THE VAGABOND - ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON - BASIC ENGLISH NOTES - SEMESTER II - SUMMARY

 

THE VAGABOND

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

 

Vagabond is keen on is an existence of unlimited travel. He needs to totally stay away from every single human associations - "nor a friend to know me." All that he needs to do is travel and travel starting with one spot then onto the next with no restriction at all, not worried about the climate or material wealth or assets or whatever else around him. Let the blow of death fall on him soon or late and anything that will be over him will be. Somewhat more that he needs is the essence of the earth around and the street before him. He doesn't look for wealth, trust nor, neither love nor any friend to know him, yet all he looks for is the paradise above and the street underneath him.

He says he realizes he will pass on sometime however he requests a daily existence out and about. In particular, he wants for a totally joyful life and isn't troubled or terrified about death by any means. He says he doesn't need friends or wealth.

He talks about cruel conditions in autumn and winter however says that he won't discourage him in his longing to be out and about. He might want to go through his whole time on earth in the outside even in the cool autumn and cold weather a long time with the sky as his rooftop. Or let the autumn: here implying the start of advanced age: fall on him, where away from home: in or to the field, away abroad, out of control, adrift: he waits, where the chilly harvest time wind quiets the bird on the tree, while he bites the cold blue finger. The chilly field is pretty much as white as dinner and the fire-side sanctuary is very warm. Yet, as far as he might be concerned, not to autumn will he yield and not to winter even. He is ready for death whenever it comes, and the fate of his destiny.

He emphasizes what he said in the second verse that he realizes he will die sooner or later however he just needs to carry on with his life as he needs out and about, with paradise above and the street beneath. The world is large enough for his home and the street before him he will step. He doesn't want the realism of this world nor a friend to share such worldly fortune. All he wishes is a spot in paradise and the street underneath him that he should step to reach there.

 

It is fair to say that the vagabond players of nature world is one of the oldest persistently worked little beauties in the humankind. Significant performing artists revolve around a rebellious life with closeness to nature and Robert Louis Stevenson encourages a similar thought in this his poem.