1

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 1-5.
Paper ID: 10012013001
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 28 Nov 2012. Paper accepted: 20 Dec 2012.

FACETS OF LIFE IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF DAVID LODGE

Sunil G. Patil
David Lodge is a distinguished modern British The next important point in his interview is that
novelist as well as an acclaimed literary critic. Before Lodge mentions a number of subjects that he has
his superannuation he taught English literature at the incorporated in his work. Such subjects are-lower-
University of Birmingham for twenty-seven years. For middle-class life in the inner suburbs of South East
the reason that he knew the academic world very well London, a wartime childhood, a postwar austerity
as an insider, all of his literary works have emerged out adolescence, military service, marriage, travel etc. In
of his personal experiences. He explains that he begins addition to these themes, there are a number of minor
a novel when he realizes that part of his ‘own themes, which contribute to the development of the plot
experience has a thematic interest and unity which might construction. The selected novels have two major
be expressed through a fictional story’ (1986: 72). themes-Catholicism and academic satire. Lodge says
A highly respected author and critic, Lodge is best that his novels have layers of meanings:
known for his intelligent, comic novels. Lodge’s fiction I try to write novels that tell more than one story,
typically features beleaguered academics and conflicted that have several levels of meaning and many voices
Roman Catholics-often a combination of the two. His (Bergonzi, 3). To his another interviewer, Lodge says:
texts abound in allusions, puns, structural innovations, ‘I write layered fiction, so that it will make sense and
amusing metaphors, and clever incarnations of literary give satisfaction even on the surface level, while there
theory in the lives of his characters. are other levels of implication and reference that are
There are major themes: Academics and Catholicism there to be discovered by those who have the interest
in his novels titled Changing Places, Small World, Nice or motivation to do so’ (Martin, 39).
Work, The Picturegoers, The British Museum Is Falling These campus novels: Changing Places, Small
Down, How Far Can You Go? and Paradise News. World and Nice Work deal with patriarchal violence:
The present article tries to focus on the minor themes race, incest and abuse. Lodge’s novels do not contain
such as gender relations, pornography, patriarchy etc. literal manifestations of sexual violence against women.
His novels belong to a tradition of realistic fiction Instead, one can identify a tendency of certain male
(especially associated with England) that tries to find characters towards rape or incest, but it must be
an appropriate form for, and a public significance in, emphasized that such desires remain confined to the
what the writer has himself experienced and observed. realm of fantasy, as they are never put into practice.
His observations, we find in his novels such as: lower- Philip Swallow in Changing Places is a character
middle-class life in the inner suburbs of South East suspected by having such inclinations. After betraying his
London; a wartime childhood and a postwar ‘austerity’ wife Hilary with the young Melanie Byrd in Euphoria, he
adolescence. Catholicism; education and the social and asks the former to fly to him so that they can talk about his affair.
physical mobility it brings; military service, marriage, There are two important pornographic aspects
travel, etc (Bergonzi, 1). presented in Nice Work : that of the pin-ups hanging all
Sunil G. Patil: Associate Professor, Dept. of English, Arts & Commerce College, Ashta, Sangli (MS) India.

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2 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

over the factory and the fact that Shirley’s, Wilcox’s his arrival in Euphoria. He tries to confess his guilt, but
secretary, wants to have naked photos of her daughter fails to win forgiveness of his wife. Later, he begins a
Tracey on a calendar. Tracey, the underage daughter new affair, this time a longer one with Desiree, Morris
of Shirley, Wilcox’s secretary, who is proud of the young Zapp’s wife and he even forgets to congratulate Hilary
girl’s promising body. Shirley not only encourages on her birthday. In spite of all these mistakes as well as
Tracey in her dream of becoming a model, but also of the ones depicted in Small World (e.g. his affair
keeps boasting with photos of her daughter in with Joy Simpson), he always receives his wife’s
underwear. Father is proud of her photo, while the forgiveness and is therefore never put in the situation
daughter is willing to show her body naked. Brian of choosing between his family and his career.
Everthorpe shares Shirley’s opinion. He tries to Another male character who compiles to the
persuade Vic that a pornographic calendar depicting, in stereotype is the American Morris Zapp; he is not used
his words ‘birds with boobs’ would constitute a positive to doing any housework at all, but instead he expects to
advertisement for the company. We have the next be served by women. For instance, he once invites
picture of pornography of Marion Russell, one of Roby himself to dinner at Hilary Swallow’s house and, after
Penrose’s students. eating everything he gets on the table, he offers to wash
The novel, Nice Work, shows that pornography the dishes, which he is evidently unable to do.
circulated by different institutions like the media, which Interestingly, Morris Zapp has already been twice
make money out of spreading it. married and divorced, but Small World ends with
Pornographic images of women are meditated not prospects of as third marriage with Thelma Ringbaum.
only on television but also in special magazines like Victor Wilcox, too, is representative of stereotypical
Playboy, a magazine that generates a relevant incident career men who usually believe that women have two
for the discussion of gender in the novel Changing important roles, that of the mother and of the housewife.
Places. The poor young girl is brutally beaten by her He is described as very short, which does not fit into
uncle who is her godfather. He did not tolerate her the image of a strong man, and suspected of having a
reading pornographic books. Morris Zapp, who stays rough manner of dealing with people in order to
at her uncle’s home, is asked not to bring pornographic compensate for this physical imperfection. Because of
magazines in the house any more. his stature, Robyn Penrose was unwilling to shake hands
The theme of homebound woman figures in most with him. As it is normal in a traditional family, he is the
of his novels. Such homebound women are confined to husband and the father who supports the whole family
their homes, rearing up their children, bearing all kinds financially.
of sufferings. We notice in this theme that men can have a family
In Small World, we see that Hilary Swallow stays and a career simultaneously; in the case of women,
at home taking care of the children while her husband one speaks of either family or career.
keeps traveling all around the world in search of amorous Zerrin Eren analyzed Nice Work and concluded
adventures. Marjorie, Vic Wilcox’s wife, in Nice Work, that Lodge has used the elements of the picaresque. In
is another good example of homebound woman. Nice Work, Lodge ‘brings the university and the industry
The theme of career is another important theme together. During a close reading of the novel, it has
that could be seen in most of his novels. Men and women been noticed that Lodge has used the elements of the
have to play their roles. They have to act upon the picaresque while bringing these two different worlds
words of the society. There are a plenty of career men together’ (Zerrin Eren).
who confirm to the genders stereotypes attributed to Clash of cultures is another and important but minor
them by society. theme of the novel, Nice Work. Rong OU points out
Changing Places provides several examples in this that Nice Work deals with the ‘conflict between Science
respect; one of them is Philip Swallow, university teacher and Humanities.’ The conflict between Penrose, a young
in Rummidge, husband of Hilary and father of three female college teacher, and Wilcox, a middle-aged
children. Taking part in a Rummidge-Euphoria exchange businessperson, concerning university education
scheme he goes to Euphoria for one semester and continues Two Cultures debate. In one of the first
leaves his wife alone with their children at home. At exchanges between Penrose and Wilcox, Wilcox argues
first, Philip Swallow feels guilty, but his guilt is not strong for the ‘useful’ in education; like mechanical
enough to prevent him from sleeping with the young engineering, whereas Penrose asserts the value of an
Melanie Byrd, Morris Zapp’s daughter, shortly after education centered on ‘ideas, feelings’ (Rong OU, 2).

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FACETS OF LIFE IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF DAVID LODGE 3

Lodge focuses on different aspects of culture of one’s body to the extent of denial if possible, this is
various countries of the world. An uncivilized and believed to subsequently open one’s mind to understand
infantilized picture of Ireland is found in The British the true meaning of life.
Museum Is Falling Down. Adam Appleby knows very The human body and especially its sexuality are
well that ‘Daddies often used pots’ as eighty percent extremely important in The British Museum Is Falling
of the rural dwellings in Ireland had no sanitation of Down.
any kind, for example’ (260). Hence, the Irish are seen The next minor theme is confession. Confession
as peasants whose living conditions are far below the has a special importance in the Western society because
British standard. Lodge describes a number of families in a Christian society the individual has to become
of other nations in his novels: Changing Places, Small aware of his or her inner desires and subsequently
World, Nice Work, Paradise News, How Far Can You confess them not only to another person, but also to
Go?, The British Museum Is Falling Down. The theme himself or herself. All the pleasures, sensations or
of ethnicity cannot be dealt in detail for want of space. thoughts that have anything to do with sex are to be
The Picturegoers, The British Museum Is Falling confessed as often as possible.
Down, How Far Can You Go? and Paradise News, Confessing what one has done leads to a regulation
though their central theme is Catholicism, contain a of the individual’s behaviour: ‘One day Angela emerged
number of minor themes. These novels deal with the weeping from the confessional of the Parish priest of
theme of birth control and its impact on sexual life. Our Lady and St. Jude’s, and for a long time there was
Most of the Catholic characters of the novel How Far no touching of legs or breast in any circumstances’ (31).
Can You Go? get married and, as their Church The characters of How Far Can You Go? seem to be
prescribes, use the Rhythm Method as the only system conscious of this power. Adrian explicitly states: ‘It was
of family planning. Only when this method turns out to the repressive power of the clergy, wielded through the
fail repeatedly, do they decide to use the progesterone confessional’ (126). The listening subject, the clergyman,
ill as a means of efficient contraception. Many years is endowed with power through the confession because
after, they try to find out why it has taken so long to he is the one who establishes the penance, gives the
make this decision and Dorothy states that ‘It was guilt, absolution and manages to reorient the individual’s
… guilt about sex. Sex was dirty enough without going behaviour.
into birth control, that was the general feeling’ (How The Evangelical Miriam, Michael’s future wife, has
Far Can You Go? 79). Michael, another character of a real problem with the confession during her conversion
the novel, realizes that ‘It was fear, the fear of Hell’ to Catholicism:
and, bitterly, they all agree that ‘it all came down to Miriam’s view on the confessional shows that it
fear of Hell’ (126). establishes a relation of power in which the listener
The theme of the human body is treated in both the appears as a violator of the other’s most inner thoughts,
novels, The Picturegoers and The British Museum Is feelings and desires.
Falling Down. The body is the very place on which Fiction, instruction books, magazines are important
the Church acts by accepting only one contraceptive means of spreading and encouraging new forms of
method as being moral, namely the Rhythm or Safe sexuality. These things have an impact on only men.
Method. On that account, the sexual lives of individuals Violet proves to be a stereotypical woman as she is
are regulated; their desires being modified. Lodge has willing to please her husband, Robin, even by doing
explicitly expressed in his first novel, The Picturegoers, things which bring her no pleasure at all. Film is another
that the religion regulates behavior by acting directly means which undermines religion. Though the Church
on the body. Living with the Catholic Mallory family as exercises power on its believers, Lodge’s novels show
a lodger, Mark Underwood finds their practices, such that a number of characters break the moral laws
as praying before eating, strange. In the beginning he regarding sexuality. The limits established by the Church
uses the opportunity of collective prayer to study Clare are thus transgressed for the same of eroticism. The
Mallory’s body thinking that prayer’s most fierce enemy young Catholics have sexual intercourse before
is the discovery of sex he himself favoring the latter. marriage; married couples who use artificial
However, after some time spent with this family, he contraception for a more satisfying sex life without
has a revelation, namely the fact that the first site on consequences; priests and nuns who masturbate or
which the Church exercises its power is the body. abandon their vocation in order to get married or to
Practicing Catholicism means, above all, subjecting simply enjoy sex.

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4 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

Linked with the theme of subversion of exploited in the novel, which presents several Catholic
Catholicism, transgression of the law is another characters who like spending their Saturday nights at
important theme in his religious novels. How Far Can the cinema as well as the impact they see have on
You Go? can be cited as a good example in this regard. them as individuals.
There are numerous characters who subvert the Lodge says that ‘Behaviour associated with
Catholic discourse by breaking the regulations settled cinema-going has also changed’ (ix). It appears that
by the Church. The first of the characters to commit cinema and religion are in competition for the control
the grave sin of copulating before getting married is over individuals. Like religion, cinema is a way of
Poly, who goes to Italy as ‘a pair girl.’ There she is escaping the hard reality with which the characters
seduced by the Catholic father of the family and then cannot cope with.
she has several affairs with men whom she does not The theme of pilgrimage could be seen in most of
love. After her corruption, Poly stops going to mass his novels. Visiting holy places is most important in all
as she is disappointed by the Italians’ hypocrisy and religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism,
realizes that Catholics are unhappy because they take Christianity and Islam. Pilgrimage proper began in the
their religion too seriously. nineteenth century as a result of the Catholic revival,
How Far Can You Go? presents a further example and by the twentieth century was practiced by
of a priest who leaves his career for a woman. It is the Anglicans as well impress the Catholic family with
case of Tom who confesses to his sister Angela that he whom he boards. In Paradise News, the idea of
has applied to be laicized because he intends to marry pilgrimage is extensively dealt with. In this novel,
a young woman called Rosemarry. Tom does not Lodge presents tourism as the new world religion.
consider Catholicism to be a great thing anymore arguing Bernard Walsh, an English ex-priest, travels with his
that even football is regarded as the new religion since father to visit Hawaii with a view to see his dying
it is more popular than Christianity. aunt, Ursula.
Of particular interest is the character Miles, a Thus, it is observed that David Lodge has very
Catholic who realizes that he is homosexual. Since the effectively deal with themes like sexuality, gender
Church accepts only heterosexual relations as being distinction, patriarchy, culture-clash, ethnicity etc.
lawful, Miles abstains from confessing as well as though they are minor in nature.
satisfying his needs. After a long time of torment, he Works Cited:
seeks his peace at a monastery in Nottinghamshire. [1] Lodge, David. A David Lodge Trilogy
There he meets Bernard, a monk who encourages him Changing Places Small World Nice Work.
to accept himself as he is. Later the reader finds out London: Penguin Books, 1993. Print.
that Miles admits his homosexuality publicly and leads [2] ---. The Picturegoers. London: Penguin Books,
a relationship with a former monk, who is undoubtedly 1993. Print.
Bernard. [3] ---. The British Museum Is Falling Down.
The analysis of these characters shows that London: Penguin Books, 1981. Print.
eroticism has greater impact than the Catholic doctrine. [4] ---. Paradise News. London: Penguin Books,
The actions of all these categories of people stand for 1992. Print.
the subversion of the Catholic Church as they show [5] ---. The Art of Fiction. London: Penguin Books,
how the erotic discourse substitutes religion. 1992. Print.
Transgression appears as a characteristic of the [6] ---. WRITE ON: OCCASIONAL ESSAYS 1965-
Western society and even of the Catholic communities. 1985. London: Penguin Books, 1988. Print.
Sexuality is extremely important in this context [7] Walsh, Chris. ‘David Lodge Interviewed.’
because there are rules concerning it that the Strawberry Fare. Autumn 1984. Print.
characters break. [8] Zuzana, Bartonova, Characters in the Campus
The impact of Cinema is another and important Novels by David Lodge. B. A. Major Thesis,
minor theme projected in The Picturegoers. Cinema Masaryka University, Bron, 2006.
constitutes a further means of undermining and [9] ---. Cambridge Seminar ‘Author Statement’ July
sometimes even substituting religion. As Lodge explains 2009.
in the ‘Introduction’ to The Picturegoers, the opposition [10] ---. ‘David (John) Lodge Biography-David Lodge
Church versus Cinema is one of the main topics Comments.’ Print.

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FACETS OF LIFE IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF DAVID LODGE 5

[11] http://biography.jrank.org/pages/4538/Lodge- [13] Raymond, Thompson. ‘Interview with David

David-John.html#ixzzo [TEIFV4] Lodge.’
[12] ‘Lodge, David. Introduction.’ Retrieved from: http:/www.lib.rochester.edn/comelot/intrvws/
http : //www.jstor.org/show publisher? Publisher lodge.htm 4/28/2010.
Code-duke.

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6 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 6-8.
Paper ID: 10012013002
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 19 June 2012. Paper accepted: 20 Aug 2012.

IDENTITY CRISIS IN RICHARD WRIGHT’S NATIVE SON

S. T. Waghmode
It is interesting to know about the endless conflict Erik Erikson’s ‘Psycho-social theory’ of personality
between ‘the white race’ and ‘the black race’ in America development.
since its discovery. Endowed with an extraordinary Erikson (1902-1994) divides human life into eight
curiosity and the commercial instincts, the adventurous stages. Each stage offers a particular conflict which a
mighty Europeans dragged the Africans into America person has to face and solve in a positive sense. An
in chains. These Africans were forced to toil in the individual is placed in the social environment. The
fields, to build bridges over the rivers, to construct the conflicting social situations and the individual’s positive
buildings and to perform many other manual jobs. And or negative responses to them form the central tenets
within a few centuries modern America was built with in this theory. The conflicting pairs can be arranged
the foresighted white brains and the hard-working black chronologically in the ascending order of human
hands. Both the whites and the blacks had their equal development: trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus
share in building modern America. But the dignity of shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus
labour was always undermined and neglected. inferiority, identity versus role confusion, intimacy versus
Moreover, the black people were never given isolation, generativity versus stagnation and ego integrity
opportunities to have a sense of power or rather a sense versus despair (1974:78-79).
of belonging to the main stream of western civilization. ‘Identity Crisis’, the much talked of term, is
There is a wide gap between what the Americans associated with the fifth stage of human development,
are and what they look like. Racial discrimination, that and it reaches its peak point during the adolescence-
is the corner-stone of American civilization, has been the period of much stress and strain. Unlike Sigmund
reflected in the writings of Richard Wright (1908-1960). Freud, Erikson says: “Many conflicts result from the
This paper delineates the racial discrimination and its clash between child’s non-sexual needs, and desires,
damaging effects on the development of Bigger Thomas- and expectations and the limitations of his culture”
Richard Wright’s hero in his novel Native Son (1940). (Ibid: 58).
Wright is one of the finest African-American artists If the search for identity is successful, the person
of the mid-20th century. His writing can be described immediately feels integrated with himself and his social
by using Balzac’s term ‘literature of ideas’ (1970:5). environment. He knows the answers of the questions
He has deeply probed into Bigger’s inner self; and like-’who am I?’ or what is me?’ or ‘where exactly do
painted his secret thoughts, the sudden rise of his I belong to?’ On the contrary, if the person fails to solve
instincts and his suppressed unconscious feelings and this identity crisis, there are many psychosocial
emotions. Wright became successful in giving the artistic abstractions or hindrances as mentioned above, in his
colour to his hero’s feelings and instincts partly because personality development. The person feels out of joint
of his status as an African-American writer and partly with society and faces disillusionment and despair in
for sharing the hopes and aspirations of his brethren. his or her life. This situation ultimately creates problems
In this paper, Bigger’s life is observed in the light of in becoming a successful social being.
S. T. Waghmode: Associate Professor, PVP Mahavidyalaya, Kavathe Mahankal, Sangli (MS) India.

