Introduction to "The Deliverer"

Welcome! In this lesson, we are exploring "The Deliverer" by Tishani Doshi. This is one of the most moving and perhaps most difficult poems in your Unit 1 Section A collection. It tells a story of survival, motherhood, and the stark contrast between different cultures. While the subject matter—female infanticide and adoption—is heavy, the poem is written with a calm, almost clinical tone that makes its impact even stronger.

Our goal is to understand how Doshi uses language, form, and structure to tell this story. Remember, for your exam, you will need to compare this poem with another from the Poems of the Decade anthology, focusing on how meanings are shaped (AO2) and how the poems connect (AO4).

Understanding the Story

To make the poem easier to digest, think of it as a three-act play or a journey in three parts:

Part 1: The Convent in Kerala

The poem begins in India. We see the "Deliverer" (a woman, likely a nun or a midwife) collecting babies who have been abandoned. The language here is very blunt. The babies are described as being found in "terrible" places—under trees or in "garbage heaps."

Part 2: The Journey

The middle of the poem focuses on the transition. The "Deliverer" takes a baby to an airport to hand her over to her new adoptive parents. This part acts as a bridge between two very different worlds.

Part 3: Milwaukee, USA

The final part shows the baby’s new life in America. We see the adoptive parents’ excitement and the "ceremony" of welcome. However, the poem ends by looking back at the biological mother in India, who continues to live in a reality where she must "toss" her children away.

Key Takeaway: The poem moves from despair and abandonment in India to hope and luxury in America, but it never lets us forget the pain that made the adoption necessary.

Analysis of Form and Structure

Doshi uses structure to emphasize the emotional distance and the physical journey. Here is what you should look for:

  • Sub-headings: The poem is divided by specific locations (The Convent, Milwaukee). This highlights the geographical and cultural gap between the baby's birth and her new home.
  • Short Stanzas: Most of the poem is written in tercets (three-line stanzas). These short, broken-up stanzas reflect the fragility of the babies’ lives. It feels like the poem is holding its breath.
  • Enjambment: Some lines spill over into the next. This creates a sense of movement, mimicking the long journey the baby takes across the world.
  • Varying Line Lengths: The lines are often irregular. This mirrors the unpredictable and often chaotic nature of the "deliverance" process.

Language and Imagery

Doshi uses very specific word choices to make us feel the reality of the situation without being overly sentimental. This is called a matter-of-fact tone.

1. Dehumanizing the Babies

In the beginning, the babies are described using words like "bundle" or "it." They are found "covered in filth." This shows how little value these female children have in their original community. They are treated like objects to be discarded.

2. The "Deliverer"

The title word, "Deliverer," has a double meaning.
- It refers to someone who delivers a package (the baby is treated like cargo).
- It also has a religious meaning of salvation or rescue.

3. The Sensory Contrast

Notice the difference in sensory details:
- India: "Dust," "garbage heaps," "bone or ash." These are dry, deathly, and dirty images.
- America: "Video films," "shiny" things. These are images of modern wealth and comfort.

4. The Ending

The final stanza is haunting. It describes the biological mother "trudging" and "lying down" to give birth again. The word "toss" is used for the babies. This suggests a vicious cycle of poverty and cultural pressure that the mother cannot escape.

Quick Tip: Look for the verbs. Verbs like "toss," "heap," and "squeeze" are violent and careless, contrasting with the "crying" and "waiting" of the adoptive parents.

Key Themes

Cruelty vs. Compassion

The poem explores the cruelty of a society that discards baby girls and the compassion of those who try to save them. However, it doesn't judge the biological mother harshly; it suggests she is trapped by her circumstances.

Motherhood

The poem presents three types of "mothers":
1. The biological mother who must give up her child.
2. The "Deliverer" who provides the bridge to safety.
3. The adoptive mother who is desperate for a child.

Cultural Conflict

The poem highlights the massive divide between the "Third World" (poverty, traditional pressures) and the "Western World" (wealth, technology, different values).

Making Connections (AO4)

In Unit 1 Section A, you must compare "The Deliverer" to another poem. Here are some great pairings:

  • Compare with "Giuseppe" (Roderick Ford): Both poems deal with human cruelty and the way people try to justify "terrible" actions during difficult times. Both use a flat, realistic tone to describe shocking events.
  • Compare with "Material" (Ros Barber): Both poems explore the role of mothers and the things we inherit from our past, though "Material" is much more nostalgic and less dark.
  • Compare with "History" (John Burnside): Both poems look at global issues and how small, personal lives (like a child on a beach) are affected by massive historical or cultural forces.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Judging the birth mother: Many students write that the mother in India is "evil" for throwing the baby away. The poem suggests she is helpless and doing what she is forced to do by her culture ("the dark gates of her houses"). Try to show empathy in your analysis.

2. Ignoring the structure: Don't just talk about the "story." Talk about how it is told. Mention the sub-headings and the short stanzas. These are choices the poet made to affect the reader.

3. Forgetting the comparison: On the exam, you cannot just analyze "The Deliverer" alone. You must keep referring back to your second chosen poem to find similarities and differences.

Summary Review

Key Takeaway: "The Deliverer" is a poem of contrasts—death vs. life, India vs. America, and the "tossing" of a child vs. the "waiting" for a child. Doshi’s use of sparse, simple language makes the emotional weight of the poem even heavier for the reader. Don't worry if the poem feels upsetting; it is designed to make you think about the value of a human life.