FREE IGNOU MEG-02 SOLVED ASSIGNMENT 2023-24

(d) Astride of a grave and a difficult birth Down in the hole, lingeringly, the gravedigger puts on the forceps. We have time to grow old. The air is full of our cries. But habit is a great deadener.

(d) This passage vividly depicts the metaphorical journey of life and death. The image of being “astride of a grave and a difficult birth” symbolizes the precarious nature of existence, poised between birth and death. The gravedigger’s use of forceps hints at the inevitability of mortality and the struggle inherent in life’s progression. The concept of growing old while surrounded by the echoes of past actions and regrets speaks to the inexorable passage of time and the accumulation of experiences. The phrase “habit is a great deadener” suggests that familiarity and routine can dull the vitality of life, underscoring the theme of the monotony that can accompany the human journey. This passage reflects on the transient nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the ways in which routine can numb the human experience.