1st PUC English Notes | Money Madness

5. Money Madness

-D. H Lawrence

Glossary:

Multitude : a very large number of people

Collective : shared or done by all members of our society

Tremor : trembling caused by fear

Quail : are afraid, tremble

Grovel : crawl before somebody; as in great fear, humble oneself

Delirium : a mental disturbance where the person is not able to

think/speak clearly.

Usher : guide

Ecstasy : bliss, cool

Humiliation : embarrassment, degradation

Comprehension: I

1. How do people feel when they give

A. One Pound?

B. Ten Pound?

A. One Pound-People are not happy to give away the pound note, they feel a pang.

B. Ten Pound-If a person thinks to give away ten pound note, then he feels tremors within him and feels dejected. He under goes a lot of agony.

2. “Money has got us down” it means 

It has made us its slaves.

3. How are people without money, usually treated?

The people without money are usually treated as beggars, they are humiliated, degraded by all.

4. What things should be made available free of cost?

Bread, fire, shelter should be made available free of cost “to all and anybody”.

5. The speaker is frightened of 

Having no money.

6. What happens if we do not regain our sanity about money?

If we do not regain our sanity about money we will start killing each other for money.

Comprehension: III

1. Collective madness about money affects the individuals also. How does the poem bring this out?

Or

2. What according to the poet, might happen if people do not regain sanity about money? What solution does he offer?

D. H Lawrence was a prominent twentieth century English writer. He is noted for his novel especially ‘Sons and Lovers’ ‘The Rainbow’ and ‘Women in Love’. In the poem ‘Money Madness’ the poet perceives materialistic perspective of his fellow human beings. The poet goes on to project a future which ushers in a moneyless society. Money Madness by D.H Lawrence is a critical evaluation of the rush after affluences that are visible all around us in this modern day world. Money has become a powerful player in societies of today and holds primary importance in the modern day life style. The poet, through his pen, has tried to exemplify this situation and present the social and moral degradation. The poet says that wherever we look there is madness for money; infact money can be termed as metaphor for the word madness. And this madness is not on small or individualistic levels, it is the madness of the multitude, in numbers unimaginable and at levels incredible. Every person in this world carries his share of this madness. The poet doubts that there exists a human in this world who hands out a pound note to someone without feeling a pang at heart. No matter how noble he may feel while giving away the note, his heart always wishes if only he could do all that good without having to take out a note from his own pocket. When that note turns to a ten pound note. He experience real tremors within him. He trembles as if he has been robbed. Money makes us kneel in front of it. It makes us fearful and a sense of apprehension and stress grips us, as we try to overcome it. It has an exaggerating power to influence our life. But in the broader sense, it is not the money that we are terrified of, but it is the madness that mankind shows for it, the multitude madness that gives money such an undeserved status in the society of today. Poet feels that no one cares for moral values and behavior, instead society judges a man by his riches. If one has no money then he well deserves all the guilt, criticism and blame that come with poverty. “Has he no money? Then let him eat dirt, and go cold” says the society. It lends him little money which is enough to buy a piece of bread in the name of humanity. But even this small offering doesn’t come freely. Poor man has to eat dirt (humiliation) to get it; suffering through pain and criticisms is unparalleled... The poet says that it is this pitiful and inhumane (savage) situation that he is afraid of. Poet proclaims that bread, shelter and fire should be free to anybody and everybody all over the world. We must replace our madness with logic or else we will start killing one another for the sake of money. Major problem for unhappiness and sufferings are due to the fact that we have paid and are paying more attention to material progress and comforts, ignoring life stabilizing human values. No doubt we have progressed tremendously in science and technology but lag behind in understanding ourselves and our fellow beings. We are more after lust, power and wealth rather than human sympathy, understanding, affection, kindness and cooperation. Self centered attitude lead us to self destruction unless we synthesize (combining) the benefits of scientific and technological developments with life stabilizing human values, the future is bleak for man.

1st PUC All Chapter English Notes

2nd PUC All Chapter English Notes