what did the villagers do to help the mother? lesson : the night of the scorpion
by : Nissim Ezekiel
Answers
The villagers did not do anything to help the mother. They reacted unscientifically to the scorpion bite. They gave their own superstitious, philosophical and religious interpretations for the incident. They believed the scorpion bite was universe’s plan to cure the mother of her previous birth sins. They believed it will purify her flesh and soul. They did nothing except philosophizing or lecturing. They just sat around the writhing mother and gave their opinions.
However, the poet's father did everything he could to get the mother out of trouble. He tried every possible remedy and antidote against the scorpion bite but to no avail. So he also called the holy-man thinking he might cure the mother in pain. He even poured a little paraffin oil and lit a flame on the sting to kill the effect of the poison.