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IDENTITY CRISIS IN RICHARD WRIGHT’S NATIVE SON 7

It is remarkable that the 20th century America was lectures. But, on her way, she changes her plan and
culturally dominated by the white Americans who had meets her communist boy-friend Jan Erlone. She
‘reduced all life’s values to the protection of white introduces Jan to Bigger.
supremacy’ (1985:89). Wright’s hero Bigger was born Jan, after smiling broadly, extends his open palm
and brought up in the racial-mud-the Mississippi south towards Bigger saying, “How are you Bigger?”
where his father was killed in a race-riot. His family (1940:67). Bigger had never dreamt of such an
had migrated to the Chicago-Ghetto. He was not encounter. He had come from the racial south where
educated, nor could he find a better job for living. He, Jim Crowism, lynching and segregation loomed large
therefore, could not love his mother, sister and younger and had made the mess of his life. There in the south
brother. He could not forget the fact that his existence as well as in the industrial north he had experienced
in the ghetto was reduced to the sub-human condition. that ‘life, liberty and pursuit of happiness’ were not
He reflects over his exclusion from the main-stream meant for the black people. And now, Jan’s fingers were
white culture: tightening about his own. A thrilling moment it was for
I know I oughtn’t think about it but I can’t help him! A white man was joining his hands with a black
it....We live here and they live there. We black and man irrespective of the colour of his skin and his social
they white. They got things and we ain’t. It is just status. Wright reveals the feelings of Bigger:
like living in Jail. Half the time I feel like I’m on the Were they making fun of him?... He was very
outside of the world peeping in through a knot hole conscious of his black skin and there was in him a
in the fence (1940:23). prodding conviction that Jan and men like him had
Bertrand Russell, one of the greatest intellects of made it so that he could be conscious of that black
our time, properly exposes the weaknesses of mankind: skin... May be they didn’t despise him. But they
One of the persistent delusions of mankind is that made him feel his black skin, just by standing there
some sections of the human race are morally better looking at him, one holding his arm and the other
or worse than others. This belief has many different smiling... he felt naked and transparent....at this
forms, none of which has any rational basis moment he felt towards Mary and Jan a dumb, cold
(1968:59). and inarticulate hate (lbid:67-68).
Some basic misunderstandings had led the whites Bigger’s racial consciousness stood as a barrier
to despise the blacks. We can always measure the while interacting with them. So he could not look at
superiority of men in terms of their achievements, their them healthily. This is what it means to be a Negro in
multifaceted successful relations in the cultural the white world. He thinks: “... She was white and rich,
environment provided that they are given equal a part of the world of people who told him what he
opportunities to flower and develop in the world. But, could do and could not do” (Ibid: 66).
how can we do it by enjoying all the facilities for Bigger’s intra-psychic-conflicts are much stressed
ourselves and rejecting the same to the people who are in the murder scene. On the first day, he ‘returns the
born elsewhere with a slightly different colour of skin? Dalton house, late at midnight, with drunken Mary. Being
And, furthermore, how can we do it in the name of unable to stand on her feet, she was requesting him to
democracy? I think that, to a large extent, the human help her to her room. So he lifted her jelly-like delicate
history is the story of tyranny of one race or one class body that had moist lips, white teeth and curly hair; and
over the other and the American world is the best he put her in her bed. At this moment, something urged
example of it. him to leave at once but he leaned over her. A powerful
Bigger could neither prosper nor trespass the sexual desire maddened him, but the door behind him
artificial boundary lines created by the white Americans. had creaked. Mrs. Dalton, Mary’s blind, mother, had
Fortunately he gets the job of a chauffeur in the rich entered into the room and was trying to speak to her.
white family of a philanthropist Mr. Dalton. His duty Bigger now thought of what would happen to him if
was to help the three-member-Dalton family: the Mary mumbled his name. A terrible frenzy
millionaire Mr. Dalton, his blind wife Mrs. Dalton and overwhelmed him. A black boy was mentally disturbed
their only daughter Miss Mary. The novel graphically by two white ladies. The first had aroused in him a
paints the first day of his service in the family. On the strong sexual desire and the other appeared in the form
very first day, Bigger, the chauffeur, was driving Miss of death, because all his life experiences had taught
Mary’s car to the university where she was to attend him to fear the white people. A horrible fear leapt over

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8 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

him tearing him into pieces. He could hardly understand ‘The day Native Son appeared, American culture
what he was doing. Suddenly he caught a pillow in his was changed forever’. ... Richard Wright’s novel
hands and put it on Mary’s entire face and pushed it all brought out into the open, as no one ever had before,
with his might that she could not expose his name. But, the hatred, fear and violence that have crippled and
in doing so, he had killed Mary. It is transparent that he may yet destroy our culture (1972:65).
had killed her without any pre-planning. The sudden Being one of the spokesmen of the black culture,
rise of his elemental instincts and the conflicting Richard Wright gives some insights in to the art of living
unconscious and conscious forces of mind had played to the White Americans. He tells them what would
a major role in this criminal activity. He then disposes happen under certain circumstances if the personalities
her dead body by throwing it into the furnace and tries of others are purposefully deformed, and if people face
to hide his crime. the identity-crisis or role confusion.
After this cruel-deed, he became extremely self- To conclude, Bigger- the young black boy was really
conscious. He, later on, meets his sweet-heart Bessie; hungry for human recognition, because he was living a
dislikes her honest efforts of somehow living by working culturally barren-life-the life without any human dignity.
in the houses of the white people. He, then, satisfies He had no opportunity to assimilate the full spirit of
his sexual hunger by raping her. And when she was human civilization. As he was totally cut off from the
fast asleep, he smashes her head with bricks as an truly good human qualities like love, honour, and loyalty;
accomplished murderer, and tries to run away from both he had lost the chances of developing into a healthy
the white and black people. He is finally chased, caught human being. Surely, he faced the identity-crisis or role
and imprisoned for his crime: the murder of Miss Mary. confusion. And therefore, he could not march on the
He was to face a terrible punishment for his crime- proper path of life, and had to live and die as a criminal.
‘death in the electric chair.’ Before dying, he thinks Works Cited:
over his past deeds. It is worth understanding his [1] DiCaprio, Nicholas S. Personality Theories:
psychology. We hear him speaking to his Jewish lawyer Guides to Living. Philadelphia: WB Saunders
Mr. Max: Company, 1974.
When man kills, it’s for something.... I don’t know [2] Fabre, Michael. The World of Richard Wright.
I was really alive in this world until I felt things Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1985.
hard enough to kill for’em.... It’s the truth Mr. Max. [3] Howe, Irving. “Black Boys and Native Sons.”
I can say it now ‘cause I’m going to die, I know Twentieth Century Interpretations of Native
what I’m saying real good and I know how it sounds. Son: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed.
But I’m all right. I feel all right when I look at it Houston A. Baker Jr. New Jersey: Prentice Hall
that way.... I’m all right (Ibid: 392). Inc., 1972.
One is stunned to know his confession without any [4] Russell, Bertrand. Unpopular Essays. Bombay:
guilt. Look, how strange it is! He says that he has George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1968.
carved out a place of his own in the white world by [5] Wellek, Rene. A History of Modern Criticism:
murdering a white girl. Of course, this self-defense is 1750-1950. London: Jonathan Cape, 1970.
of an abnormal person. His was the typical abnormal [6] Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York: Harper
and deformed ego-identity. His problem has a powerful and Row, 1940.
social dimension. Irving Howe has rightly remarked:

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 9-12.
Paper ID: 10012013003
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 06 Oct 2012. Paper accepted: 15 Nov 2012.

TRANSRACIAL EXPERIENCE IN LOVE RELATIONSHIP IN SAMUEL

SELVON’S THOSE WHO EAT THE CASCADURA
Khurshid Attar

Those Who eat the Cascadura is Samuel Selvon’s wife, Kayshee, was in labor, he did not even appoint a
psalm of praise for the strongly bonded communal family. mid-wife to help her. Mister Franklin, the white estate-
Situated in the postcolonial agricultural setting of a cocoa owner, and the obeah-man Manko, helped her, but he
field owner’s estate, the novel demarcates an area remained outside the hut to drink wine. “And then he
where a future may take birth-in which the White-Black felt like burning down the hut when it didn’t turn out to
East-Indian community with its discriminatory be a boy-child. At least Kayshee could have left him
relationships will transform itself into a family of close- with a boy before she died, so he could face his friends
knit relationships between equal human-beings. The with some dignity” (63). It is a typical reaction of a
novel narrates the story of a short-lived yet passionate Hindu father, for whom the boy-child is a economic
relationship between an East-Indian worker girl, Sarojini asset. The community comes forward to compensate
and the white journalist visitor-friend of the Estate for the absence of the mother. When she is able to tote
owner, Gary Johnson. The communal family of the water from the well, he stops paying attention to her.
village helps the poor girl to sustain the beautiful Ramdeen has betrothed Sarojini with Prekash, an
relationship although it is destined to be unsuccessful. overseer on the estate, in her childhood, according to
The community tries, through it, to fulfill the racial urge the Hindu custom. Mister Franklin however, advises
for meaningful relationships. Interestingly, Selvon injects him not to marry her early. Ramdeen is interested in
the transracial relationship of love with the race-specific Prekash purely for economic support. He has already
cultural practice of obeah, in all its stages of evolution, taken ten dollars as a dowry from him. And one day
so that the specifically cultural becomes trans-cultural Sarojini turns out to be a goose laying golden eggs. An
in the process. unexpected supply of twenty dollars starts coming to
The novelist develops the theme of inter-racially him from an unknown source. “With his third drink he
bonded future for the West-Indies, by experimenting made the vow that Sarojini would die a spinster. That
with three kinds of familial relationships: 1) Father- monkey would smoke Prekash’s pipe as far as the
daughter relationship, 2) Man-woman relationship, 3) marriage was concerned” (66). When Prekash presses
Agricultural-communal family relationship. the claim he makes all sorts of excuses, not denying his
1) Father-Daughter Relationships: Ramdeen and potential, but keeps Prekash ‘a husband in reserve.’
Sarojini. Sarojini also keeps postponing the marriage. She is
Sarojini, the daughter of a Hindu, Ramdeen, is a aware of his limitedness, yet social compulsions of
laborer on the cocoa fields. She is a motherless, young accepting him always disturb her. A sense of non-
and beautiful girl. Ramdeen is a drunkard. He is her fulfillment and dissatisfaction gives rise to a sense of
father, but she has no family. He has a small hut. He insecurity. She tells him, “You wouldn’t like me to say
always wishes that she had never been born. When his yes, when I didn’t want to, would you?” (19) She has
Khurshid Attar: Ch. Shivaji College, Satara (MS) India.

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10 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

little love for Ramdeen. Theirs is a strange relationship, dignified living. Sans Souci is bountiful, “a variety of
with none of the family’s affiliations which are bird-life…every tree, every hedge and stray vine
characteristic of the Indians. Sometimes he is thrived and blossomed” (55). No wonder Sarojini
quarrelsome and sullen, but she is accustomed to it. grows without malice and anger for anyone. Dummy
“She paid not attention, grateful that she has escaped always shows her exotic secret places, and with him
from all his threats long enough to become a young she enjoys the treks. What Ram Kundu thinks about
woman and control her own affairs. Once she made the nature of Grandois in Wide Sargasso Sea, is also
him realize that he could not affect her action in any applicable here- “the place is very carefully captured,
way...” (61). Of course, even if the father does not either not only through sights, sounds, smell, plant life, but
love nor care for the daughter, the community becomes also through its people” (Kundu, 1999, 42). Away from
Sarojini’s extended family-Godfather obeah man Manko, the human world, the lover and the beloved, like the
mother-like maid servant of Mr. Franklin Eloisa, Dummy Father and the Mother of Mankind, come together
the deaf and dumb boy like a brother, and the exotic sexually in the rich green spot with the deep forest. It
nature of Sans Souci, her home. Their compassionate reminds us of a similar union between the beautiful
relationships remain strong throughout the novel. Mumbi and young Gikonyo in the forest in Ngugi Wa
2) Man-Woman Relationship: Thiong’O’s A Grain of Wheat (Thiong’o, 1967).
The love-relationship between Hindu Sarojini and Sarojini knows her passionate romantic love-affair
British Gary progresses from their prophetic meeting with Gary will not last long. Hence, she decides to enjoy
to their destined separation. At every stage, the every moment with him. Her complete faith in obeah
members of her communal family and especially the gives her psychological strength of optimism. Mr.
obeah man Manko give her psychological support to Franklin’s love for her mother Kayshee, is also the
make their relationship mutually responsive. Sarojini is struggle for meaningful relatedness. This struggle is
an illegitimate child of the white landlord Mr. Franklin. expressed in a better way in the next generation, that
The absence of parental love makes her emotionally of Sarojini’s. Instability is the drawback of their idealistic,
insecure. Her urge for meaningful relatedness, which idyllic love-affair, but Gary never behaves like a master
will offer her security-not individual but racial-brings with her. She hides her poverty from him. She brings
her to the threshold of Manko, an obeah man and her good clothes from her friend, Kamalla. She takes him
godfather. He really cares for her security. Both of in the forest from the cocoa plantation, provokes him
them have complete understanding of each other. For and enjoys wild sex with him. They are always seen
him, “she was like a little girl, already sweetened by together. Such relationships are an accepted fact in the
the hint of mysterious happiness” (21). She has complete Caribbean community. In spite of Prekash’s warning,
faith in obeah power, and presses him to tell her, her Ramdeen neglects the fact.
future. In such matters, she becomes very stubborn. The possibility of two cultures merging together is
She becomes very excited when he tells her “I see a indicated through Gary and Sarojini’s relationship.
stranger, a white man, who going to make this girl forget Derek Walcott underlines, “The creation of a culture
everything and everybody” (22). And Gary Johnson, that is the people’s own through their Crusoe-like ability
the writer-journalist friend of Mr. Franklin arrives to to make and remake out of necessity, to rename, to
collect the information on the West-Indian folk ways. find new metaphors” (Walcott, 1990, 28). Manko is
Manko is the only person who is fully equipped with now anxious for Sarojini because he knows her destiny.
the information, a useful man for Gary. Gary almost He wants to stop her by warning her that something is
falls in love with Sarojini at first sight. wrong with Gary. At once Sarojini forces Garry to use
Selvon offers idyllic dimensions to the passionate Manko’s medicine and she is sure he will cure him by
love-relationship by allowing it to grow freely in the his obeah power. Out of curiosity, and for the sake of
company of nature. From childhood, Sarojini finds Sarojini’s earnest pleading, Garry approves the treatment
solace in nature. She knows each and every spot of for a piece of bombshell that has remained in his head
the Sans Souci forest, thick, lush-green, full of in a bomb-blast when he was in the army that always
dangerous but attractive sights. Along with her little troubles him. The doctors have given up hope. Manko
friend, Dummy, she explores nature. Like Lucy in starts his treatment, warning Sarojini to keep the fire
Education of Nature, the poem of Wordsworth, burning outside his hut. Manko gives her a donkey-eye,
nature takes her into her bossom and teaches her for luck. “Wear it all the time, and it will protect you.

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TRANSRACIAL EXPERIENCE IN LOVE RELATIONSHIP IN... 11

And make sure you don’t mix up with any others The next day, keeping the donkey-eye on Garry’s table
because you won’t be able to tell the difference” (92). for his luck, Sarojini departs from her lover but does not
The intensity of love between Sarojini and Gary is disclose that she is pregnant. Her pregnancy, the seed in
tested at the time of the hurricane, forecasted by Manko. her womb, reveals the possibility of a new emerging
The hurricane washes out everything. People take culture. As Renu Juneja points out, “It is possible to speak
shelter in the school building, and one of them is Sarojini. of an emerging core culture, which, whatever the local
The estate agents and landlords warn people to remain differences, share strategies for re-creation, for the
inside by broadcasting on the radio and in spite of the cultural empowerment, and full of self-realization of a
warning, Sarojini goes outside to meet Gary at their people” (Juneja, 1996, 6). In the end, dummy mixes up
usual spot in the forest. Prekash wants to stop her. the donkey-eye with another and she cannot make out
When she does not budge, he tries to rape her in order which is hers. This symbolizes the assimilation of cultures
to keep her under his authority. It is the last and lame and races beyond any recognition. There is no sense of
attempt to control Sarojini, but she manages to escape. helplessness in Sarojini. The sense of meaningful
Coming to Mr. Franklin’s estate in anger, he discloses relatedness is fulfilled although Garry leaves her. She
her departure in the forest. Gary is alarmed and runs willingly accepts her departure as an inevitable situation.
outside with a rope and cutlass. He is accompanied by She has now full faith in her child as a source of possible
Dummy and Rover, Mr. Franklin’s dog, and Sarojini’s security and stability for the future. Through Garry and
pet; thus she is joined by her family. Gary actually puts Sarojini’s relationship, Selvon has also expressed his faith
his life in danger, finds her under a fallen tree, “one in a positive future with possible mixing of the races.
hand was clenched tightly, and when he forced the 3) Agricultural-Communal Relationship:
fingers open, he saw Manko’s donkey-eye” (147). It Political independence wipes out the image of the
indicates her deep faith in Manko’s power, and in love. white landlord as the colonizer. Of course, his economic
Both of them are ready to embrace death, for the power continues his position of authority. Yet the human
sake of love. urge for meaningful relatedness struggles to transcend
The superstitious rural girl and the scientifically the boundaries of colour and class and build a family of
oriented journalist face the destiny of separation after affectionate relationships. Here, the lonely white
Mr. Franklin’s knowledge of it. Garry’s relationship with landlord discovers a caring mother in his old black maid;
Sarojini disturbs him. He warns Garry that it will not and the workers find an honest guardian in their landlord.
last long. Both of them understand that it is time for The agricultural, post-colonial family of Sans Souci
Gary to depart. She takes him to the forest on a starry contrasts with the colonial communal family of Mr.
night for the last time. She is proud of his child within Creighton’s village in Lamming’s In the Castle of My
her womb- “it had its roots in her love, and it was as Skin, where the white landlord exploits the innocent
wondersome to her as to him, because she had thought poor community ruthlessly.
she had nothing more to give, and this thing blossomed Selvon’s experiment with a positive racial
in her and made silence more precious than words” relationship in post-independent West-Indies is also
(159). But for the last time, she asks Manko to make expressed through the family of the white estate owner,
Garry come back to the island. But he is helpless. Mr. Franklin, and his maid Eloisa, which is part of the
However, Dummy’s actions tell her about the legend communal family, including both the landlord and the
of the Cascadura fish. She brings them and prepares workers. Eloisa is anxious for Mr. Franklin’s health.
them in an Indian way. She gives them to Garry to eat. She is sixty-five. She thinks of Mr. Franklin as her
Eloisa tells the myth of Cascado to him and he knows responsibility, “when the manager’s wife died, she took
that only Sarojini can work such a wonder. it upon herself to run all the domestic affairs, and Roger
The meaning of the title is significant. The novelist in his distress was glad for her comforting and useful
refers to the native faith: presence... She mothered him” (13). She gives him a
Those who eat the Cascadura will, the native legend ‘home’ with her affection and tender care.
says The community is the tenant-family of Mr. Franklin.
Wheresoever they may wander, end in Trinidad their He looks after them. After the hurricane, he personally
days. meets every member of the family, provides them
A person who eats the Cascadura surely returns to shelter, “he had arranged with the shopkeeper to let
the island. It transforms depair into hope. them whatever they wanted at his expense” (152).

