At the beginning of the twentieth century, Rabindranath Tagore’s writings were enthusiastically received by Western audiences, but by the mid-twentieth century, they were largely ignored. This extreme change was mostly part due to the fact that Tagore was presented to Western audiences inaccurately, causing him to be viewed as a “romantic mystic.” How can both views be supported? How does Tagore touch upon spirituality in Punishment, and how does he provide a clear critique of his culture's society?