Opening Remarks for the Canto Two

In this realm of the Ideal world built by human thought as inspired by the light of the gods, Savitri must argue her case before Death. But even before she can do that Death hastily begins to attack the hopes born of this twilight realm built by the gods and the human mind for man’s soul to rest awhile. He reveals his gospel, a gospel that we see echoed in many minds and voices and speech of men. In this Canto we hear the gospel of Death justifying the meaninglessness of existence and the vanity of ideals. He is dissuading any effort at positive change and the transformation of earthly life. His arguments and reasoning based on false premises and partial one-sided view of things are meant to instil pessimism and cynicism in us.