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Eloisa, even though African, takes care of Sarojini. and semblance of everything he beholds. He represents
After she becomes seriously ill, she does not take any the Carribbean community. Selvon dreams of the
objection over her relationship with Gary. She hates Caribbean islands without any boundaries of culture,
Prekash because he is an East-Indian, a coolie. She caste, colour-a rainbow of cultural mixing. He realizes
allows him to come from the back door, but she it all at the level of art by bringing together Gary the
understands the need of Sarojini and helps her without White and Sarojini the East-Indian, and Dummy, Manko,
any malice. Eloisa, the Africans.
The community provides with a healthy family to References:
Sarojini and Dummy, they semi-orphan children. The [1] Brennan, Timothy, “The National Longing for
people provide food to Dummy as if it were their Form” in Nation and Narration (ed.), Homi K.
responsibility. The real meaning of Natio is seen in Sans Bhabha, 1990, London: Routledge.
Souci island. Timothy Brennan points out that “Natio” [2] Juneja, Renu, Carribbean Transactions: West
refers to a “local community, domicile family, condition Indian Culture in Literature, 1996, London &
of belonging” (Brennan, 1990, 6). Basingstoke: Macmillan Carribbean Ltd.
Manko is the spiritual guide of his communal family. [3] Dr, Kundu, Ram, “Wide Sargasso Sea: Inter text
The community turns to him at crucial moments. He is as a Device for Post-Colonial assertion,” in
aware of the limitations of his obeah power. Yet his Commonwealth English Literature (ed), M.K.
love for Sarojini as his daughter compels him to use it Bhatnagar, 1999, New Delhi: Atlantic Publisher
for her sake though he knows “obeah-man had to & Distributors.
practice at distanting himself from all things… he must [4] Ramchand, Kenneth, The West Indian Novel and
also know how to withdraw himself... he must be in Its Background, 1970, London, Faber and Faber.
total possession of himself” (Ramchand, 1970, 126). [5] Selvon, Samuel, Those Who Eat the Cascadura,
Even Mr. Franklin asks his advice on the plantation 1972, Toronto: TSAR, this edition, 1990 (All
crisis in Sans Souci because of people’s protest against quotations cited are taken from this edition,
the cutting of the cocoa plants for cultivating sugarcane. indicated by page numbers).
Selvon focuses on the dumb Dummy who always [6] Thiong’o, Ngugi Wa, A Grain of Wheat, 1967,
longs to fly like a bird, “it had happened…That morning London: Heinemann.
he had given God a rainbow. Now God had given him [7] Walcott, Derek, Omeros, 1990, New York: Farrar
wings” (126). The boy could turn mud into the shape Status Girous.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 13-19.
Paper ID: 10012013004
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 04 Oct 2012. Paper accepted: 20 Oct 2012.

AN OVERVIEW OF PAULO COELHO’S THE ALCHEMIST

D. L. Babar
Abstract:
The Alchemist offered glory to Brazillian writer shop. Santiago learns the importance of dreams from
Paulo Coelho. From childhood he wished to be a writer him. He is depicted as feared about taking challenges
which was quite indifferent choice of career at his time. but good at heart, a devoted Muslim.
Even he himself admits that his strange behavior led Englishman is a well learned science student, who wishes
him to the mental hospital for three times. He practiced to be a great alchemist. He is doubtful in nature and loves
many ways of life to survive but finally received name reading his books. He even lends his books to Santiago.
and fame in the form of The Alchemist which gave him Melchizedek, the King of Salem, appears to own some
determination as a writer. Present papers aims to take magical powers. He acquaints Santiago about the Soul
a brief overview of this world famous novel. of the World and his Personal Legend. He even offers
Introduction: Urim and Thummim, the magical stones to Santiago.
Coelho traced the idea to wrote The Alchemist Fatima, beloved of Santiago, is a beautiful young girl
(1988), in Tale of Two Dreamers (1935), a short story living in the Al-Fayoum Oasis. She encourages him to
by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges which portraits pursue his dream.
treasure quest of two dreamers. Initially this book The Monk, living in a monastery near the pyramids of
proved unsuccessful on commercial ground but later Egypt treats affectionately to Santiago. He is Coptic
on it proved as a huge success leading to win Guinness monk who supports and guides Santiago.
World Record and got translated into 67 languages. The Beside these major characters in the novel there are
book won many prestigious awards such as France’s some minor characters as under:
Grand Prix Litteraire Elle in 1995, Germany’s 2002 Gypsy is an old woman living in Tarifa who interprets
Corine International Award for fiction and United dreams. She reads palms and uses black-magic
Kingdom’s 2004 Nielsen Gold Book Award. iconography, but she also keeps images of Christ.
Chief Characters: Camel Driver is a friendly former orchard owner and
Santiago, protagonist, is a young adventurous shepherd, devout Muslim who feels content with his life despite
who wishes to trace out a wealth treasure at the foot losing his orchard in a flood. He has made the pilgrimage
of the Egyptian pyramids. to Mecca and lives his life in service of omens from
The Alchemist is a mysterious and powerful character God.
of 200 years age who has a best hand in alchemy and The Tribal Chieftain of Al-Fayoum is a strict and
resident of Al-Fayoum Oasis. He appears in a black ruthless tribal chieftain who lives in luxury. He enforces
dress, riding white horse and carrying a scimitar, the Al-Fayoum’s status as a neutral ground and believes in
Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. His way of dreams and omens.
speaking is obscure and mysterious. Merchant’s daughter is the beautiful and intelligent
Crystal Merchant is an owner of a crystal shop on raven-haired daughter of the merchant who buys wool
top of a dreary hill. He offers job to Santiago in his from Santiago.
D. L. Babar: Head, Dept. of English, Shri. R. R. Patil College, Savalaj, Tasgaon, Sangli (MS) India.

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14 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

Merchant is the person who buys wool from Santiago Santiago learns the Englishman is traveling with the
on a yearly basis. He worries about being cheated so caravan to the Saharan oasis of Al-Fayoum, where a
he demands that any wool he buys be sheared from the powerful, 200-year-old alchemist resides. The Englishman
sheep in his presence. plans to ask the alchemist the secret of his trade.
Santiago’s father is portrayed as kindly, unadventurous As it turns out, the caravan must make an extended
family man who hoped Santiago would become a priest stop in Al-Fayoum in order to avoid increasingly violent
but gives him his blessing to become a shepherd. tribal wars taking place in the desert. There, Santiago
Young Man who is scam artist living in Tangier and falls in love with Fatima, who lives at the oasis. During
who speaks Arabic and Spanish. a walk in the desert, Santiago witnesses an omen that
Candy Seller is a generous vendor in the Tangier portends an attack on the historically neutral oasis. He
marketplace who enjoys his occupation. warns the tribal chieftains of the attack, and as a result,
Barkeep is a well-meaning bartender who lives in Al-Fayoum successfully defends itself against the
Tangier and speaks only Arabic. assault. The alchemist gets word of Santiago’s vision
Caravan Leader is the bold leader of a caravan and invites Santiago on a trip into the desert, during
traveling across the Sahara Desert from Tangier to which he teaches Santiago about the importance of
Egypt. listening to his heart and pursuing his Personal Legend.
Brief Summary of The Alchemist: He convinces Santiago to leave Fatima and the caravan
The story revolves around a young shepherd for the time to finish his journey to the pyramids, and he
Santiago who dreams to find a treasure. His dreams offers to accompany Santiago on the next leg of his trip.
reflects wilderness but makes him find the way to live While the alchemist and Santiago continue through
and survive. He learns to listen heart and gets the lesson the desert, the alchemist shares much of his wisdom
that his dreams, or his Personal Legend, are not just his about the Soul of the World. They are mere days away
but part of the Soul of the Universe. A recurring dream from the pyramids when a tribe of Arab soldiers
troubles him every time he sleeps under a sycamore captures them. In exchange for his life and the life of
tree that grows out of the ruins of a church. During the Santiago, the alchemist hands over to the tribe all of
dream, a child tells him to seek treasure at the foot of Santiago’s money and tells the soldiers that Santiago is
the Egyptian pyramids. Santiago consults a gypsy a powerful alchemist who will turn into wind within
woman to interpret the dream, and to his surprise she three days. Santiago feels alarmed because he has no
tells him to go to Egypt. A strange, magical old man idea how to turn into the wind, and over the next three
named Melchizedek, who claims to be the King of days he contemplates the desert. On the third day, he
Salem, echoes the gypsy’s advice and tells Santiago that communicates with the wind and the sun and coaxes
it is his Personal Legend to journey to the pyramids. them to help him create a tremendous sandstorm. He
Melchizedek convinces Santiago to sell his flock and set prays to the Hand That Wrote All, and at the height of
off to Tangier. When Santiago arrives in Tangier, a thief the storm he disappears. He reappears on the other
robs him, forcing him to find work with a local crystal side of the camp, and the tribesmen, awed by the power
merchant. The conservative and kindly merchant teaches of the storm and by Santiago’s ability, let him and the
Santiago several lessons, and Santiago encourages the alchemist go free.
merchant to take risks with his business. The risks pay The alchemist continues to travel with Santiago as
off, and Santiago becomes a rich man in just a year. far as a Coptic monastery several hours from the
Santiago decides to cash in his earnings and continue pyramids. There, he demonstrates to Santiago his ability
pursuing his Personal Legend: to find treasure at the to turn lead into gold using the Philosopher’s Stone. He
pyramids. He joins a caravan crossing the Sahara desert gives Santiago gold and sends him off. Santiago begins
toward Egypt and meets an Englishman who is studying digging for the treasure at the foot of the pyramids, but
to become an alchemist. He learns a lot from the two men accost him and beat him. When Santiago
Englishman during the journey. For one, he learns that speaks to them about his dream vision, they decide he
the secret of alchemy is written on a stone called the must have no money and let him live. Before leaving,
Emerald Tablet. The ultimate creation of alchemy is one of the men tries to illustrate the worthlessness of
the Master Work, which consists of a solid called the dreams by telling Santiago about his own dream. It
Philosophers Stone that can turn lead to gold, and a concerns a treasure buried in an abandoned church in
liquid called the Elixir of Life that can cure all ills. Spain where a sycamore tree grows. The church is the

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AN OVERVIEW OF PAULO COELHO’S THE ALCHEMIST 15

same one in which Santiago had his original dream, and possess magical powers. The alchemist mainly
he finally understands where his treasure is. He returns functions as a teacher to Santiago, though he often
to Spain to find a chest of jewels and gold buried under speaks in riddles and expects Santiago to learn more
the tree, and plans to return with it to Al-Fayoum, where through experience than through verbal instruction.
he will reunite with Fatima, who awaits him. The alchemist’s teachings connect the book’s
Overlook of Major Characters: dominant metaphor of alchemy-transforming one
Santiago: element into another more valuable element-to
Santiago, a shepherd boy from a small Andalusian Santiago’s own journey. The alchemist’s wisdom
town, is the protagonist of The Alchemist. He is connects him to the mystical Soul of the World. This
determined, headstrong, and curious to learn all he can connection provides him with his supernatural abilities,
about the world. As a result, he resisted his parent’s and it allows him to guide Santiago on his own quest to
desires that he become a priest and chose instead to understand the Soul of the World. Santiago, with the
work as a shepherd so that he would have the alchemist’s guidance, learns to read and communicate
opportunity to travel throughout the country. Despite with the world around him, ultimately leading him to the
his natural adventurousness, Santiago remains treasure he seeks and to his own supernatural abilities.
conservative and self-satisfied in many ways until he In other words, Santiago eventually undergoes his own
dreams of uncovering a treasure hidden near the transformation. The alchemist’s hands-off method of
pyramids in Egypt. Santiago hesitates to pursue his teaching, however, suggests that no direct form of
dream until he meets Melchizedek, a mysterious old instruction can allow someone to connect with the Soul
man who claims to be the king of Salem. After of the World. Instead, Santiago, and in fact any student,
Melchizedek reveals to him the magical powers of must teach and transform himself by listening to his
nature, Santiago becomes a willing spiritual seeker and own heart and to his environment.
sets off to fulfill his Personal Legend, the innate dream The Crystal Merchant:
each person has of accomplishing their greatest desire. The crystal merchant serves as an important friend
As the story progresses and Santiago comes closer to Santiago during Santiago’s time in Tangier, but he
to the treasure, he becomes more focused on his also functions as a cautionary case of someone who
growing understanding of the mystical force that imbues has become complacent and given up the pursuit of his
everything, called the Soul of the World. The time he Personal Legend. He maintains a crystal shop on the
spends crossing the desert on his way to the pyramids top of a hill in Tangier, and was rather successful until
teaches him to pay attention to the world around him the city fell out of favor as a port. Although he is a
and to see all of creation in his surroundings, even in a good man who is devoutly religious and kind enough to
single grain of sand. The knowledge he gains from the take Santiago in, he fears pursuing his dream to make a
desert allows him to recognize nature as a single, unified pilgrimage to Mecca because he thinks he will have
whole. His greatest spiritual advancement, however, nothing to live for once he’s achieved his dream. The
comes after he meets the alchemist, who helps him to crystal merchant takes no pride in his conservative
understand himself and to read the omens in his approach to life, but he feels rooted in his ways.
environment. Santiago ultimately learns to communicate The crystal merchant is the most fully fleshed-out
with the wind and the sun and the Hand That Wrote irredeemable character in The Alchemist. (The baker
All, a force evidently synonymous with God or Allah. is another irredeemable character, as is Santiago’s own
The Alchemist: father, but we don’t see either of them as much as the
Supposedly 200 years old, the alchemist is a crystal merchant). In other words, the novel portrays
mysterious character and an extremely powerful his fate as one to avoid, despite the fact that he comes
practitioner of alchemy who resides at the Al-Fayoum across as a good person. The crystal merchant
oasis. Many in Al-Fayoum do not know of his existence, understands that he acts foolishly in not pursuing his
and even the tribal chieftains must request an audience Personal Legend, making it difficult to understand his
if they wish to see him. He has among his possessions motives when he refuses to change his ways, even after
the Master Work, considered the ultimate goal of Santiago shows him the benefits of taking risks. Within
alchemy, which consists of the Philosopher’s Stone, the context of the story, he serves as an example of the
capable of turning any metal into gold, and the Elixir of dangers of an unfulfilled life, evident in his
Life, able to cure all ills. In addition, he appears to disappointment over his own life decisions.

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16 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

Melchizedek: comes from experience, which one must earn through

Melchizedek, who claims to be the King of Salem, action.
appears to Santiago as an old man living in the Spanish Fatima:
town of Tarifa, and although he appears only briefly in The only female character in The Alchemist to get
the book, he plays an important role as he introduces a modicum of attention, Fatima is defined by her beauty
several of the key concepts that we see repeated and her willingness to wait for Santiago while he
throughout The Alchemist. For example, he tells pursues his Personal Legend. She lives at the Al-
Santiago about Personal Legends, the Soul of the World, Fayoum oasis, where her primary duty in life consists
and Beginner’s Luck. He also gives Santiago two of gathering water from the local well, and she says as
magical stones, Urim and Thummim, which represent a woman of the desert she realizes that men must leave
“yes” and “no” respectively, to help guide him on his the women they love for long periods. When Santiago
journey. Melchizedek is also the first character in The hesitates to leave Fatima and the oasis, she convinces
Alchemist to display magical powers. Those powers him he must go. She has confidence that he will return
help him convince Santiago to pursue his dream of if he loves her. Fatima says her ultimate goal is to love
finding a treasure near the pyramids in Egypt. Santiago, and she appears to have no Personal Legend
By his own account, Melchizedek plays a role in of her own.
the lives of everyone who pursues his or her Personal Themes in The Alchemist:
Legend. He essentially motivates people to continue Personal Legends:
pursuing their Personal Legends in times of doubt, as According to The Alchemist, Personal Legends
he does when he meets Santiago in the novel. Although serve as the only means by which an individual can live
he appears to Santiago as a flesh-and-blood man, he a satisfying life. In fact, the universe can only achieve
explains that he appears to people more often as a perfection if all natural things continuously undergo a
symbol or idea. Evidently he has been serving this cycle of achieving their Personal Legend, evolving into
purpose for a long time, as he remembers helping the a higher being with a new Personal Legend, and then
biblical Abraham in his own journey. Even when pursuing that new goal. This concept, that the
Melchizedek is not physically present, the magical stones individualistic pursuit of a Personal Legend exists as
he gives Santiago help Santiago to remain hopeful and life’s dominant-perhaps only-spiritual demand, lies at
focused as he pursues his Personal Legend. the center of the unique theology of The Alchemist. As
The Englishman: we see when Santiago must give up his flock and leave
The Englishman is a well-educated and ambitious Fatima, material success and even love pose obstacles
aspiring alchemist. He is adventurous enough to join a to Santiago achieving his Personal Legend and must be
caravan in search of the alchemist, but is rather anti- delayed or ignored altogether. Those who put off their
social. He prefers to read his large collection of books Personal Legends, such as the crystal merchant, suffer
rather than interact with others or take interest in his regret and fail to experience the wealth and other favors
surroundings. Because the Englishman and Santiago that the universe bestows upon those who follow their
share a commitment to pursuing their Personal Legends, Personal Legends. In the novel, even alchemy, the
they quickly become friends. The Englishman, however, central symbol of the book, entails coaxing metal to
also challenges Santiago with his intellectual, achieve its own Personal Legend to turn into gold. As a
knowledge-focused approach to life. He teaches result, the idea that all individuals should live in the
Santiago the value of book learning and introduces him singular pursuit of their individual dreams emerges as
to important concepts in alchemy, such as the Master the primary theme of The Alchemist.
Work. But he must also learn from Santiago the The Unity of Nature:
importance of experience and friendship. In The Alchemist, the spiritual unity represented
Because the Englishman focuses too much on his by the Soul of the World binds together all of nature,
books, the alchemist believes he has not reached the from human beings to desert sand. This idea underlies
point in his personal development that would allow him the parallel we see in the novel between the alchemist
to be the alchemist’s protégé. Using the Englishman as purifying metal into gold and Santiago purifying himself
its example, the novel suggests that even though into someone capable of achieving his Personal Legend.
knowledge gained from books can be useful, one should According to the novel, the Soul of the World has
not rely on it solely and unconditionally. True wisdom created an ultimate desire, or Personal Legend, for

