The Rebel ~ Explanation ot the Poem

When everybody has short hair,
The rebel lets his hair grow long.
When everybody has long hair,
The rebel cuts his hair short.

Explanation

In these lines the poet expresses the attitude of a social rebel. When every body keeps short and uniform hair, the rebel knowingly grows his hair long. This, he does for the fact that he wants to look different from others.In these lines the poet says that the rebel goes against the custom and tradition of the society. When the rest of the society grows long hair, the rebel cuts his hair short. This he does just to have a difference from others.


When everybody talks during the lesson,
The rebel doesnt say a word.
When nobody talks during the lesson,
The rebel creates a disturbance.

Explanation

In these lines the poet expresses the thought when every member of the society talks during a lesion or meeting, the rebel keeps silent because he wants to be prominent.
In these lines the poet says when no-body talks during the lesion or meeting, the rebel creates disturbance by talking loudly just to look distinct.


When everybody wears a uniform,
The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes.
When everybody wears fantastic clothers,
The rebel dresses conservatively


Explanation


These lines show a different position of a rebel. When every person of the society wears simple and uniform clothes, the rebel uses strange and odd clothes. He wants to look distinguished from others.In these lines the poet says when all other members of the society use queer and strange clothes, the rebel dresses himself very seriously and soberly.

In the company of dog lovers,
The rebel expresses a preference for cats.
In the company of cat lovers,
The rebel puts in a good word for dogs.

Explanation

In these lines the poet expresses his idea of a rebel. If some people love dogs as pet animals, the rebel talks about the usefulness of cats. He prefers cats to dogs.If a rebel is in company of those people who love cats, he prefers dogs to cats. He wants to look different at all costs.


When everybody is praising the sun,
The rebel remarks on the need for rain.
When everybody is greeting the rain,
The rebel regrets the absence of sun.

Explanation

The poet says if people require the sunlight and praise the sun the rebel is against them. He says that the sun is not required and there is need for rain.When everybody of the society welcomes and requires rain, the rebel says something about the sun. He feels sorry for the absence of the sun. According to him, there is need for the sunlight.


When everybody goes to the meeting,
The rebel stays at home and reads a book.
When everybody stays home and reads a book,
The rebel goes to the meeting.

Explanation

When every members of the society goes to some gathering and attends the meeting, the rebel stays at home and keeps himself busy by reading a book indoors.When everybody of the society stays at home and reads a book, the rebel tries to find some crowd of the people and wants to attend to them.


When everybody says, Yes please,
The rebel says, No thank you.
When everybody says, No thank you,
The rebel says, Yes please.

Explanation

When every person asks for something, the rebel rejects the same with thanks because he is a person quite different from others.When everybody of the society does not like and does not receive anything and says thanks, for that, the rebel, on purpose, requires that thing and asks for it.


It is very good that we have rebels,
You may not find it very good to be one.

Explanation
In these lines the poet concludes that it is very good that we have social rebels in the society. But naturally, it is not good to become a social rebel. The poet further suggests that if we already have the social rebels, we should tolerate them. Without them life will become monotonous and dull.

In this simple but humorous and satirical poem, D.J. Enright has drawn the picture of a rebel. The poem shows poet's knowledge of human nature and attitude of rebels. They always act against popular opinion and common behaviour. Their actions are motivated by a strong urge to look different from others. Egotistic behaviour is usually rooted in a scene of inferiority or insecurity. In this poem the poet has exposed the behaviour and attitude of young persons in an ironic manner.



The poet says that when common persons have short hair, the rebel has long hair. If common people have long hair, the rebel likes to have short hair. When all talk in the class room, he keeps quite and when others keep quiet, he causes disturbance. When every body else is dressed in uniform, the rebel puts on fantastic clothes. When others wear beautiful dress, he puts on uniform. The poet further says that a rebel always expresses different from others.

He loves dogs when others love cats and when others are lover of dogs, he shows his affection for cats. He wishes for rain when every body likes sun and when every body likes to have rain, he longs for sunshine. The poet says that rebels have their own value in society. They provide a spice of variety in our dull and monotonous life.
This poem is an interesting and harmless criticism on the behaviour of young rebellious persons. The ambitions and whims of youth have been beautifully expressed in the simple and undecorated languages of this poem. The poet successfully persuades us to develop tolerant for rebels and put up with their odd behaviour.