Commentary on “Night of the Scorpion” by Nissim Ezekiel Essay Example

ows of the scorpion, evoking a sense of fear. Additionally, the presence of burning oil in the lanterns adds an olfactory element to the scene. This is reminiscent of historical witch hunts, where peasants would gather at night with fire and light in search of wrongdoers.

The child's ear witnesses the peasants' lanterns creating "giant scorpion shadows" within his home. It is clear that the actual scorpion has disappeared, so Ezekiel may be describing the shadow formed by a small group of people resembling a scorpion. These individuals are portrayed as malevolent, potentially even more sinister than the scorpion itself. Additionally, onomatopoeia is utilized as they "clicked their tongues" while searching for the scorpion. The subsequent fourteen lines of the poem depict the wise words shared by the peasants in an attempt to save the woman's life.