers of moral detachment. It challenges the notion that love alone can redeem an individual, highlighting that the mere presence of tenderness does not counterbalance acts of evil. The Nazi Commandant’s affection for his child does not mitigate his role in genocide; rather, it amplifies the horror by demonstrating how cruelty can exist alongside love without contradiction.

Furthermore, the poem suggests that this moral duality is not confined to extreme cases like the Holocaust. Throughout history and in contemporary times, individuals and institutions have engaged in acts of violence while maintaining personal lives filled with affection and normalcy. This reflects a universal truth about human nature: evil is not always blatant but often insidiously woven into the fabric of everyday existence.

Conclusion

Achebe’s Vultures presents a haunting meditation on the coexistence of love and cruelty, using both avian scavengers and a Nazi Commandant as symbols of this unsettling duality. By drawing a parallel between vultures and the perpetrators of genocide, the poem forces readers to confront the uncomfortable reality that human beings, much like vultures, can balance tenderness with unspeakable brutality. The lesson is clear: the existence of love in a heart of darkness does not redeem the darkness it only underscores the depth of human moral contradictions.

Thank You!!!