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AN OVERVIEW OF PAULO COELHO’S THE ALCHEMIST 17

everything, whether Santiago or a piece of iron. To communication with the Soul of the World. Santiago’s
accomplish its Personal Legend, each thing must learn dream of a treasure in Egypt, for instance, reveals to
to tap into the Soul of the World, which purifies it. That him his Personal Legend and sets the entire plot of the
continual purification ultimately leads to perfection. This Alchemist into motion. Whether or not an individual
notion of humans, metals, and all other things sharing believes in dreams creates a dividing line between the
the same goal demonstrates that all elements in nature “enlightened” and “unenlightened” characters in the
are essentially different forms of a single spirit. novel. The tribal chieftain takes Santiago’s dream of
Furthermore, over and over again we see that the hawks very seriously, and he understands the dream
Santiago must communicate with nature in what the as a message from the desert of an impending assault.
novel calls the common language of the world. He also relates a story about Joseph’s ability to read
Santiago’s horse, for instance, communicates with him dreams, concluding that those who truly believe in
by showing him evidence of life in an apparently barren dreams also have the ability to read them. The chief’s
expanse of desert, and Santiago must employ the help insight, we see, allows him to successfully defend the
of the desert, the wind, and the sun in order to turn into oasis against attack. Later in the novel, the man who
the wind. As the alchemist says when he leaves beats Santiago does not believe his own dream, but
Santiago, everything from a grain of sand to God himself when he describes his dream to Santiago, Santiago
shares the same spiritual essence. This pantheistic view recognizes it as an omen telling him where to find the
dominates The Alchemist, and along with the individual, treasure. The importance of actual, sleeping dreams
evolutionary theology expressed in the theme of parallels the importance of personal, symbolic dreams
alchemy, it forms the book’s core spiritual message. as embodied by Personal Legends.
The Danger of Fear: Maktub:
Fear persistently comes up throughout Santiago’s Many of the characters that Santiago meets during
journey as the primary obstacle to Santiago’s his journey use the word maktub, which as the crystal
successfully achieving his Personal Legend. Santiago merchant explains, means “it is written.” The word
experiences several forms of fear: a childhood fear of typically appears just as Santiago is about to turn to a
having the gypsy woman interpret his dream; a material new chapter in his quest, usually by taking a big risk or
fear of losing his wealth by departing to Tangier or by abandoning a comfortable situation. It becomes a
joining the desert caravan; the physical fear of dying in reassuring refrain for Santiago, because it reminds
the battle at Al-Fayoum; and the spiritual fear that he Santiago to see his actions in the context of fate. As
will fail to turn himself into the wind when the alchemist Santiago learns, fate always cooperates with those in
forces him to try. pursuit of their Personal Legends, so as long as he
Santiago’s mentors, from Melchizedek to the remains focused on his goal he can find comfort in the
alchemist, condemn fear by comparing it to materialism, fact that his destiny has already been written in the
and they describe it as a product of misunderstanding history of the world. In addition, the repetition of maktub
how the universe treats those pursuing their Personal reinforces the Biblical tone of The Alchemist. The word
Legends. Fear, they suggest, should become irrelevant, gives Santiago’s story the universality and spiritual heft
even in the face of death, if you faithfully pursue your of a fable (much like the other capitalized terms that
dreams. dominate the book, such as the Soul of the World and
Just as those who disregard fear appear as the Hand that Wrote All).
enlightened figures, fear dominates The Alchemist’s Omens:
weakest characters. The crystal merchant in particular The motif of omens serves a dual purpose in The
represents someone who has allowed fear to rule his Alchemist. For one, omens offer Santiago guidance on
life. Although he wants to make the pilgrimage to Mecca his journey and reassure him that the Soul of the World
required of every Muslim, he fears that once he’s made has endorsed his journey. As Melchizedek explains,
the trip he will have nothing else to live for. As a result, omens make up part of the Universal Language of the
he remains deeply unhappy, reinforcing the notion that World, and if Santiago taps into this language he can
fear acts as an obstacle to a happy and fulfilled life. always find the meaning in his environment. For
Dreams: example, when the stones Urim and Thummim drop
In The Alchemist, dreams represent not only an from Santiago’s pocket, Santiago chooses to consider
outlet into one’s inner desires, but also a form of the event an omen. In doing so, he continues to feel

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18 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

that the universe conspires to help him, and he finds Santiago, although many tomes have been written about
meaning in the seemingly random event. In this way, alchemy, these books only complicate the craft. In fact,
the motif of omens reinforces the book’s theme of the all the secrets of alchemy exist on the small Emerald
unity of nature. Tablet, and these secrets cannot be expressed in words.
Omens also serve to demonstrate Santiago’s Likewise, no written instructions can guide a person to
spiritual growth throughout the story. The omens that his Personal Legend. The person must follow his own
Santiago experiences grow in relevance from being instincts and the omens provided by the Soul of the
small, limited events to important visions that affect World. The alchemist chooses Santiago as his pupil
many lives. The vision of the hawks and approaching rather than the Englishman largely because Santiago
armies that Santiago has in Al-Fayoum, for example, does not depend on books and reason to understand
tells Santiago of an assault on the oasis that could lead the world. By listening to the Soul of the World, Santiago
to the deaths of hundreds. That his omens become more ultimately enters into communion with all of nature,
and more important signifies that Santiago is getting including the wind and the sun, and he reaches a higher
closer to understanding the pure Language of the World. state of being.
Symbolism in The Alchemist: The Desert:
Santiago’s Sheep: The desert, with its harsh conditions and tribal wars,
Santiago’s sheep symbolize the sort of existence symbolizes the serious difficulties that await anyone in
lived by those who are completely blind to their Personal pursuit of their Personal Legend, but it also serves as
Legends. Santiago loves his sheep, but he also expresses an important teacher to Santiago during his journey to
thinly veiled disrespect for them because of their animal the pyramids. As the alchemist puts it, tests are an
desires for mere food and water. He thinks that his inherent part of all Personal Legends, because they
sheep do not appreciate all the wonderful lands that are necessary to create spiritual growth. More than
Santiago discovers during his travels. Also, in a disturbing the desert heat, the desert’s silence, emptiness, and
image, he imagines that his sheep are so blindly trusting monotony test Santiago. As Santiago learns, however,
that he could kill them one by one without them noticing. even the desert, despite appearing barren, contains life
These sheep symbolize the characters in the book like and the Soul of the World. Santiago begins to understand
the baker and the crystal merchant who do not pursue his environment, and to see the signs of life in what
their Personal Legends. Like the sheep, these characters seems to be a wasteland. Eventually he learns to
content themselves with their material desires and social recognize all of creation in a single grain of sand, and in
acceptance. Accordingly, they lose the ability to the greatest test he faces during the book, he finds he
appreciate certain aspects of creation, and tend to miss is able to enlist the desert in his effort to become the
out on many opportunities because of their limited wind.
perspectives. Other Prominent Features of The Alchemist:
Alchemy: The striking feature of this novel is the narrator
Alchemy, in which a base metal is transformed into who is an anonymous omniscient observer. The narrator
a more valuable metal like gold, functions as the speaks in a simple tone and knows the thoughts and
dominant symbol in The Alchemist and represents feelings of every character in the book. In addition the
Santiago’s journey to achieve his Personal Legend. The point of view is third person omniscient, though the
symbol also gives the novel its title. The Alchemist narrator focuses on Santiago’s journey. Occasionally,
describes the process of turning base metal to gold as the narration will step back from Santiago and focus on
equivalent to the base metal realizing its Personal an ancillary character, but it always returns to its
Legend. In the parlance of the book, the metal must rid protagonist. Notably, the narrator stops referring to
itself of all impurities to achieve a higher evolutionary Santiago after the first third of the book. Though the
state. Similarly, Santiago must rid himself of impurities, point of view comments on some of the characters’
such as his desire for his parents’ acceptance, his desire innermost thoughts and desires, it is a mostly objective
to live as a rich shepherd, and even his desire to live observer. Furthermore, tone of The Alchemist reads
with Fatima, in order to realize his own Personal Legend like an ancient myth or fable. It is simple, direct, and
and achieve a higher state. The way a person learns overtly didactic. It also has elements of a picaresque,
the craft of alchemy parallels the way in which a person an episodic tale detailing a hero’s adventures during his
achieves his Personal Legend. As the alchemist tells quest. The Alchemist is set in an indistinct time in the

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AN OVERVIEW OF PAULO COELHO’S THE ALCHEMIST 19

past. It is clearly a pre-modern time, before automobiles dream of the pyramids under the sycamore tree. Later,
and most modern technology existed. The main plot of we learn that the treasure he saw in his dream is buried
The Alchemist takes place in the Spanish pastures, the under that very tree. As story progresses, Melchizedek
Spanish town of Tarifa, the city of Tangier in North foreshadows Santiago’s success with the crystal
Africa, and the Sahara desert. The major conflict of merchant when he explains the notion of “beginner’s
the novel is Santiago’s personal tension between luck.” Additionally, the innocuous run-ins Santiago and
completing his Personal Legend to travel all the way to the alchemist have with various tribesmen in the desert
Egypt to find a treasure at the pyramids and settling foreshadow Santiago’s and the alchemist’s eventual
along the way for the treasures he has already earned. capture. Finally, Santiago’s ongoing envy of the wind
Santiago makes a series of material sacrifices in order foreshadows his climactic effort to turn himself into it.
to pursue his Personal Legend to reach the pyramids To conclude, The Alchemist is the popular novel by
of Egypt. Santiago struggles to turn himself into the Paulo Coelho consisting of varied features of a literary
wind while being held by warring tribesman in the work and attracts attention of readers, teachers and
Sahara Desert. Santiago arrives at the pyramids, but in scholars of Literature.
a twist, he must go back to Spain as he learns that his Works Cited:
treasure was buried in an abandoned church by a [1] Coelho Paulo (1988), The Alchemist, Harper
sycamore tree where he started his journey. One piece Collins Publishers, India.
of foreshadowing too occurs when Santiago has initial

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20 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 20-22.
Paper ID: 10012013005
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 25 Dec 2012. Paper accepted: 08 Jan 2013.

THE REDEMPTION OF THE INDIAN FAMILY STRUCTURE IN ANITA

DESAI’S NOVEL CLEAR LIGHT OF DAY
M. A. Waheed
In this Paper, an attempt has been made to examine their conscious and tensions which matter her. She, in
the concept of joint family system comprising of an an interview says:
integration, disintegration, realization and again I am interested in characters who are not average
integration in view of protagonist’s perception of unity but have retreated, or been driven into some extremity
between divergent elements both in the family and in of despair and so turned against a made a stand against,
the world. Anita Desai’s characters often suffer from the general current.3
a sense of disintegration within and disjunction from Anita Desai’s depicts in Clear Light of Day (1980)
the World around. The Protagonist in the novel Clear the extreme situations arising out of conflicts-the conflict
Light of Day,1 Bim (Bimla) initially searches the between reason and instinct, the will and reality and
meaning of life, fails in her search but later on reconciles the involvement and detachment. These conflicts focus
with her ‘inner eyes’ to integrate the family structure. in the characters of the novel. In the Das family, based
Anita Desai is one of the most gifted contemporary in old Delhi, there are four siblings under the uncaring
Indian English Writers who has authored 14 novels and parents. Out of the four siblings, two are sisters and
4 collections of short stories has added a new dimension two are brothers with their own identity and
on the inner world of her characters. Her preoccupation temperaments un-compromising to each other. They
with the individual and his/her psychic complexicities are Bim (Bimla), Tara-Sisters, Raj and Baba-brothers.
sets apart from her contemporaries. Shyam A Asnani The sensitive young woman, Bim is caught between
says: movement and stillness like a musical piece in the novel
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala chooses the social as the novel begins with the song of a Koel and ends
background for her comedies, tragic-comedies and with the song of old master. The bird Koel belongs to
farces. In Kamala Markandeya’s novels, the stress eternal world but the old master’s voice belongs to age
is as much on principal characters as on divorce and time. Thus, the theme of the novel is connected
contemporary problems-economic, political, cultural with the paradox of change and connectivity as the
& social. Nayantara Sahgal is nothing if not political ‘Time’ is regarded as destroyer and as the Preserver,
or socio-political. Desai is not interested in Social according to T.S.Eliot’s Four Quartets.4
or Political probing, the outer-weather, the physical As T.S.Eliot’s Four Quartets has four parts. So,
geography or the visible action. Her forte is the her 4 parts un-titled in the novel are parallel. In part
exploration of inner-world, plunging into limitless one, the novelist sets in the present telling unforgettable
depths of the mind, and bringing into relief the hidden sweetness and sourness by Bim and Tara are described.
contours of the human psyche.2 These two young girls grow up in a typical loveless
Anita Desai’s fictional world is not philosophical or atmosphere though the parents are alive, as they are
social. It is about their characters and their motivations, indifferent and disinterested. The girls have to adjust
M. A. Waheed: Professor of English (Retired), Hyderabad (AP) India.

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THE REDEMPTION OF THE INDIAN FAMILY STRUCTURE IN... 21

with diabetic mother and father who is nothing but with horrors of riots and terrorist activities. The portrait
the master of entrance and exit. They have to live with of aunt Mira with strange type of disease of fits. Her
mentally retarded brother, Baba. Besides these aspects hysterical fit is symbolic of her obsession with the image
of family situations, they have to coexists with a young of well.
but tubercular brother, Raja and an alcoholic old aunt Part-three sets in the further past of Das family with
Mira, the distant cousin of Mrs. Das called on to stay some significant events in the early life of Bim, Tara
with them to take care of Baba. This domestic drama and Raja before 1947 with which part two of the novel
absurdity takes place against the background of partition is linked. To this aspect of the novel, Dr. Madhusudan
of country. This suggests another pattern of violence, Prasad comments:
bloodshed and absurdity. The death of parents makes The obsessive episodes of their shared past,
the children emotionally destitute. Tara, the younger discussed or remembered with unforgettable
girl, gets married and goes abroad with her husband sweetness or sourness by Bim and Tara in Part
Bakul. Raja, the elder of two brothers, gets married to one are elaborately depicted being actually enacted
the daughter of a Muslim neighbor Hyder Ali. So, Raja in their early life in part three, thus properly
leaves Old Delhi and lives with his wife Benazir in connecting the apparently sprawling pattern of part
Hyderabad. Thus, Bim is left alone to take care of one with that of part three and revealing the aesthetic
herself and to take care of mentally retarded brother, relevance of the episodic repetitiveness in the
Baba. novel.6
In terms of theme of continuity in change of family Part four of the novel shows Desai’s art of skilful
structure, Anita Desai makes Tara and Bakul to visit structure and reflects time as fourth dimension. The
Old Delhi and subsequently Hyderabad also to other neighbour’s of the Das family is the Mishras.
participate in Raja’s daughter Moyna’s marriage. Both The brothers and sisters of this family enjoy music
Tara and Bakul find no change in the house and Tara not only for entertainment but also for livelihood.
finds the home boring. She feels and is unable to Dr.Biswas, the visiting for Baba regularly finds Bim
recognize the impact of time, its existentialist significance in suppressed and depressed mood and equally
as destroyer and how time brings changes, in human suggests her to join music programme as he himself
life. Tara again feels astonished at the changed attitude gets joy in music. Since, Bim decides not to marry
of Bim towards her brother Raja, once she had sweet and now all have left her keeping Baba at her custody
relation but now bitter. The reason, is this letter he finds days to spend horrible. The music programme
addressed to Bim after Hyder Ali’s death: she attends with Baba finds relaxed. While reading
You will have got our wire with the news of Hyder the book entitled Life of Aurangazeb, in the last
Ali Sahib’s death. I know you will have been as words of Aurangazeb she finds the inspiration of
saddened by it as we are. Perhaps you are also a selflessness and a move towards others.
bit worried about the future. But you must Aurangazeb’s realization “alone he had lived and
remember that when I left you I promised I would alone he made to die.”7 of the isolation inherent in
always lookafter you, Bim. When Hyder Ali Saheb the nature of human life, and of mortality, inspires, in
was ill and making out his bill, Benazir herself spoke Bim a desire to recast the Past and Present for the
to him about the house and asked him to allow you ultimate journey into future.
to keep it at the same rent we used to pay him The vision of death instead of causing terror and
when father and mother were alive.5 despair makes her stretch her concept of time from the
So, Tara also equally hurt with this letter. This letter present in two directions, backward and forward. With
made to understand that Raja became the owner of this, Bim’s attitude changes and she is repentant of her
house where his sister Bim lives in Old Delhi as the wrong attitude towards Raja. Her misconception
property was belonging to Hyder Ali. She feels insulted disappears, paving the way for her to see everything
and feelings are wounded. That’s why, Bim was angry by Clear Light of Day.8 Bim sends a message through
with Raja. Anyway, Tara suggests Bim to forget the Tara telling Raja to visit Old Delhi and meet her so that
past and remove misunderstanding due to letter but integration of family takes place. Thus, redemption of
better to protect the structure of the family. Indian family structure materializes in a harmonious
Part-two of the novel sets in the past and the novelist mood.
portrays the life in Old Delhi during partition in 1947

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22 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

Works Cited: [4] Desai, Anita, Clear Light of Day, Random

[1] Desai, Anita Clear Light of Day, Random House India, Noida, 2007, P.283.
House India, Noida, 2007. [5] Ibid, P.48.
[2] Asnani, Shyam, Critical Responses to Indian [6] Prasad, Madhusudan. Anita Desai: The
English Fiction, Mittal Publications, Delhi, 1985, Novelist, New Horizon, Allahabad, 1981, P.122.
P.143. [7] Desai, Anita Clear Light of Day, Random
[3] Yashodhara Dalmia, “An Interview with Anita House India, Noida, 2007 P.261.
Desai,” The Times of India, 29th April, 1979, [8] Ibid P.257.
P.23.

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 23

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 23-26.
Paper ID: 10012013006
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 06 Nov 2012. Paper accepted: 07 Dec 2012.

