THE BLUE BOUQUET- OCTAVIO PAZ

INTRODUCTION:

          Octavio Paz Lozano was a Mexican poet, writer, and diplomat who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990. His grandfather’s library, equipped with classics from both Mexican and European literature, had a great influence on him and it took him to writing at a very young age. His work which is primarily in Spanish has been translated into several other languages. Paz traveled to India in 1962 when he was appointed as a Mexican Ambassador to India.

SETTLEMENT OF A NARRATOR:

           The unmanned narrator of the story “The Blue Bouquet” has been living in a boarding house which was owned by one-eyed taciturn fellow and it is supposed to be located in midst of the trees or forest. One day he wakes up with sweat as hot steam comes from the red brick pavement. He finds grey winged butterfly encircling the entire room as well as around yellow light. This yellow light image discloses the fact that it should be night time. He jumps from the hammock and walks towards the little window to get fresh air and inhales the country air as well. 

          Then he returns to the center of the room and drinks enough water and wets his towel. After cleaning his body by wet towel, he gets dressed up himself. He comes down by staircase and hits against the house owner, and owner asks him in a hoarse voice where he is about to go. He replies him just to talk a walk as it is too hot but he is not allowed.

JOURNEY OF THE NARRATOR:   

           House owner stopped him as it was a dangerous place and time to go out but he shrugged his shoulders and muttered “back soon” and plunged into the darkness. He was not able to anything except the black colour (night). He started to walk along the cobblestone street (a road paved by kind of bricks). He lit a cigarette as he was in need of light but immediately the Moon appeared from behind a black cloud. It was so bright and he felt that he is blind. Having seen this image, he again walked there he realized the type of air. He breathed the air of Tamarinds. The night started to give its sound through leaves and insects. They gave a word. He puzzled what kind of syllable that word had got, to whom it was spoken and who spoke the word. He threw the cigarette and walked a long time.

MEETING WITH AN UNKNOWN:

            After crossing the garden street, he could hear someone coming out of a doorway. He turned around and found nothing. He hurried and heard the shuffle of sandals on the hot stone. He did not want to turn back as he thought it would be an ill omen. That shadow getting close to him with every step he made. He tried to run but he was stopped vehemently and he felt the point of knife at his back. He could not defend himself. He was helpless. He heard a sweet voice which said “Don’t move mister, or I will stick it in”.

         

   He was terrified as he was at the edge of his life. Without turning back, he asked him what he wanted; he replied that he wanted his eyes. He was shocked a minute and asked what he would be going to do with his eyes. Instead of that he desired to give all the money which he had possessed then but the unknown refused and he was very firm to take out his eyes. He said he wanted his blue eyes to decorate “Blue Bouquet” to present his lady love. Narrator said that he did not have blue eyes and had only brown eyes but the unknown man was not willing to let narrator to go.

TERRIFIC MOMENT OF THE NARRATOR:

            The unknown man forced him to turn back. He was found as a small and fragile man when the narrator turned back. The unknown man covered his face with his left hand and holds a country knife in a right hand. His knife was reflected in moonlight. He was asked the narrator to show his face as it was too dark. The narrators lit a match stick and hold it closely towards his face. The unknown stood up in tiptoe and tried to see his face but he could not see it clearly as the flame burnt the narrator’s fingers. So he dropped it.    

            The narrator asked the unknown whether he had seen his eyes. But he replied that it was not so much clear. So he asked him to light another one. As soon as the narrator lit a match, he was grabbed his sleeve and ordered him to knelt down. The unknown peeped into his eyes and found it was brown. Again the flame burnt his flesh. All of a sudden the unknown let the narrator to go and the unknown vanished. The narrator searched him but could not find. He ran for an hour and reached his boarding house where he found his house owner sitting in the same place (chair). He just got inside the house without making any note of what had really happened. In the very next day, the narrator left the town.

CONCLUSION:

         This story deals with themes of fear, uncertainty, conflict and maniacal love. It makes the readers to ponder about the absurdity of love and also on the uncertainty and fear looming in their everyday lives. Paz has employed the element of mystery very effectively  in this story.