The poem, “The Rebel’ describes the character of a rebel, a person who does not conform to the norms of the society. The rebel is described as a person who would contradict others in order to be different. The character of the rebel in the poem is not based on a political activist, but seems to be a character sketch of a young adolescent, trying to be different. All the instances in the poem are repetitive affirmations of this fact.
If a rebel sees a group of people with short hair, he would let his hair grow long. On seeing others with long hair, the rebel would cut short his hair. Seeing everybody talk during the lesson, the rebel would become absolutely mute. On realising that everybody is silent the rebel would create a disturbance.
Similarly, on various such issues, the rebel would be seen contradicting others and doing things that no one would be doing. He would refuse to wear the uniform when the others would be wearing it, praise the dogs when in the company of cat lovers, appreciate the sun on rainy days and rains on the sunny days. He would do just anything but not what others are doing.
Stanzawise Explanation of the Poem
Stanza 1
When everybody has short hair,
The rebel lets his hair grow long.
When everybody has long hair,
The rebel cuts his hairs short.
Reference The above lines have been taken from the poem, The Rebel’ by DJ Enright.
Context In the given lines, the poet highlights the rebel’s nature.
Explanation When the rebel encounters a group of people with short hair, he would allow his hair to grow long because he derives pleasure and satisfaction by going against the grain. However, he is not constant and therefore when he sees people growing their hair long, he would end up cutting his short.
Stanza 2
When everybody talks during the lesson,
The rebel doesn’t say a word.
When nobody talks during the lesson,
The rebel creates a disturbance.
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context In the given lines, the poet reemphasizes the rebellious nature of the rebel as how he rebels against others.
Explanation Seeing everybody talk during the lesson, the rebel suddenly finds his silence most valuable. However, because he is a rebel, he cannot help but create disturbances and make a series of interjections, when he sees that everybody else has become quiet. The rebel constantly seeks attention by doing that what others don’t do.
Stanza 3
When everybody wears a uniform,
The rebel dresses in fantastic clothes,
When everybody wears fantastic clothes,
The rebel dresses soberly.
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context The poet in these lines shows the rebels need to exhibit himself as different.
Explanation Because the rebel always wants to showcase and exhibit himself as different, he would wear colourful clothes when everybody else is dressed up in a common uniform. However, the moment he sees others dressed up in different and colourful clothes, he would be unable to control his urge to wear the uniform.
Stanza 4
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.
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context In the above lines, the poet discusses how the rebel’s preferences never match with the others in the group.
Explanation When the rebel finds himself in the company of dog lovers, he begins to prefer the cats. On the other hand, on being surrounded by cat lovers, he will put in a favorable word for dogs. His preferences and choices never seem to match with anyone else in the group.
Stanza 5
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.
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context The poet goes on to offer examples of different instances in which the rebel fairs in similar ways.
Explanation Even with respect to the weather, it is difficult to bring the rebel on board for he would appreciate the sun while all others would be welcoming the rains and miss the rains while others would be enjoying the sun.
Stanza 6
When everybody goes to the meeting,
The rebel stays at home and reads a book.
When everybody stays at home and reads a book,
The rebel goes to the meeting.
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context The poet in these lines further highlights that the rebels are usually alone.
Explanation The rebels are people who are usually all alone for they prefer to tread on a different path than others. So, when others go for meeting, they stay at home and read a book. When the others stay at home, they go to the meeting.
Stanza 7
When everybody says, Yes please,
The rebel says, No thank you.
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context The poet is merely highlighting how it is impossible to make the rebel agree with anyone at all.
Explanation Saying yes when everybody says no and saying no when everybody says yes is another character trait of the rebel.
Stanza 8
When everybody says, No thank you,
The rebel says, Yes please.
It is very good that we have rebels.
You may not find it very good to be one.
Reference Same as in Stanza 1
Context The poet in these lines discusses what it is to be a rebel.
Explanation It seems that having rebels around us is beneficial as they train us to acknowledge differences. However, it is not good to be a rebel because they are not accepted by the society.