REFLECTIONS OF ROUSSEAU’S IDEAS ON EDUCATION IN EMILE

Sanjay M. Sathe
The noblest work in education is to make a Rousseau’s philosophy of education is not
reasoning man, and we expect to train a young child by concerned with particular techniques of imparting
making him reason! This is beginning at the end; this is information and concepts, but rather with developing
making an instrument of a result. If children understood the pupil’s character and moral sense, so that he may
how to reason they would not need to be educated- learn to practice self-mastery and remain virtuous even
Rousseau (Emile 37). in the unnatural and imperfect society in which he will
Rousseau’s profound insight can be found in almost have to live. The hypothetical boy, Émile, is to be raised
every trace of modern philosophy today. Somewhat in the countryside, which, Rousseau believes, is a more
complicated and ambiguous, Rousseau’s general natural and healthy environment than the city, under
philosophy tried to grasp an emotional and passionate the guardianship of a tutor who will guide him through
side of man which he felt was left out of most previous various learning experiences arranged by the tutor.
philosophical thinking. In his early writing, Rousseau Today one would call this the disciplinary method of
contended that man is essentially good when in the “state “natural consequences” since, like modern
of nature” (the state of all the other animals and the psychologists, Rousseau felt that children learn right
condition man was in before the creation of civilization and wrong through experiencing the consequences of
and society), and that good people are made unhappy their acts rather than through physical punishment. The
and corrupted by their experiences in society. He viewed tutor will make sure that no harm results to Émile through
society as “artificial” and “corrupt” and that the furthering his learning experiences.
of society results in the continuing unhappiness of man. Rousseau was one of the first to advocate
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was born in developmentally appropriate education; and his
Geneva, Switzerland. He was a philosopher, writer, and description of the stages of child development mirrors
composer of 18th-century Romanticism of French his conception of the evolution of culture. He divides
expression. His political philosophy influenced the childhood into stages: the first is to the age of about 12,
French Revolution as well as the overall development when children are guided by their emotions and
of modern political, sociological and educational thought. impulses. During the second stage, from 12 to about
His mother died shortly after his birth. When Rousseau 16, reason starts to develop; and finally the third stage,
was 10, his father fled from Geneva to avoid from the age of 16 onwards, when the child develops
imprisonment for a minor offense, leaving young Jean- into an adult. Rousseau recommends that the young
Jacques to be raised by an aunt and uncle. Rousseau adult learn a manual skill such as carpentry, which
left Geneva at 16, wandering from place to place, finally requires creativity and thought, will keep him out of
moving to Paris in 1742. He earned his living during trouble, and will supply a fallback means of making a
this period, working as everything from footman to living in the event of a change of fortune. The most
assistant to an ambassador. illustrious aristocratic youth to have been educated this
Sanjay M. Sathe: Associate Professor, Dept. of English, Chandrabai Shantappa Shendure College, Hupari, Kolhapur
(MS) India.

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24 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

way may have been Louis XVI, whose parents had (Emile 39) and that the best “social institutions are those
him learn the skill of locksmithing. The sixteen-year- that best know how to denature man, to take his absolute
old is also ready to have a companion of the opposite sex. existence from him in order to give him a relative one
Although his ideas foreshadowed modern ones in and transport the I into the common unity” (Emile, 40).
many ways, in one way they do not: Rousseau was a To “denature man” for Rousseau is to suppress some
believer in the moral superiority of the patriarchal family of the “natural” instincts that he extols in The Social
on the antique Roman model. Sophie, the young woman Contract, published the same year as Émile, but while
Émile is destined to marry, as a representative of ideal it might seem that for Rousseau such a process would
womanhood, is educated to be governed by her husband be entirely negative, this is not so. Émile, is not a
while Émile, as representative of the ideal man, is panegyric for the loss of the noble savage, a term
educated to be self-governing. This is not an accidental Rousseau never actually used. Instead, it is an effort to
feature of Rousseau’s educational and political explain how natural man can live within society.
philosophy; it is essential to his account of the distinction The second section concerns the initial interactions
between private, personal relations and the public world of the child with the world. Rousseau believed that at
of political relations. The private sphere as Rousseau this phase education should be derived less from books
imagines it depends on the subordination of women, in and more from their interactions with the world, with
order for both it and the public political sphere (upon an emphasis on developing the senses, and the ability
which it depends) to function as Rousseau imagines it to draw inferences from them. Rousseau concludes
could and should. Rousseau anticipated the modern idea the chapter with an example of a boy who has been
of the bourgeois nuclear family, with the mother at successfully educated through this phase. The father
home taking responsibility for the household and for takes the boy out flying kites, and asks the child to infer
childcare and early education. the position of the kite by looking only at the shadow.
Émile, or On Education (1762) is a treatise on This is a task that the child has never specifically been
the nature of education and on the nature of man written taught, but through inference and understanding of the
by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who considered it to be physical world, the child is able to succeed in his task.
the “best and most important of all my writings Due to In some ways, this approach is the precursor of the
a section of the book entitled “Profession of Faith of Montessori Method.
the Savoyard Vicar,” Émile was banned in Paris and The third book concerns the selection of a Trade or
Geneva and was publicly burned in 1762. During the occupation. Rousseau believed it necessary that the
French Revolution, Émile served as the inspiration for child must be taught a manual skill appropriate to his
what became a new national system of education gender and age. Once Émile is physically strong and
The novel is divided into five books: the first three learns to carefully observe the world around him, he is
are dedicated to the child Émile, the fourth to an ready for the last part of his education-sentiment: “We
exploration of the adolescent, and the fifth to outlining have made an active and thinking being. It remains for
the education of his female counterpart Sophie, as well us, in order to complete the man, only to make a loving
as to Émile’s domestic and civic life. In section I, and feeling being-that is to say, to perfect reason by
Rousseau discusses not only his fundamental philosophy sentiment” (Emile 203). Émile is a teenager at this
but he also begins to outline how one would have to raise point and it is only now that Rousseau believes he is
a child to conform to that philosophy. He begins with the capable of understanding complex human emotions,
early physical and emotional development of the infant particularly sympathy. Rousseau argues that the child
and the child. As Peter Jimack, the noted Rousseau cannot put himself in the place of others but once
scholar argues: “Émile attempts to “find a way of adolescence has been reached and he is able do so,
resolving the contradictions between the natural man who Émile can finally be brought into the world and
is ‘all for himself’ and the implications of life in society” socialized.
(Jimak 33). The famous opening line does not bode well In addition to introducing a newly passionate Émile
for the educational project.Rosseau says: “Everything is to society during his adolescent years, the tutor also
good as it leaves the hands of the Author of things; introduces him to religion. According to Rousseau,
everything degenerates in the hands of man (Emile 37). children cannot understand abstract concepts such as
But Rousseau acknowledges that every society the soul before the age of about fifteen or sixteen, so to
“must choose between making a man or a citizen” introduce religion to them is dangerous. He writes: “It

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REFLECTIONS OF ROUSSEAU’S IDEAS ON EDUCATION IN EMILE 25

is a lesser evil to be unaware of the divinity than to women, Rousseau does not elaborate on it. For him,
offend it (Emile 259). Moreover, because children are sexual differences far outweigh similarities and those
incapable of understanding the difficult concepts that differences tilt in man’s favor: women should be
are part of religion, he points out that children will only “passive and weak,” “put up little resistance” and
recite what is told to them-they are unable to believe. are “made especially to please man” (Emile 358).
Book IV also contains the infamous “Profession of a Rousseau’s detractors have blamed him for
Savoyard Priest,” the section that was largely everything they do not like in what they call modern
responsible for the condemnation of Émile and the one, “child-centered” education. John Darling’s 1994 book
paradoxically, most frequently excerpted and published Child-Centered Education and its Critics argues that
independently of its parent tome. Rousseau claims at the history of modern educational theory is a series of
the end of the “Profession”: footnotes to Rousseau, a development he regards as
It is not “a rule for the sentiments that one ought to bad. Good or bad, the theories of educators such as
follow in religious matters, but... an example of the way Rousseau’s near contemporaries Pestalozzi, Mme de
one can reason with one’s pupil in order not to diverge Genlis, and later, Maria Montessori, and John Dewey,
from the method I have tried to establish” (Emile 313). which have directly influenced modern educational
Such a claim was clearly difficult for many readers practices do have significant points in common with
at the time to accept and still is. Rousseau, through the those of Rousseau.
priest, leads his readers through an argument with only In conclusion, Rousseau seeks to describe a system
one concluding belief: “natural religion.” Even more of education that would enable the “natural man’’ he
importantly, after this brief excursion into religious identifies in The Social Contract to survive “corrupt
education, religion does not play any role in Émile’s society.” He employs the novelistic device of Émile
life; religion, however important to Rousseau (Rousseau and his tutor to illustrate how such an ideal citizen might
is believed to have created the Savoyard Vicar by be educated. Émile is scarcely a detailed parenting guide
combining the traits of two Savoyard priests whom he but it does contain some specific advice on raising
had known in his childhood: Abbé Gaime from Turin children. Rousseau, responding in frustration to what
and Abbé Gâtier from Annecy), is insignificant in Émile’s he perceived as a gross misunderstanding of his text, in
education and socialization. his The Confessions (1953), writes: “It is about a new
In section V, Rousseau turns to the education of system of education, whose outline I offer up for learned
Sophie, Émile’s wife-to-be. This brief description of scrutiny, and not a method for fathers and mothers,
female education sparked an immense contemporary which I’ve never contemplated” (p.529).
response, perhaps even more so than “Émile’’ itself. Emile is regarded by some as the first philosophy
Mary Wollstonecraft, for example, dedicated a substantial of education in Western culture to have a serious claim
portion of her chapter “Animadversions on Some of the to completeness, as well as being one of the first
Writers who have Rendered Women Objects of Pity, “Bildungsroman’’ novels, having preceded Goethe’s
Bordering on Contempt” in “A Vindication of the “Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship’’ by more than thirty
Rights of Woman” (1792) to attacking Rousseau and years. The work tackles fundamental political and
his arguments. Rousseau begins his description of philosophical questions about the relationship between
Sophie, the ideal woman, by describing the differences the individual and society-how, in particular, the individual
between men and women in a famous passage: might retain what Rousseau saw as innate human
In what they have in common, they are equal. goodness while remaining part of a corrupting
Where they differ, they are not comparable. A collectivity. Its opening sentence: “Everything is good
perfect woman and a perfect man ought not to as it leaves the hands of the Author of things; everything
resemble each other in mind any more than in looks, degenerates in the hands of man” (Emile 1). Willam
and perfection is not susceptible of more or less. In Boyd in his famous book, The Educational Theory of
the union of the sexes each contributes equally to Jean Jacques Rousseau (1911), says: “Rousseau seeks
the common aim, but not in the same way. From to describe a system of education that would enable
this diversity arises the first assignable difference the natural man he identifies in The Social Contract
in the moral relations of the two sexes. (1762) to survive corrupt society” (Boyd 127). He
While the opening “in what they have in common, employs the novelistic device of Emile and his tutor to
they are equal” offers an intriguing possibility for illustrate how such an ideal citizen might be

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educated. Emile is scarcely a detailed parenting guide [2] Boyd, William. The Educational Theory of Jean
but it does contain some specific advice on raising Jacques Rousseau. London: Longmans, Green
children. It is regarded as the first philosophy of and Co., 1911.
education in Western culture to have a serious claim to [3] Jimack, Peter. Rousseau: Emile. London: Grant
completeness, as well as being one of the first and Cutler, Ltd., 1983.
Bildungsroman novels, having preceded Goethe’s [4] Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Emile, or On
Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship by more than thirty Education. Trans. Allan Bloom. New York:
years. Basic Books, 1979.
Works Cited: [5] Trouille, Mary Seidman. Sexual Politics in the
[1] Bloch, Jean. Rousseauism and Education in Enlightenment: Women Writers Read
Eighteenth-century France. Oxford: Voltaire Rousseau. Albany, NY: State University of New
Foundation, 1995. York Press, 1997.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 27-29.
Paper ID: 10012013007
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 23 Dec 2012. Paper accepted: 01 Jan 2013.

JIM CORBETT’S EXPLORATION OF THE WILD LIFE IN JUNGLE LORE

Rajendra S. Ponde
Edward James Corbett is world famous and divided the birds, animals and the crawling creatures
popularly known in and outside India as Jim Corbett an into groups.
expert hunter, conservator, naturalist and successful Corbett started acquiring knowledge of the wildlife
writer. Corbett shot in to literary fame after the since his childhood. His approach is always rational
publication of his first book Man-eaters of Kumaon in and realistic. He decided therefore, to classify the birds
1944. This book was chosen by book clubs in England and animals into groups. He says, “The first thing I did
and America for reprinting. Man-eaters of Kumaon then was to divide the birds and animals and the crawling
had been translated into fourteen European languages, creatures into groups” (50).
eleven Indian languages, and even in African and He divided the birds into six groups then he divided
Japanese language. His later books too are translated the animals into five groups as:
into many international languages which is distinct mark 1) Animals that beautified nature’s garden: they are
of his universal popularity. deer, antelope and monkeys.
His Jungle Lore was published in 1953. It has 2) Animals that helped to regenerate the garden by
autobiographical touch.In this book one sees the real opening up and aerating the soil. They are bears,
soul of Corbett and his love for the people, jungle and pigs and porcupines.
animals of the Kumaon hills. It is a rich book about life 3) Animals that warned of danger: deer, monkeys, and
in the jungles and his own childhood. squirrels.
In his boyhood, Jim Corbett had explored the strip 4) Animals that maintained the balance in nature:
of jungle between the two watercourses near his house tigers, leopards and wild dogs.
at Kaladhungi. Then he explored Garuppu jungle too. 5) Animals that acted as scavengers: hyenas, jackals,
Both these jungles were teeming with wildlife in those and pigs.
days. So, he saw all animals and all the crawling Then he divided the crawling creatures into two
creatures that crossed the watercourse and soon groups, as follows,
became expert in identifying each and every animal in 1) Poisonous snakes i.e. cobras, kraits, and vipers.
the jungle. Corbett comments, 2) Non-poisonous snakes i.e. python, grass-snakes, and
Starting out as the sun was rising and moving dhamin (rat snake).
noiselessly on my base feet, I saw... all the animals The above classification of wild life by Corbett
and all the crawling creatures..., until a day came clearly shows his systematic and scientific methodical
when I was able to identify each by the track it study of wildlife which has been depicted in Jungle
made (Corbett Jungle Lore 50). Lore. Corbett’s idea of classification of birds, animals
But he wanted to learn the habits of the animals, and the crawling creatures indicates his awareness of
their language and the part they played in the scheme their significant presence in the nature.
of nature. This shows that he was interested in the Corbett became the expert in searching tracks of
systematic study of wild animals. For this purpose, he the wild animals. Corbett had trained eyes to determine
Rajendra S. Ponde: Head, Dept. of English, Willingdon College, Sangli (MS) India.

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the specie, its size and its movements. He could easily He mentions that all sounds in the jungle enabled
identify the pug marks of different animals in the jungle, him to trace the movement of unseen animal in the
therefore, he provides an important information to his jungle. He says:
readers about the pug marks in the Chapter XI of Having acquired the ability-through fear-of being
Jungle Lore. He mentions that by close observation able to pinpoint sound, that is, to assess the exact
and position of the track one can decide the size, age, direction and distance of all sounds heard, I was
sex of a leopard. He also comments on tracks of the able to follow the movement of unseen leopards
herd of cheetal. Tracking the wild animals is an and tigers, whether when in the jungle by daylight,
interesting jungle activity. One needs long experience or in bed at night, for the situation of our home
to obtain this skill. Corbett became expert in this activity enabled me to hear all the jungle sounds (64).
and therefore he gives account of tracking wild animals Corbett observes the difference in the calls of
in Jungle Lore. Corbett assigns greater importance to animals and also of birds. He asserts that calling for
pugmarks in the study of wild life, without which, he different reasons is not to be found in the call itself, but
considers, the study is incomplete and unsatisfactory. in the intonation of the call. There is a difference
Jim Corbett explores wild life by using his knowledge between the bark of anxious mother recalling her young
of pug marks. In one of his jungle detective stories while one and the bark of the hind warning the herd of the
narrating an incident occurred at Sandni Ganga, near presence of human being. Corbett discriminates
Powalgarh Corbett reveals his subconscious recording between community calls, territory calls, protection calls
of the track. Due to the typical hard dusty clay surface, and courtship calls.
the road became record-book of all the animals that While giving account of the forest fire in Chapter
had used it during the night. Corbett states that these X of Jungle Lore. Corbett comments on the sounds of
details are subconsciously noted. He describes vividly birds and animals in the jungle. He observes that all the
movements of each and every animal on the track with birds in the Kumaonproduces orchestral music and
proper logical reasoning. He comments, melody to welcome new-born day. He appreciates song
On entering the jungle on the left the bear had of ‘Whistling Thrush.’ The presence of the tiger is
disturbed a sounder of pig and a small herd of mentioned by the collective alarm call of the peafowl.
cheetal, for they had dashed acrossed the road into Other animals in the jungle, a Kakar, sambhar and a
the jungle on the right (74). herd of cheetal warn the jungle folk about tiger’s
In the same way he describes movements of the presence. From these warning calls, Corbett concludes
porcupine, the hyena and a ‘four-horned’ antelope. His that, “The tiger quite evidently is returning home from
style of description is very simple and realistic; therefore, a kill and is indifferent as to who sees him” (103).
an ordinary reader understands it without any difficulty. Thus Corbett depicts the social pattern of wild
It is very remarkable that Corbett derived his own animals with the help of calls of the animals, which is
method of counting the number of animals in the herd part of their eco-system.
from the pug marks. Corbett explains it in the chapter Corbett learnt many aspects of animal behaviour in
XI of Jungle Lore. He says: his childhood owing to his surroundings. His early bird
This method of counting animals of any species, hunting expeditions brought him in contact with even
whether wild or domestic, will give accurate results larger and dangerous beasts like tigers. Corbett
for small numbers, say up to ten, and approximate therefore, collected a lot of information about them
results for greater numbers, provided the distance which he has revealed to his readers in Jungle Lore.
between the hind-and fore-feet is known (45). His conclusions on wild animal behaviour are based on
Like pug marks, Corbett emphasizes the significance very minute observation.Similarly Corbett uses his
of jungle sounds or calls of the animals in his works. childhood experience to describe the behaviour of
Corbett gradually realized the importance of systematic porcupines. He mentions that porcupine either defends
study of language of birds and animals. He therefore says: itself or attacks on its enemy by erecting its quills and
The next step was to make myself familiar with running backward. Corbett learnt this fact when his
the language of the jungle folk, and to learn to dog Magog chased one porcupine in the jungle. Here
imitate the calls of those birds and animals whose Corbett shows that the age-old belief that porcupines
calls are within the range of human lips and of a project or shoot their quills is based on ignorance.
human throat (51). Corbett has given very vivid account of the terrifying

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JIM CORBETT’S EXPLORATION OF THE WILD LIFE IN JUNGLE LORE 29

fight between the elephant and the pair of tigers at writers have recorded the actual movements of the
Tanakpur. Corbett comments on this incident as, “I do predators at the time of hunt. He says:
not think that the tigers, at the onset, had any intention It occasionally happens that when a heavy animal
of killing the elephant. The theory of an old vendetta, is brought to the ground the fall dislocates the neck,
anger at the killing of a cub and killing for food are not and it also occasionally happens that the neck is
convincing” (42). dislocated by the canine teeth of the assailant. When
Thus Corbett rejects any revenge motive behind the neck is not dislocated teeth, the victim is killed
this fierce battle as mentioned in the old vendetta. This by strangulation (44).
shows that Corbett knew about how tiger behaves in a Jim Corbett has his own opinions about the wild
particular situation. animals and he has expressed it with a conviction without
Similarly Corbett passes very remarkable comment paying any heed to public opinions. The common opinion
on the bears, “Bears are not habitual meat-eaters but about the Kakar or barking deer is that it is a mean and
they do occasionally kill, and not being equipped for a cowardly animal. However, Corbett argues that no
killing, as tigers and leopards are, their method of killing animal in the jungle can be cowardly when it lives in
is very clumsy” (44). the jungle with tigers. There is another age-old belief
Corbett gives an account of behaviour of monkeys related to the Kakar that it is an unreliable informant to
and their group activities. He also shows the difference the hunters in the jungle.
in the behaviour of langurs and red monkeys. Corbett His accounts of encounter with wild animals are
observes that the red monkeys become more aggressive thrilling, exciting, and adventurous. He has explored the
and bark collectively when they see a leopard. However, jungles, throughout his life. He has his own point of
only the leader and the oldest female member give the view and while giving account of the exploration he
alarm call in the group of langurs. depicts wild life as he sees it. One becomes closely
Corbett depicts accurately the gestures and the acquainted with the rich variety of wild life in India.
expressions of the monkeys in his jungle defective story. His lifelong experience of jungles seems to be an
Corbett describes how carnivorous animals kill their outstanding achievement to write with an authority on
victims. He observes that they mainly use their teeth. wild animals. He was familiar with the habits, habitats,
However, those animals who stalk their prey depends behaviour and environment and life system of the wild
on their claws not only to catch and hold it but sometimes animals. He had deep interest in acquiring systematic
to disable a victim before killing it with their teeth. knowledge of wild life which comes to an ordinary
Corbett frankly admits that despite his lifelong reader as fascinating treasure. With his excellent
experience in the jungles he is unable to describe the narrative skill, Corbett portrays animal world to make
movements of the predators at the time of contact with the readers familiar with it. In order to retain the curiosity
its victim.This shows that Corbett is very sincere and and strangeness of wild animals he avoids any kind of
truthful while giving any information about the wild exaggeration and glorification.
animals. References:
Corbett, further explains how big cats i.e. tigers [1] Corbett Jim. Jungle Lore Delhi: Oxford
and leopards bring down their prey without causing any University Press, 1990.
injury to themselves. He observes that usually the killers [2] Corbett Jim. Man-Eaters of Kumaon. London:
come up from behind or at an angle and with a single Oxford University Press, 1944.
spring or short rush holds the prey with their claws and [3] Booth Martin. Carpet Sahib: A Life of Jim
then instantly with great speed and power seize it by Corbett. London: Constable & Company Ltd.,
the throat. Thus Corbett records the skill of the predator 1986.
and provides very important and realistic information [4] Hawkins, R. E. (ed.) Jim Corbett’s India. Delhi:
about the hunting by carnivorous animals. A very few Oxford University Press, 1986.

