Red Oleanders is regarded as one of Tagore's best plays. It was written at the age of sixty-three by him. He envisioned the Western capitalistic, utilitarian approach to society would eventually destroy universal human values. Vast industrialization throughout the world would result in diminishing human compassion and cause an ecological imbalance. He uses his characters to represent the most powerful of human emotions, both of a positive and negative nature, such as greed, envy, love, faith ...
Another masterpiece by Gurudeb! The play acts as a metaphor for his prophetic vision of the decadent capitalist/materialistic world we live in today. The erosion of human values and virutes and the spiritual tribulations we undergo because of it are represented through various characters who within themselves are also metaphors for human emotions. The fact that the play is still relevant provides evidence to the universality of the work.