August 18 is indeed a unique day. The shadow, that integral part of our being, our eternal imprint in a way, is going to leave us, and apparently for the whole day. Well, there often is this day when around 12 noon, the shadow vanishes literally in to thin air. Does not lie, in any sense of the term!
On August 18, however, the whole day, there would not be any shadow, it seems. Of course, the veracity of this statement can be checked tomorrow. What is the scientific base behind this phenomenon? On its axis, the sun would apparently be exactly atop the earth, and hence no shadow!
Yes, science could thus explain the shadow, or the lack of it. Yet the shadow is something that is absolutely central to our identity. Unlike the image in the mirror, it is not the reverse side of our personality, does not 'lie'.
Often in literature, and in other arts such as painting and films, the shadow is symbolically used to signify either the dark days due to inevitable misfortune which could include a rejection or two, for instance. Equally significantly, the shadow could signify the dark side of a person, carefully stashed away from coming to light.
Oh, yes , the shadow could either be a friend who is eternally faithful, always has your back, literally, too! Much worse and closer to truth, and lived realities, the shadow can be a treacherous frenemy who pretends to be a friend; but whose actions behind your back are much worse than that of an enemy!
Personally, for me, the shadow reference is always to two great myths. The first one obviously is the Platonic cave, the shadows standing in the search for light. The symbolism is frankly too obvious to be explained, right?
My personal favourite though is the Orpheus and Eurydice story. When Orpheus charms the king of the nether world with his art to win back the soul of his beloved Eurydice, the only condition, while she would follow him like the shadow, is that he must not turn back till he crosses Styx, the river of forgetfulness.
Given his fear and worries, i suppose, rather than any temptation, in the last split second, he turns back to ascertain that she indeed is there, thus to lose her forever. Of course, equally tragic is his end. In my opinion, this great love story, beautifully explored by Edwin Muir in his moving poem "Orpheus' Dream" is a beautiful use of the shadow as a symbol, making a great comment both on love, and faith/belief/hope which ideally should be as unwavering as genuine, true love, I suppose.
In my opinion, the shadow, often referred to by Shakespeare to indicate the ravages of time, is used in the Indian tradition to yet again signify true, unwavering love. Oh, yes, of course, I am referring to the Savitri myth which I do interpret differently. More about it, some time later!
Yet another moving reference to the shadow in my opinion is by Helen Keller. This visually impaired lady asserts, "keep your face always to the sun so that you never have to see the shadow ". What a sunny vision and lovely optimism even when everything apparently was against her!
The shadow saga is actually endless. A blog cannot be. Before the reader's boredom starts to cast a shadow on the blog, better to stop, right, instead of lengthening the discussion with Amitav Ghosh, rather like the lingering evening shadows?
Pratima@ Better never be shadowed by any negativities. That is the way of the word!
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