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30 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 30-33.
Paper ID: 10012013008
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 23 Dec 2012. Paper accepted: 01 Jan 2013.

MEMORIALIZING THE AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURE:

A STUDY OF HURSTON’S MULES AND MEN
Megha Bharati

I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow philosophy of the white, Western culture (Wilson:
dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. 23).
I do not mind at all. I do not belong to the sobbing When discussing the strength of the groundwork
school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow of the African-American literature it becomes essential
has given them a lowdown dirty deal and whose to notice that the entire canon of writers rest their works
feelings are all hurt about it… No, I do not weep at on the customs, belief and traditions of the African
the world-I am too busy sharpening my oyster culture in lieu of any technology. Hurston also highlights
knife... (Hurston: 09). the cultural heritage and brings into notice that entire
That was Zora Neal Hurston-a writer who stands she has grown up with, about the black community.
amongst the pioneers in the African-American stream The struggles they face each day due to racial
of writing. She wrote these lines in 1928 and expected subjugation; the difficulties they fight socially,
all the people of her community to shape their own economically and politically. Hurston provides an
future, believe in their culture and transmit their assessment of the race and gender discrimination in
traditions. the lives of the black people. The black community has
She became the most successful writer of the first always been a sufferer and travelled a long way to
half of the 20th century. But many a times, because of acquire its present position.
her revolutionary thoughts Hurston had to face a lot of The best example of her efforts is Mules and Men
criticism and this came equally from the older writers published in 1935. It is a collection of folklore written in
as well as the younger age group. Richard Wright said two parts; Hurston has categorized the folktales as from
about her best seller Their Eyes Are Watching God Florida and from New Orleans. The first part of the
that the book was “counter revolutionary.” Judith Wilson work contains folktales from Florida and the second
wrote that Hurston’s greatest contribution was: part contains the folktales from New Orleans. Hurston
to all black Americans’ psychic health. The has given place to herself also in the linking of all these
consistent note in her fieldwork and the bulk of her tales. She plays an author who travels back to her place
fiction is one of celebration of a black cultural and tries to gather all the folk stories and put them in a
heritage whose complexity and originality refutes collection in order to make her culture known to others
all efforts to enforce either a myth of inferiority or and preserve it forever. The work is the actual thing
a lie of assimilation. Zora Neale Hurston had figured Hurston was doing. Hurston was always fascinated by
out something that no other black author of her time the folklores and this captivation is clearly found in her
seems to have known or appreciated so well-that works where she entwines the folk stories with her
our home-spun vernacular and street-corner fiction. Hurston is successful in the attempt as has
cosmology is as valuable as the grammer and included everything about her place and culture in Mules
Megha Bharati: Dept. of English, SSJ Campus, Almora (Kumaon University) Uttarakhand, India.

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MEMORIALIZING THE AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURE: A STUDY OF... 31

and Men. She has focused on the day to day life of the book contains her hard fieldwork. This research work
Afro-American men and women in an all black town; of Hurston later became the base for her other works
narrated the beautiful environment and the regular too, such as Jonah’s Gourd Vine which she wrote
discriminations. The many tales include the stories about soon after Mules and Men and also in Tell My Horse.
the good and bad, about nature, about belief and God, She also records her adventures during this research.
about the community, about myth and magic, about the She writes for the work:
spells and adventures, about the hoodoo in south, about When I pitched headforemost into the world I
nature and about animals. She shared her experience landed in the crib of negroism. From the earliest
of participating in the process of trying to get the “Black rocking of my cradle, I had known about the capers
Cat Bone”, of invisibility (272). The plots and characters Brer Rabbit is apt to cut and what the Squinch Owl
of Hurston have actually stepped out of the folk stories says from the house top. But it was fitting me like a
she had grown up with. tight chemise. I couldn’t see it for wearing it. It
The Afro-American folklores were always popular was only when I was off in college, away from my
even when presented by the white writers but the zenith native surroundings that I could see myself like
it reached depended on the contribution of Hurston who somebody else and standoff and look at my garment.
worked hard to put it in its proper social context. The Then I had to have the spy-glass of Anthropology
half-truth and lesser understanding and the dismal to look through at that (Hurston: 127).
portrayal by other writers infused the need of realistic The voodoo and hoodoo rituals are presented with
portrayal in the mind of Hurston. Hurston, right from great care. Hurston describes her experience of the
the time of slavery, made a genuine record of the history voodoo practice as follows:
of the blacks, their songs and sermons. As Hurston Kitty Brown is a well-known hoodoo doctor of New
was working on her next book, this time she did not Orleans, and a Catholic...when the matter of my
want to leave anything left out. What make the book initiation came up she said, in order for you to reach
much more interesting are the vivid and striking titles the spirit somebody has got to suffer. I’ll suffer for
she has provided to the chapters, for instance, you because I’m strong. It might be the death of
• Witness of the Johnstown Flood in Heaven; you… it was in October 1928 when I was a pupil
• How the Brother Was Called to Preach; of hers, that I shared in a hoodoo dance. This was
• How the Church Came to be Split up; not a pleasure dance but ceremonial…the hoodoo
• How the Preacher Made Them Bow Down; dance is done for a specific purpose. It is always a
• Why Negroes are Black; Why Women Take case of death? to the enemy that calls forth a
Advantage of Men; dance…I sat with my teacher in her front room as
• The Quickest Trick; the various cases were disposed of and it was my
• Why the Sister in Black Works Hardest; business to assist wherever possible such as running
• De Reason Niggers is Working So Hard; errands for materials or verifying addresses;
• What Smelled Worse; Kill the White Folks; locating materials in the various drawers and
• You Think I’m Gointer Pay You But I Ain’t; cabinets, undressing and handling patients writing
• How the Snake Got Poison; out formulas as they were dictated and finally
• How Brer Dog Lost His Beautiful Voice; making “hands”. At last of course I could do all of
Roger D. Abrahams says about the work, “Simply the the work while she looked on and made corrections
most exciting book on black folklore and culture I have where necessary (46-47).
ever read” (Boyd: 72). She further elaborates the description of the practice
Hurston travelled continuously from one town to by presenting the case of Rachel, who was betrayed
the other and kept recording what she faced and by her husband John. Their life was full of love and
discovered throughout in this work. This helped her in happiness until day before yesterday. All of a sudden
presenting the different original oral traditions of these her loving and faithful husband changed his colours and
places. Through this work she commemorates the Afro- brought in ‘their’ house another woman. He married
American culture. She studied anthropology at Barnard her and had all plans of grabbing the house and savings
University and this actually helped her in preparing this of Rachael. She was quite worried and came to Kitty
work of hers. Her being a student of anthropology has Brown for help. It was not easy to accept that a man
influenced this work more than being a novelist. The whom she loved so dearly and devoted her life to had

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actually abandoned her. She now wanted to destroy exhausted the bottle was pressed to his lips and he
the life of the man who had destroyed hers. She was danced on. But the fury of the rhythm more than
hurt and confused. When she could find no way out the stimulant kept the dancers going… Death was
she came to Kitty Brown so that she could help her in being continuously be sought to follow the footsteps
taking revenge on John. This was the African way of of John. There was no regular formula. They all
setting things in one’s favour. Here’s the conversation talked to him in their own way, the others calling
between them-Kitty said: out to the dancers to talk to him. Some of the
-A dance could be held for him that would carry postures were obscene in the extreme. Some were
him away right now but they cost something. grotesque, limping steps of old men and women.
-How much? Some were mere agile leapings. But the faces! That
-A whole lot. How much kin you bring me? is where the dedication lay (57).
-I got thirty-seven dollars. Hurston continues to tell about how the ritual is
-Dat ain’t enough. Got to pay de dancers and set completed and how deep is the impact of the voodoo.
de table (53). It is not only about the faith of the African people but
And then Hurston describes the preparation for the ritual also about how skillfully these rituals and customs have
which was going to be performed in order to influence been given by their ancestors to the younger generation.
everything in such a manner that Rachael could The transfer is so powerful and affecting that even the
overcome the destruction caused in her life due to her next generation of the African community will definitely
husband John’s activities. take pride in it.
We were kept very busy, for the dance was set ...when we sat about the table later, all agreed that
from ten to one the next day, those being bad Mother Kitty had done well to take me…death had
hours… The table was set with cake, wine, roast some of all the food placed before him. An
duck and barbecued goat… The food was being uncorked pint of good whiskey was right under his
finished off in the kitchen…promptly on the stroke nose. He was paid fifteen cents and remained on
of ten Death mounted his black draped throne and his throne until one o’clock that night. Then all of
assumed his regal crown. Death being represented the food before him was taken up with the tablecloth
by a rudely carved wooden statue bust length. A on which it rested and was thrown into the
box was draped in black satin and Kitty placed him Mississippi river… the person danced upon is not
upon it and set his red crown on. She hobbled back supposed to live more than nine days after the
to her seat. I had the petition and the name of the dance. I was eager to see what would happen in
man written on seven slips of paper? …As I had this case. But five days after John deserted his bride
been instructed, I said: “Spirit of Death take notice for the comforting arms of Rachael and she hurried
I am fixing your candles for you. I want you to to Mother Kitty to have the spell removed. She said
hear me.” I said this three times and the assembly he complained of breast pains and she fearfully
gave three snaps with the thumb and middle finger. afraid for him. So I was sent to get the beef heart
The candles were set upside down and lighted on out of the cemetery and John and Rachael made
the altar, three to the left of Death, three to the use of the new furniture bought for his bride. I think
right and three before him (54-55). he feared that Rachael might have him fixed, so he
Hurston was quite influenced and involved with the probably fled to her as soon as the zest for a new
entire procedure and shares she was eager to know wife had abated (58-59).
the results, though the excitement was just to start. She Hurston also has filled in the book with a good deal of
further writes about the ritual: humour and sarcasm. Along with the somber story of
…everyone was silent until Kitty was possessed. Rachael and John, she also tells the story of Minnie
The exaltation caught like fire. The clapping began Foster. Her story gives a unique humour and satire to
lightly, he circled the room then prostrated himself the work as she visits Kitty Brown several times so
before the altar and getting to his knees with these that her already settled love story could become more
teeth pulled one of the slips from the jaws of Death. strong and romantic. As Kitty herself tells Hurston that
He turned a violent somersault and began the dance Minnie was her best customer because she came to
not intricate but violent and muscle? …Plenty of her for all diminutive difficulties she had with her lover.
liquor was provided so that when one appeared When Kitty tried to know why Minnie came to her,

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MEMORIALIZING THE AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURE: A STUDY OF... 33

was she scared of her lover etc. then Minnie replied: Helped to remind the Renaissance…especially its
“No Ma’am I ain’t. but I love him and I just want to more bourgeois members…of the richness in the
make sure. Just you give me something to make his racial heritage; she also added new dimensions to
love stronger” (62). the interest in exotic primitivism that was one of
Minnie would love to do everything told by Kitty so the most ambiguous products of the age
that her love relationship could grow stronger. She was (Hemenway: 11).
very loving and funny; Rachael also was very loving Works Cited:
but sober, but the faith of both these characters in the [1] Baym, Nina (ed.), Zora Neale Hurston, The
voodoo had the similar depth. Norton Anthology of American Literature, 6th
Mules and Men is accepted as the most cherishable edition, Vol. D. New York: W. W. Norton and
work on Afro-American life and people. Hurston’s Co., 2003. Print.
attachment to her place, culture and community reflects [2] Boyd, Valerie. Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life
through each story. The collection shows how immersed of Zora Neale Hurston. New York: Scribner,
she was in the history of her community which has passed 2003. Print.
on to the younger generations through the oral traditions. [3] Claire, Crabtree. The Confluence of Folklore,
Alongside she also brings to the notice of her readers Feminism and Black Self-Determination in Zora
the subsidiary standing of woman in the community and Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching
culture in which she is so submerged. Besides being a God. Southern Literary Journal, Vol. 17, No.2,
collection to memorialize the Afro-American culture, spring, 1985. Print.
the book is also an account of the women who are [4] Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The Signifying Monkey,
strivers for emancipation and want to make a distinct Oxford. 1988. Print.
identity. She makes the best use of the folktales to share [5] Hemenway, Robert E. Zora Neale Hurston: A
how the men have always used these folktales to repress Literary Biography. Urbana, III: University of
women and how the women have used the same Illinios Press, 1977. Print.
folktales to fight back and make noticeable their [6] Hurston, Lucy Anne. Speak, So You Can Speak
identities. The work is the best example of the stories Again: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. New
of variance and resistance in the black community. York: Doubleday. 2004. Print.
Hurston has used the dialect very comfortably and [7] Jordon, Jennifer. Feminist Fantasies: Zora Neale
the culture and tradition of the black community is Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God.
portrayed in detail. Hurston has made proper use of Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature, Vol. 7,
the African traditions and values. The life of the blacks spring, 1985. Print.
in the South is wonderfully described. Hurston always [8] Neale Hurston, Zora. Their Eyes Were Watching
has believed and depicted this through her works that God. New York: University of Illinios Press,
literature and community can never be kept separately 1937. Print.
from each other-the bond stands as strong as the [9] Neale Hurston, Zora. Their Eyes Were Watching
marriage of two souls which ultimately unite as one. God. New York: Harper Collins, 2000. Print.
Her dedication to her community inspired many other [10] Neale Hurston, Zora. Their Eyes Were Watching
writers in future for instance-Alice Walker, Toni God: A Casebook. New York: Cheryl A. Wall,
Morrison, Gloria Naylor and many more. Even Chinua 1985. Print.
Achebe mentioned in his work Africa and Her Writers [11] Neale Hurston, Zora. Seraph on the Sewanee.
(1973) that the success of a writer is only accomplished New York: Harper Collins, 2000. Print.
when he writes with commitment for his country. Robert [12] Tate, Claudia, ed. Black Women Writers at
Hemenway has written about Hurston in the work, The Work. New York: Continuum, 1983. Print.
Harlem Renaissance Remembered that she:

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34 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 34-37.
Paper ID: 10012013009
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 10 Dec 2012. Paper accepted: 01 Jan 2013.

ALIENATION FROM FAMILY IN T. S. ELIOT’S THE FAMILY REUNION

Babasaheb N. Ravan
T. S. Eliot was one of the greatest of English poets gap. All were really happy to meet each other but
of the twentieth century. His genius was essentially unexpected happens. Eliot presents the disintegration
dramatic and there is a strong element of drama even of a family. Members of the family come together only
in his poetry. In the course of time Eliot concentrated to separate during the course of the same evening.
all his attention on poetic drama. He said that poetry The play opens in the drawing room of Lady
and drama are not two things but one and the same Monchensey’s country-house at Wishwood in north
thing, and at his highest moments he achieves a fusion, England. Lady Monchensey has invited her relatives to
rare even in the greatest dramatists, of poetry and celebrate her birthday, as well as to welcome home her
drama. The place of The Family Reunion in the eldest son, Harry who is returning after eight years.
development of English poetic drama is very important Her sisters, Ivy,Violet, Agatha and the two younger
and remarkable. It solved two of the important problems brothers of her deceased husband namely Charles and
which confronted dramatists of the twentieth century. Gerald have already arrived. There is also Mary, the
Firstly, it enabled them to go back to the ancient Greek daughter of a deceased cousin. But the family re-union
masters for inspiration instead of going to Shakespeare. is not complete, for Amy’s two sons, John and Arthur,
Secondly The Family Reunion is not a proper step in are waited for, but they never arrive. They are involved
the progress towards the ideal of expressing the in accidents and so are forced to stay away. The
unclassifiable emotions and motives of our subconscious, beginning of the play is very effective because it clearly
a part of life which prose drama is wholly inadequate presents that those family members are present, are
to express. not emotionally united. They are emotionally isolated
Eliot has concentrated on three major themes in from each other. They have lost their emotional bond
the play. First there is theme of sin and expiation and of love.
antonement for that sin through suffering. Secondly, Eliot presents in the play majority of the characters
there is the theme of the oneness of time, the continuity are unable to maintain relations with each other. They
of the past, the present, and the future, a theme which are completely failure to unite. They think negatively
constantly recurs in the works of Eliot. Thirdly, there is and wrongly. Because of this mentality of the characters
the theme of loneliness and isolation. they find it difficult to communicate with each other
In The Family Reunion,1 theme of alienation from and alienates from the other members of their family.
society, alienation from family and self-alienation is Amy, the old woman of Wishwood is a suffering
reflected. But the theme of alienation from family is woman though apparently she seems to dominate all.
very dominant in the play. Amy is eagerly waiting for the arrival of her three sons
The Family Reunion suggests that the play would for a family re-union on her birthday. Her eldest son
depict the coming together of a family, in a positive Harry is coming over for the first time after the gap of
sense the happy reunion of its members, after a long eight years and is also coming after his wife’s death.
Babasaheb N. Ravan: Asst. Professor, Dept. of English, Shripatrao Chougule Arts & Commerce College, Malwadi-Kotoli,
Kolhapur (MS) India.

