The Last Bargain — Study Notes

1. Introduction

"The Last Bargain" is a beautiful poem written by the Nobel Prize-winning Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. The poem is a conversation between the speaker and the world. The speaker is in search of a "hire" - someone to work for - and in his search he is offered employment by different people, each offering a different price. A king offers him power, a rich man offers him gold, and a beautiful maiden offers him her smile. The speaker refuses all these offers, for each one demands a price that takes away his freedom.

The poem ends with a final, unexpected bargain. A child playing on the grass asks for nothing and gives nothing - yet the speaker, in becoming the child's companion, finds himself completely free. Through this simple story, Tagore conveys a profound message: true happiness and freedom are not bought with power, money or beauty, but are found in innocence, simplicity and love. The "last bargain" is the best one because it asks for nothing and gives the speaker freedom.

2. About the Poet

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was a Bengali poet, philosopher, playwright and painter. He was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his collection "Gitanjali". Tagore is the author of India's national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana". His writings explore themes of love, nature, freedom and spirituality. "The Last Bargain" reflects Tagore's deep belief that the greatest wealth is spiritual freedom, not material gain.

3. Summary

The Search for a Hire

The poem opens with the speaker going out in the morning in search of a job - "Come and hire me," he cries to the world. He wants to find work or purpose in life. The world offers him many bargains, and each offers a different reward.

The King's Offer

The first to answer was the king, who offered to hire the speaker with his power. But the speaker declined, saying that power would only lead to a loss of his freedom. He did not want to be ruled or bound by power.

The Rich Man's Offer

The second person to offer a bargain was a rich man. He offered the speaker gold coins in exchange for his services. But the speaker refused, saying that money and gold would take away his freedom. He understood that wealth, too, is a chain.

The Maiden's Offer

The third offer came from a beautiful maiden. She smiled at the speaker and offered him her smile, hoping to hire him with her beauty and love. But the speaker turned away, realising that even her smile could become a trap that would take away his freedom.

The Child's Bargain

Tired of these offers, the speaker sat in the corner of the street, feeling weary. Then a child, playing with shells on the grass, stopped and offered his hand. The child asked for nothing in return. The speaker was instantly freed - the child's innocent bargain was the only one that did not bind him. The speaker declares that he was hired for nothing, and that this was the last bargain - the best bargain, because it made him completely free.

4. Characters

5. Themes

The central theme is freedom over material wealth. The speaker refuses power, money and beauty because each would enslave him. A second theme is the value of innocence and simplicity: the child, who offers nothing, gives the speaker the greatest gift - freedom. A third theme is the true nature of bargaining: the best bargain is one that is not a bargain at all, but a relationship of pure love and companionship. The theme of spiritual wealth over worldly riches is also central to the poem.

6. Literary Devices

Stanza-wise Analysis

First Stanza - The Search - Dialogue: "Come and hire me" begins the poem's conversation. - Personification: The speaker addresses the world as a living being.

Second Stanza - The King's Offer - Symbolism: The king's "power" symbolises political control. - Refusal motif: The speaker's rejection establishes the theme.

Third Stanza - The Rich Man's Offer - Symbolism: Gold symbolises material wealth. - Contrast: Wealth versus freedom.

Fourth Stanza - The Maiden's Offer - Imagery: The maiden's smile creates a soft, human image. - Personification: The smile is given the power to trap.

Fifth Stanza - The Child's Bargain - Symbolism: The child symbolises innocence and freedom. - Climax: The last bargain is the best one. - Repetition: "The child... asked for nothing" stresses the key idea.

7. Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: The Bargains

Table 2: Key Symbols

8. Mind Map

9. Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: The Bargains and Their Prices

Diagram 2: The Journey to Freedom

10. Common Mistakes

1. Students often say the speaker accepted the king's power; he refused all offers of power, gold and beauty.
2. Many think the maiden's offer of a smile was accepted; it too was refused.
3. A common error is to say the rich man's gold was the best bargain; the child's offer was the best.
4. Students sometimes say the child offered money; the child asked for nothing.
5. Many confuse the poet; the poem is by Rabindranath Tagore, not T.S. Eliot or Blake.
6. Students often say the speaker works for the king in the end; he ends up free, hired for nothing.
7. Some students claim the poem is about earning money; it is about freedom and spiritual values.

11. Exam Tips

1. State that the poem is by Rabindranath Tagore, India's great Nobel Prize-winning poet.
2. List the four bargains in order: king's power, rich man's gold, maiden's smile, child's nothing.
3. Explain why each offer is refused - each would take away freedom.
4. Highlight the child's bargain as the "last" and "best" bargain.
5. Use the theme of "freedom over material wealth" in your conclusion.
6. Mention the symbolism of the child representing innocence and freedom.

12. Conclusion

"The Last Bargain" is a profound and beautiful poem that teaches us the true value of freedom. Through the speaker's search for a hire, Tagore shows us that power, gold and even beauty are not true wealth - they are chains that bind us. Only the innocent child, who asks for nothing, gives the speaker the greatest treasure: complete freedom. The poem reminds us that in a world full of bargains and conditions, the purest relationship is one of love without expectation. Tagore's message is timeless - happiness lies not in what we possess, but in the freedom of our spirit.