Edwin Muir’s ‘The Castle’ describes the capture of a castle through the eyes of a helpless soldier who witnessed the fall. Throughout the poem, the poet employs a constant ABAAB rhyme building the confidence of the readers about the strength of the castle and the invincibility of their status in the event of a war. Being confident of the strength of the fort, depth of the moat, and quantum of weapons, access to the allies, readiness to shoot the enemies from the turret walls of the fort, the soldiers were relaxed watching the mowers in the fields at work. There was no doubt about the valour of their captain and the loyalty of the soldiers.
They were confident of the sufficiency of the stockpile of food grains even if the castle came under siege. Citizens slept in peace. The soldiers were proud of the fact that in an armed combat they will surely win. But there was a wicket wicked gate guarded by an old man. The enemy bribed the aged gate keeper and the castle fell into the hands of the enemies. The brave soldiers had no weapon to fight human greed for “gold”.