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ALIENATION FROM FAMILY IN T. S. ELIOT’S THE FAMILY REUNION 35

Amy wants that Harry should forget his unhappy past, To keep me alive, and I live to keep them.
build a future life of happiness. She remembers her Amy wanted company, because she was dissatisfied
past. Life is changed rapidly and there is no assurance and frustrated with her marriage. She felt emotionally
of tomorrow. She is nervous and her nervousness is lonely and alienated, and so Agatha stayed with her to
expressed through her speech. Her thoughts are very provide her companionship she really needed.
important as far as the image of the family is concerned. Amy’s husband fell in love with Agatha. Amy knew
The purpose of Amy’s birthday is only to bring the family all this but she never opposed her husband. She has
members and relatives together. But all are not free suppressed her anger. After seven years her husband
and open-minded. They are trying to hide their world. left her, travelled abroad and faded out in solitude. When
Their world is full of doubt and jealousy. One notices in he died Harry was still a boy. Harry, Arthur, and John
the following dialogue between Amy and Agatha the were deprived from the love of their father. There is
indirect hint of the family alienation. one type of gap remained in their life. This gap of love,
Amy: This is a very particular occasion emotional bond is especially responsible for Harry’s
As you ought to know it will be the first time. psychological disturbance. Father and sons, husband
For eight years that we have all been together. and wife thus were separated from each other. Harry
Agatha: It is going to be rather painful for Harry says about his father:
After eight years and all that has happened. But now I remember
To come back to Wishwood. A summer day of unusual heat.
There is special significance for birthday party in The day I lost my butterfly net,
the play because it gives a special chance of the family I remember the silence, and the hushed excitement.
reunion. But this happiness is disturbed by Harry’s And the low conversation of triumphant aunts.
thoughts, and by the Arthur and John’s accident. It is the conversation not overheard,
Amy’s dominance is clearly reflected in the play. Not intended to be heard, with the side wise looks,
All family members always lived under her pressure. That brings death into the heart of a child
She is like a dictator, even to her children. For Harry That was the day he died.
Arthur and John she is like a strict mother. They never Amy has really struggled a lot for her family. There
argue wrongly with her because of her strict nature. are some faults of her nature, still one cannot forget
They are always afraid of her. She always expects her. She was completely frustrated and disappointed
pleasing from others. Because of her dominant nature as far as her husband, sons and relatives are concerned.
children are going away from her. Harry’s speech clearly Thus Amy and her sons are alienated from each other.
shows the exact psychology of the children about their Agatha’s speech throws light on the lack of
mother. communication between Harry and his mother:
Mother never punished us, but made us feel guilty I think it as well to leave Harry to establish.
I think that the things that are taken for granted. If he can, some communication with his mother.
At home, make a deeper impression upon children. When Amy knew that her husband was attracted
Than what they are told. towards Agatha, that time she was separted from her
Mother never punished them but made them feel husband. The death of her husband in an unknown place
guilty. As far as family atmosphere was concerned it clearly shows that he was frustrated and alienated from
was not healthy and free atmosphere, that give rise to family. No one was shocked after the death of her
the children’s severance from mother. Harry’s father husband. This shows the status/position of her husband
separated from Amy when Harry was small child. Amy’s in the family. The word respect has no value in their
own marriage was also a failure. Amy’s marriage failed family. As Agatha has pointed out Harry’s father, “hid
to give her the sense of love and belonging which every his strength beneath unusual weakness,/the diffidence
married woman expects from her husband. This of a solidary man.” Further Agatha says to Harry:
naturally makes her possessive and serious to preserve You see your mother as identified with this house….
at least the love, and loyalty of her own children. This It was not always so. There were many years
possessive, dominating temperament is seen in her Before she succeeded in making terms with Wishood.
attitude to Wishwood: Until she took your father’s place, and reached the
I keep Wishwood alive point where Wishood supported her, and she
To keep the family alive, to keep them together supported Wishood.

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36 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

At first it was a vacancy. A man and woman we notice that when he has learned of the rift between
Married, alone in a lonely country house together, his mother and father, he says: ‘Now I see/I might even
For three years childless learning the meaning of become fonder of my mother.../More compassionate
loneliness. at least ...by understanding./But she would not like that.’
Your mother wanted a sister here But what disturbs us is that, although his wife’s death
Always I was the youngest. I was then is the motive of his spiritual awakening remorse or
An ungraduate at Oxford. I come concern for her as a person never shows itself.”3
Once for a long vacation. I remember All members of the Monchensey family are under
A summer day of unusual heat a curse. They can’t escape from this curse. Character
For this cold country. of Harry speaks a lot for his alienation from his family.
The role of Harry in the play is very important Even Agatha knew that Amy is self-centered and
because his role shows how modern young man is egocentric. Even her love is selfish. She has seen Amy’s
frustrated and alienated from family. He is an over possessive and aggressive nature. Agatha is giving
emotionally isolated individual. He is almost like a company to Amy against her mind. Here Agatha is also
psychic case. Harry is compared with Hamlet, the very alienated from Amy. Mary is also disappointed and
symbol of isolation and alienation. His frustration, frustrated because she could not marry with Harry as
depression, nervousness, overtension and isolation result planned by Amy. She is thirty, and still unmarried. she
from his sense of guilt which constantly haunt’s him has also taken the decision to leave Wishwood and
and as a result which he suffers from deep spiritual devote her life to academic pursuits. Mary even fails to
anguish. Even he suffers from an inexplicable sense of adjust herself to the Aunts and Uncles of the play. She
sin which he is unable to communicate. Harry is completely deprived of family life. Curse on the family
experiences a great difficulty in communicating the was so strong that because of this marriage in the
inwardness of his experiences, the deeper sensibilities Monchensey family cannot succeed. Loneliness in
of his mind. In order to communicate his feelings to married life in The Family Reunion is the direct result
them he makes use of a figurative language: of the members alienation from their family.
I am not speaking Harry’s father’s past is indirectly continued in
Of my experience, but trying to give you Harry’s life. Harry wanted to kill his wife, just as his
Comparisons in a more familiar medium father in the past had wanted to kill his mother. Harry’s
I am the old house father was alienated from the family, like his father,
With the noxious smell and the sorrow before Harry is also alienated from his own family. Amy’s
morning speech clearly shows Harry’s wife’s views about
In which all past I present, all degradation family:
Is unredeemable She never would have been one of the family
Helen Gardner points out Harry’s alienation from She never wished to be one of the family
family in his book The Art of T. S. Eliot: She only wanted to keep him to herself
Conceived and brought forth in hatred not love, he To satisfy her vanity.
bears the sins of his parents at once their victim Harry’s situation is problematic because he did not
and their perpetuator, for he has been himself understand whether he killed his wife or not. He did
incapable of love Mary’s ‘ordinary hopelessness’ not like to see her leaning over the railing of the ship,
and his wife’s wretchedness are fruits of this sin, but because of the psychological pressure on his mind
his parent’s and his own , the sin of failure in loving. he thinks that he pushed her over. Harry was disturbed
He has to learn to love. He must go away into at not finding his wife there. His dipressed, suppressed,
solitude and silence, like the scapegoat, laden with and perplexing situation shows that he is alienated from
sin, driven out into the wilderness, so that years family.
later, or months... we do not know how long it may Harry is alienated from his mother Amy, his brothers,
60... he may find what ways of love are possible aunts and uncles. Amy remains isolated not only from
for him...2 Harry but also from other sons, John and Arthur. Even
David E-Jones has also talked on this, who says Ivy and Violet is also alienated from Harry and Amy.
that, “The lack of human warmth in Harry maybe In this way alienation from family is reflected in The
accounted for as part of the curse upon his family. And Family Reunion.

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ALIENATION FROM FAMILY IN T. S. ELIOT’S THE FAMILY REUNION 37

References: [2] Garder, Helen. The Art of T. S. Eliot. London:

[1] Eliot, T. S. The Family Reunion. The Complete The Cresset Press, 1949. p. 154.
Poems and Plays of T. S. Eliot, London: Faber [3] Jones, David. The Plays of T. S. Eliot. London:
and Faber, 1969. p. 288. Routledge and Kaghan Paul, 1963. pp. 113-114.

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38 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 38-41.
Paper ID: 10012013010
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 28 Nov 2012. Paper accepted: 20 Dec 2012.

PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF DAVID LODGE

Ms. Sangita Laxman Patil
Author of a considerable number of novels and the novelist tries to bring the features of the genre. We
works of literary criticism, David Lodge has attracted have the same locale, and the characters like Philip
a lot of attention from critics. Born in London in 1935, Swallow and Morris Zapp appear again after the gap
he taught in the English Department of the University of of ten years. Both these characters have their own
Birmingham from 1960 until 1987. He then retired in order stories again. Small World goes a step further. Now
to become a full time writer, but still lives in that city. we have a novel concerned with internalization of the
Lodge has written the novels The Picturegoers campus and a romance.
(1960); Ginger, You’re Barmy (1962); The British Mary Makepeace’s influence causes a kind of
Museum Is Falling Down (1965); Out of the Shelter awakening in Hilary, who now realizes how selfish Philip
(1970); Changing Places: A Tale of Two Campuses is in expecting her to travel all the way from Rummidge
(1975); How Far Can You Go? (1980); Small World: to Euphoria for his sake. Behind this request his actual
An Academic Romance (1984); Nice Work (1988); aims seems to be a symbolic rape that would re-enact
Paradise News (1991); Therapy (1996); Thinks (2001); his domination over his wife.
and Author, Author (2004). His work also includes two In Nice Work, we have Vic Wilcox and his wife.
theatre plays, namely The Writing Game, produced at Even though twenty-two-year marriage, the two have
the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1990, and Home made love only ‘in the missionary position.’ Wilcox is
Truths, which he transformed into a novella in 1999. active, while his wife behaves passively. Being used to
Nevertheless, Lodge is not only a talented creative his obedient wife, Vic becomes extremely furious when
writer, but also a significant literary critic. His critical Roby interferes with his business by warning Danny
works comprise Language of Fiction (1996), The Ram that he will lose his job soon. In a state of extreme
Novelist at the Crossroads (1971), The Modes of outrage he goes to her place where they quarrel fiercely,
Modern Writing (1977), Working with Structuralism a scene in which gender relations play an important
(1981), Write On(1986), After Bakhtin: Essays on role. Imagining how he rapes Robyn fills him with total
Fiction and Criticism (1990), The Art of Fiction satisfaction as he conceives it as a well deserved
(1992), The Practice of Writing (1996), and revenge for her feminist attitudes. In fact, Vic’s
Consciousness and the Novel: Connected Essays imaginary abuse of the young woman expresses his
(2002). He equally edited the anthology of literary theory wish to conquer the female body in order to maintain a
Modern Criticism and Theory (1988). The complexity patriarchal hierarchy.
of his work, situated somewhere between tradition and Critics and various feminists point out pornography
innovation, has made Lodge an author “hard to classify.” as one of the themes of Nice Work. Robyn Penrose,
With this perspective at the back of mind, let us see the young feminist lecturer, has a lot of interesting
Changing Places as an academic novel. experiences and she declares herself totally against
To begin with, it is to be noted that the novel is a pornography, which turns out to be at home in the
part of campus novel trilogy. Since it is a campus novel, factory she visits. There are two important pornographic
Ms Sangita Laxman Patil: Research Scholar, Shivaji University, Kolhapur (MS) India.

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PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF DAVID LODGE 39

aspects presented in Nice Work: that of the pin- exploitative it was’ and then ‘got interested in Women’s
ups hanging all over the factory and the fact that Liberation’ (CP, 33). Mary Makepeace was rejected
Shirley’s, Wilcox’s secretary, wants to have naked by men and women because she transgressed certain
photos of her daughter Tracey on a calendar. Tracey, ethical rules by refusing to behave according to the
the underage daughter of Shirley, Wilcox’s secretary, expectations of a patriarchal culture.
who is proud of the young girl’s promising body. Shirley Robyn Penrose, one of the main characters in Nice
not only encourages Tracey in her dream of becoming Work illustrates this type of woman, who consciously
a model, but also keeps boasting with photos of her refuses to confirm to the gender role attributed to her
daughter in underwear. Father is proud of her photo, behaving like men usually do. Penrose was interested
while the daughter is willing to show her body naked. in feminist theory and the study of the Victorian
Brian Everthorpe shares Shirley’s opinion. He tries to industrial novel. Penrose’s feminist preoccupation is
persuade Vic that a pornographic calendar depicting, in evident not only in her research, but also in her private
his words ‘birds with boobs’ would constitute a positive life. For example, her best friend Penny Black is said
advertisement for the company. We have the next to have been ‘converted to radical feminism’ during
picture of pornography of Marion Russell, one of Roby her studies in California (NW, 94). Apart from that,
Penrose’s students. Penrose shows no interest at all in keeping her house
The novel, Nice Work, shows that pornography is clean, which she justifies by stating ‘I have more
circulated by different institutions like the media, which important things to do than housework’ (NW, 153).
make money out of spreading it. Penrose is an independent woman, which is
Pornographic images of women are meditated not considered to be a male feature of character; this is
only on television but also in special magazines like the realm why Vic perceives her as a desexualized
Playboy, a magazine which generates a relevant incident humanbeing- ‘Chaste’.
for the discussion of gender in the novel Changing Even during her student years, she focuses not only
Places. The poor young girl is brutally beaten by her on her studies but also on her socio-political activities.
uncle who is her godfather. He did not tolerate her It was Charles who used to take care of the flat, as
reading pornographic books. Morris Zapp, who stays well as cooking. They lived under one roof for some
at her uncle’s home, is asked not to bring pornographic years. Later, they were separated. Charles proposes
magazines in the house any more. to her, but she flatly refuses for marriage.
The theme of home-bound woman figures in most Penrose is a fierce feminist who pretends to fight
of his novels. Such home-bound women are confined for equal rights with men, but she actually tries to reverse
to their homes, rearing up their children, bearing all kinds the gender roles taking herself the position of the stronger.
of sufferings. Like Penrose, Desiree Zapp in Changing Places
Therefore, Marjorie (Nice Work) and Hilary is an equally self-confident feminist who is aware that
Swallow (Changing Places, Small World) are the most men exploit women and who does not necessarily need
representative examples of female characters who a man in her life, either. Marrying Morris Zapp because
identify themselves with the gender role attributed to of an accidental pregnancy, she wants to divorce him
them by society. Both comply to the stereotype of the three years later on the ground that ‘[he] was a bad
home-bound woman who, having no ambitions of her influence on the children anyway, and as for herself
own, is confined to her role as wife and mother. she could never be a fulfilled person as long as she was
Contrary to these Home-bound women, we have married to him. As he cannot understand her decision,
several female characters who prove to be radical she explains:
feminists whose aim is to play themselves the usual ‘You eat me.’
roles of men. Interestingly, there are a few women who, ‘I thought you liked it!’
at certain moments, seem to be pending between the ‘I don’t mean that, trust your dirty mind, I mean
two poles, but they do not change exceedingly. psychologically. Being married to you is like being slowly
Changing Places provides the example of the swallowed by a python. I’m just a half-digested bulge
American Mary Makepeace who travels to England in in your ego. I want out. I want to be free. I want to be
order to have an abortion. Sitting next to Morris Zapp a person again’ (CP, 40).
on the plane, she tells him that she used to work as a Desiree feels suffocated by her husband, or, in other
topless dancer, but gave up because she realized how words, enchained by his dominating behaviour, she

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40 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

realizes that she is no longer a person as he sees in her Besides the traditional women who have no
a more extension of himself, which reminds us of ambitions of their own as they are totally dedicated to
Beauvoir’s ‘second sex.’ After finding out that his wife looking after their husbands and children thus identifying
has an affair with Philip Swallow, Morris Zapp tells themselves with their gender role in society, Lodge’s
Hilary Swallow that Desiree ‘hates men. Especially novels contain a number of female characters who are
weak-kneed men like her husband.’ He describes her interested in making a career themselves. Barbara
as ‘a ball-breaker’ adding that she eats men like Hilary’s Appleby in The British Museum Is Falling Down, and
husband for breakfast’ (CP, 235-236). Hilary Swallow in Changing Places as well as in Small
Robyn and Desiree are bold enough to pronounce World resemble in this respect: both are educated
words like ‘prick’ which is, in patriarchal terms, a typical women who give up postgraduate research for the sake
male behaviour as one reads in Nice Work that it is of their marriages. Unlike them, Desiree Zapp
men who use swear words in their language, but not in (Changing Places, Small World, Nice Work) starts a
front of a lady. Philip Swallow notices that, in America family and makes career, but finally divorces her
‘everybody, including Mrs. Zapp, was four-letter words husband. Only after the separation from Morris Zapp
all the time, even in front of their own children’ (CP, does Desiree become a well-known feminist novelist.
123). It seems that, as far as language is concerned, Robyn Penrose (Nice Work) belongs to the career
American women generally swear like men. conscious unmarried women who have found their way
Desiree Zapp’s affair with Philip Swallow in into novels since the end of the nineteenth century.
Changing Places is a significant illustration of the Penrose is successful in her academic field.
reversal of the gender roles. Living at her place, he is We notice in this theme that men can have a family
the one who prepares breakfast for both Desiree and and a career simultaneously; in the case of women one
her twin daughters. Desiree Zapp would like to take speaks of either family or career.
over the superior position that man has in the Western Violet is the second Catholic character in the novel
culture and transform the patriarchal society she lives to lose her virginity without being married. Seduced by
in into a matriarchy in which men should be exploited Robin, a university teacher of hers, she finally loses
by women. her self-esteem as she is aware of having committed a
Taking all this into account, Robyn Penrose in Nice mortal sin. Violet gets pregnant and, refusing Robin’s
Work and Desiree Zapp in Changing Places are both advice to have an abortion, she manages to persuade
feminists who prove to fight not for equality with men, him to marry her.
but rather for grasping themselves the power man enjoys Edward and Tessa are the next to be unable to resist
in a patriarchal order. In this context, the title of the temptation. At a later point in the novel, Dennis realises
novel Changing Places becomes symbolic in gender that sex before marriage gradually becomes something
terms, too. normal even to Catholics. The idea that fulfilling one’s
Marjorie, Vic Wilcox’s wife, represents the sexual needs can be a substitute for religion is conveyed
uneducated women of the society whose business is by other novels written by Lodge, too; for instance, both
only to look after children and house. Marjorie has Robyn Penrose in Nice Work and Helen Reed in Thinks
neither a wish nor a chance to make a career of her admit that their discovery of sex while being unmarried
own, but instead, she is content with her family. students put an end to their life as practicing Catholics.
However, although she has no idea about her husband’s The Picturegoers contains a very similar case:
affair with Robyn Penrose, she feels the menace of inside a convent the young Clare Mallory leads a lesbian
‘the ‘other woman’ who comes from outside to disrupt relationship with her good friend Hilda. Clare is expelled
the home’ and who is the mistress, the rival, the sexual from the convent on the ground that she lacks any deep
threat’ (Helena Michie, 57). It is this suspicion that makes vocation. Outside the monastery Clare starts going on
Marjorie find a new style of clothing and hair, try to lose with Mark Underwood, the student lodger at her
on weight through a diet and sport, and lie in the sun to family’s house. Falling in love with him, she realizes
get a tan. Marjorie’s efforts to save her marriage show that, although she continues going to Church, she no
that she cannot even take for granted her family in spite longer finds ecstasy when practising her religion, but
of all her sacrifices for it. In any case, the novel ends being with Mark makes her feel thrilled.
with a reconciliation due to Vic Wilcox’s Nuns sometimes leave the convent to get married,
acknowledgement of how important his family is to him. but it is a quest for erotic fulfillment that drives their

