Quatrain 84 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Analysis of the Rubai

This quatrain by Omar Khayyam offers a philosophical perspective on the complexities of life and the impermanence of happiness and sorrow.

The duality of human experience: The first two lines acknowledge the contrasting experiences of sorrow and joy.
The unreliability of fortune: The third line warns against placing too much faith in either happiness or sorrow, as both are subject to the whims of fate.
The unpredictability of life: The final line emphasizes the unpredictable nature of life, comparing it to a game with countless variations.

Deeper Meanings and Interpretations

Stoicism: The poem echoes Stoic philosophy by encouraging detachment from both pleasure and pain.
The Wheel of Fortune: The "wheel of fortune" is a common metaphor in many cultures, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the constant ups and downs.
The impermanence of human experience: The rubai reminds us that nothing in life is permanent, and that both happiness and sorrow are temporary.

In essence, this rubai invites us to approach life with a sense of equanimity, accepting both joy and sorrow as natural parts of the human experience.