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PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF DAVID LODGE 41

action. In How Far Can You Go? The nun Ruth, [4 ] ---. How Far Can You Go? London: Penguin
who makes a journey to the United States of America, Books, 1981. Print.
receives from one of her mates a letter in which she [5 ] ---. Paradise News. London: Penguin Books,
clearly admits that she ‘left to get married, and not to 1992. Print.
anyone in particular’ (139). To her greater surprise, [6] Acheson, James. ‘The Small Worlds of Malcolm
Ruth hears another striking confession from Josephine, Bradbury and David Lodge, in: Acheson, James,
an American nun, namely that she sometimes ed. The British and Irish Novel Since 1960.
masturbates. Masturbation is also an alternative Adrian London: McMillan Academic & Professional
Brierley’s Parish priest proposes to him in order to forget Ltd., 1991. Print.
Poly’s leg which aroused his desire. [7] Bergonzi, Bernard. David Lodge. Playmouth:
The feminist assumption that patriarchy is supported Nortcote House, 1995. Print.
by violence against women can be exemplified with [8] Lambertsson Bjork, Eva. Campus Clowns and
Lodge’s novels, which, it must be repeated, usually make the Cannon: David Lodge’s Campus Fiction.
allusions to rape or incest fantasies that never find their Diss. of Umea, 1993. Stockholm: Almquist and
expression in the characters’ actions. Wiksell Int., 1993.
Works Cited: [9] Parsons, Gerald. ‘Paradigm or Period Piece?
[1] Lodge, David. A David Lodge Trilogy David Lodge’s How Far Can You Go? In
Changing Places Small World Nice Work. Perspective.’ Journal of Literature and
London: Penguin Books, 1993. Print. Theology, Vol.10, No. 2, June 1992, Oxford
[2] ---. The Picturegoers. London: Penguin Books, University Press, 1992. Print.
1993. Print. [10] Umunc, Himmet. ‘David Lodge’s Small World: A
[3] ---. The British Museum Is Falling Down. Mosaic of Intertexts.’ http://www.book
London: Penguin Books, 1981. Print. depository.co.uk./interview/with/author/david lodge.

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42 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 42-47.
Paper ID: 10012013011
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 20 Nov 2012. Paper accepted: 15 Dec 2012.

ENCULTURATION AND ACCULTURATION OF INDIAN SOCIETY IN

CREATIVE WORKS OF BASAVARAJ NAIKAR
Pramod A. Ganganmale
Writers of the world of all languages have marked culture, as it is said by many critics, are the essence of
the vivid importance of the annexure of culture and history, religions, cloths, language, cuisine, customs, and
literature. Literature is the reflection of life with its all traditions. Any human beings from his/her birth have to
dimensions and parameters. The human life is recorded, live into the society and society with the help of social
documented, and preserved through the letters and institution has to percolate and inject these socio cultural
every generation has the critical and comprehensive aspects of the life into a person.
picture of the past of human life through literature. Many List of writers, presenting the social and cultural
critics and writers have discussed a lot about the aspects of life into Indian English Literature, is vast
importance of ‘social relevance’ of literature. Social and may be stretched in every generation; generation
relevance as a term explores many dimensions of after generation present the social and cultural aspects
literature and its impact on the society. For example, of life with contemporary speciality of life. Culture as
literature bestows the culture, traditions, religion, a term has different aspects of its study: Culture,
customs, history, and a host of other things of society. material culture, non material culture, cultural
As Joseph Conrad says, “Fiction is history, human materialism, Marxism and Culture and a host of other
history or it is nothing” (21). Social and cultural reality cultural terms are used into the literature to probe into
of the society is percolated into the literature and future creative works to find out the cultural issues which are
generations can bore into this percolated water of discussed into a particular creative art. Enculturation
culture to get this. As Conrad observes, “Social reality and acculturation are one of the important terms of
is the matrix out of which comes the host of human cultural anthropology which are used to study the
ideas and sensations. These in turn are cast into the cultural aspects of human life. The postcolonial literature
furnace of the artist’s imagination; and transform into especially the writings of Black writers, Indian writers
the rarest metal free of all dross and scum” (4). and writers from the third world present this process of
Society and culture are the two sides of a same multicultural societies after the amnesia of culture.
coin and literature without society and social and cultural Enculturation and Acculturation are the important
milieu is incomplete. The relationships of human beings factors of modern cultural theories which study the
with each other, relations of human beings with animals, accepting, learning, having culture and different cultural
and nature are depicted and counted and ruled in cultural ethos in the society. There are many cultural studies in
theories. Literature presents these all things which study the modern scenario of different social and literary
and probe into the cultural representation of the society. fields. Literature is the mirror of society and as mirror
Social and cultural dimensions include the socio-cultural, reflects the true or real picture of the object literature
socio-educational, socio-economical, socio-historical, represents the real and vivid picture of society in it.
and socio-religious aspects of the life. Society and Thus it meets different social and social anthropological
Pramod A. Ganganmale: Asst. Professor, Dept. of English, KBP College, Urun-Islampur (MS) India.

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status of the society. Anthropology studies all dimensions the twelfth century through his depiction of socio-
of human life and cultural anthropology studies different cultural kaleidoscope of Indian society. His literary
aspects of culture and its implications in different social works cover the socio-cultural aspects of Indian life
sciences and humanities. from the twelfth century to the contemporary life. He
This paper intends to study with analysis, evaluation, covers the lives of saints, kings, social reformists,
and assessment the different aspects of the enculturation freedom fighters, and thinkers of different religions,
and acculturation of Indian society in creative works of conflicts of different religions, and the discrimination
Basavaraj Naikar. To study this writer and his creative of caste, religion, and other aspects. He also handles
works according to the norms of enculturation and the colonial conflicts between Britishers and Indians.
acculturation, this is the prime object to have the details He observes the post independent Indian social life with
dimensions of these two terms. The following are the the impact of colonial features, European traits of life.
important and essential norms, dimensions and Indian society is the amalgamation of various
parameters of enculturation and acculturation. The cultures according to the peoples’ religion, caste, region,
concepts of enculturation and acculturation are defined and other identities. Several religions, Hindu, Muslim,
by dictionaries like The New International Webster’s Buddha, Parsi, Christian and Punjabi, have their micro
Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language. cultures in a one cosmic culture, which is named in the
According to this and a few other dictionaries the world as Indian culture. India is ruled by many rulers
characteristics of these concepts are: such as Muslims, Mughals, Dutch, French, and British;
Enculturation: these rulers not only expanded the boundaries of their
1. The process whereby individuals are conditioned kingdoms in India but also injected their cultural and
by, adjusted to, and integrated with the cultural social ways of life in the society and culture; it affects
norms prevalent in the society of which they are in creating Indian society from one ethnic cultural group
members. to multicultural society. Naikar depicts this process of
2. Enculturation is the process by which a person learns multicultural formation of Indian society in a few
the requirements of the culture by which he or she centuries and bestows the complexes of primary or
is surrounded, and acquires values and behaviours mother culture and target culture or second culture.
that are appropriate or necessary in that culture. Naikar also has the groups, peoples, villages, and
Parents, other adults, and peers trained the individual religious groups which effort to keep the cultural identity
and child acquires the competence in the language, and fights to establish their norms of social life. People
values, and rituals of the culture. reject the culture of rulers and colonial encounters of
3. It is also called socialization of the child in the limited cultures are depicted in his works. He has written three
space of culture and atmosphere. novels, three collections of short stories, one drama,
Acculturation: and one collection of novellas.
1. The modification of culture traits induced by Naikar moves around the following features of
contacts between peoples having different ways enculturation and acculturation of Indian society through
of life: culture change. his creative works. These features are discussed in
2. Acculturation is the process in which a person learns some dictionaries and articles. He through his creative
the norms, values, and other behaviour patterns of works presents the Indian and specially the Karnataka
another culture in which he or she is not born. Here, culture and social milieus. Enculturation includes the
a person is accepted to acquire the different cultural dimension of learning of mother culture. To learn mother
patterns of another culture which may be his culture is the primary process of enculturation and to
professional or any other need. meet this, every society has developed certain
3. Immigrants, refugees, and indigenous people in mechanisms to teach a pupil his or her mother culture.
response to their contact with the dominant majority India, as the primary culture of the world, has different
learn the culture of dominant majority. mechanisms to teach different cultural patterns to a
Naikar, ennobling literary figure in the last decade child. Naikar, through his books, discusses this all cultural
of twentieth century Indian English Literature and first institutions through which a child acquires the cultural
decade of twenty first century literature and who was competencies. The Rebellious Rani of Belavadi and
shortlisted for Commonwealth Fiction Prize for Eurasia Other Stories is the celebrated short story collection
in 2000, covers the Indian socio-cultural history from of Naikar, in which, he presents different cultural

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institutions which percolate different cultural norms Sharif Saheb, Kanakadasa, and Jakkana are three
among children. Queen Mallamma, as a child, learns heroes of three different novels and novellas of Naikar.
different norms of behaviour, cuisine, clothing, and These people were rejected the education in
language at her childhood. Her mother takes care to contemporary society. But enculturation also comments
teach each and every important thing to her daughter on the revolutionary aspects of that society. These three
which shapes the character of her daughter, as a heroes are the revolutionary characters in Naikar’s
cultured and mannered person. The details of culture works that rejected the traditional system of education
transmission from one generation to next generation and learn the languages and literatures which were
are explained through following lines: rejected to them. Caste barriers are the hurdles of
Although Mallamma could easily outshine the boys development and this approach of development and
in military heroism, she never neglected the humanity is presented by Naikar through the above
traditional family discipline. She had great reverence characters. These characters overcome the problem
for her parents. Every day, she used to get up early of caste discrimination and divisions. John Joseph
in the morning along with her elder brother, complete observes: “While recognizing the need for the universal
the morning ablutions and have bath and render holy brotherhood of society as a whole, they have overcome
service to Lord Siva and the bhel tree. She would the shackles of their religious castes and communities
go round the tree for five times and prostrate it. to find out acceptable parameters that could contribute
After the holy service, she used to go to the kitchen, positively to the fundamental principles of it” (525).
cook two dishes, serve food to her father and Thus enculturation process of education can be seen
brother and finally have her own lunch with her on different levels in creative works of Naikar.
mother. This was her daily timetable (4-5). Religion is an important institution in any society
The above details of the daily routine of a girl show transmitting the values, and principles of a cult in a
the percolation and transmission of culture among coming generation. Religion plays a progressive and
children in Indian society. A child has to participate into pedagogical role in Indian society. There are many
different works at home and outside the home according religion values, principles, and rituals in India ehich make
to the rules and mores of Indian society. Enculturation it a multi religious land. Diversity of Indian society has
includes the teaching and acquiring the mother culture different religions in it. Many people living in each others’
of a child. vicinity can follow different religious principles.
Education system of a particular society also Enculturation, as a method of learning mother culture,
comprises the enculturation process through which a includes this religious teaching and learning on both the
child learns different things. Language, literature, and level individual, family, and society. In every family, child
a host of other things are taught to children by modern acquires different religious teaching by observing and
education system but traditional education system used participating in the religious rituals and by hearing
to teach some other things to pupil. Military education, different religious sermons and programmes. Naikar
religious education, and a few other kinds of knowledge presents these religious rituals in detail in his works
were taught to students in traditional education system. and explains every detail of every ritual in a society.
Naikar has full details of this traditional Indian education Religious rituals include the programmes from naming
system in his creative works. Queen Mallamma, her ceremony to death ceremony. When a child is born in a
brother, Queen Kittur, Rayanna, Raja Malasaraja, family it gets some religious teaching. Then, it has to
Jayadeva, Kanakadasa and a few other characters bring participate in different religious programmes from
forward the traditional Indian education system for childhood to death. The life of Indian people is
readers in which they used to learn the theory and surrounded by these religious programmes. Mallamma,
practical at a time. the Queen of Kittur, Light in the House, and a few
The traditional educational system has a drawback other stories are full of religious rituals. Mallamma as a
of caste basis according to which a group of lower daughter, wife, queen, and a mother follows different
community was deprived of education and civilized religious principles. All stories and characters follow
systems and benefits of society including religious, the religious atmosphere and try to keep themselves on
education, justice, and equality. The education system the line of religion. Secularism, Humanity, Brotherhood,
used to practice the caste approach in it. Many and Peace are some other values of religion in India.
characters of Naikar were rejected to get education: People learn these values from childhood. Mallamma,

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as a queen, brings back the cows of the farmers, acquire the other cultures may be immigrants, migrants,
Chennamma gives money to build a mosque in her and minority groups who learn the culture of dominant
kingdom, King Sivaji and Mallamma have the soldiers majority.
from different religious background in their army, and Naikar, the historical novelist, presents the colonial
Kalpana and Rajsekhar follow the doctrines of true and post colonial conflicts of different groups in India.
humanity, Sharif Saheb proved the doctrine of He also covers the cultural encounters of Britishers
secularism by getting the education by a Brahmin and Indian people, as well as, the possession of other
teacher; all these examples established the enculturation cultures by Indian people through the industrial revolution
of religious values by a child. Bhagabat Nayak observes and other social contacts of people.
in this regard: The story of Kanakadasa is the first encounter of
Through his (Naikar) restless creative passion and different cultures in India which shows the cultural
with his zeal of a reformist he presents the characters conflicts of different cultural ethos and how people
in the Indian situation and sensibility with their loss of acquire different social and cultural positions in society.
values in life. His characters are typically Indian in Kanakadasa, as the member of lower caste, is not
their sense of values and concerns, and cannot be allowed to learn the alphabets and to attend the religious
separated from the mainstream of Indian life. functions of Hindu and Lingayat religion. He was not
Thematically his stories are based on the Indian themes, allowed to sing and compose the songs and Bhajan of
and deal with the social and family matters (33). god, because it is supposed the work of upper castes of
Thus religion in India has true sense of secularism the society. But, Kanakadasa, overruling the norms of
and other values and through the process of traditional social rules, learns different languages of
enculturation a child gets all these ethos of religion in India and does all the works which were not allowed to
home, vicinity, temple, and school. him. This process of acculturation overcomes the
Culture embraces arts, cuisine, cloths, folk arts, and problems of caste discrimination in India and this
language mainly in its area. Culture keeps the acculturation process is accepted and praised by
parameters of these things and cultural programmes, different social anthropologists and social scientists. The
institution, and other mechanisms transmit these cultural story of Kanakadasa reveals the worse tradition of
parameters among a child. Different cultural Indian caste system and tries to remedy it. O. P. Mathur
programmes preserve the history of a society. Naikar, observes:
through his works, bestows different cultural These virtues and beliefs are some of the
programmes at house, school, public places, and temples foundations of our value-system which inspires
where the process of enculturation is naturally practically all the stories of Basavaraj Naikar
happened. The works are full fairs, marriage festivals, directly or tangentially through a fermentation
naming ceremony, death ceremony, and engagement, caused by the interaction, sometimes a confrontation
music, Bhajan, songs, folk songs, folk arts, and local between the individual and the traditional or
arts of south Karnataka life. Kanakadasa enlights people contemporary social conditions, practices and
through his folk arts and Bhajan and appeals them to channels of thought. Regardless of whether the
overcome the problems of caste and religious individual may be victorious or vanquished, the
discrimination. The local colour of culture is spread values suggested are indelibly impressed upon the
throughout the works of Naikar. reader (42).
Thus the enculturation process of Indian society This analysis of the acculturation process which is
through the primary institutions like family, marriage, achieved by Kanakadasa may be seen in other stories
religion, and education is developed. Naikar presenting of Sharif Saheb, Jakkana, and Adivesha. These people
different cults and ethos of society through the historical are also rejected by a dominant culture to get knowledge
characters of Karanataka presents these all minor and and to have the civilized identity of Indian. But they
major process of enculturation through his works. overcome the problem by successfully doing the process
Acculturation is another dimension of modern of acculturation.
cultural theories which studies the process of learning This positive acculturation breaks the walls of
other cultures. It comprises the contact of different discrimination of caste, gender, religion, and region
cultures, their conflicts, learning norms, values, and which may develop any society in true sense of equality,
behaviour pattern of another culture. The people who religion, and democracy. Gandhi says, “Men will no

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doubt do many other things either through their bodies of the story, Girija rejects the proposal of her parents
or through their minds, but all this will be labour of love and decided to live in her husband’s house with her
for the common good. There will then be no rich and parents in law and to live the life as the widow of
no poor, none high and none low no touchable and no Rajasekhar. Here, in this story, Rajasekhar represents
untouchable” (56). This dream of equality and the so called urban life where people do not care about
brotherhood will be achieved through the process of the cultural values of Indian life and they are ready to
acculturation in which people allow others to have the compromise with certain foreign proposals of life, where
basic rights of human beings and break the traditional they have to roll out the Indian cultural values. O. P.
walls of discrimination. Mathur observes:
Another aspect of acculturation is the forced The intended contrast between the essentials of the
cultural learning or teaching. People compel other two cultures seems to have been carried a little too
people to learn their cultural norms or the force of their far, at least with regard to the portrayal of certain
culture compels others to learn the norms of others. actions of the two major characters, whose conflict
The modern theorists of culture call it ‘cultural policing.’ with the cultures of the Western and the Indian
This learning of others’ culture may be seen in historical societies respectively, does not every where seem
novels of Naikar where the Mughals and Britishers to have a genuine ring (43).
compel Indian people to learn and accept their cultural Girija becomes the symbol of sacrifice, affection,
values and ethos. When Raja Mallasarja was in the and religious life of Indian society, where her husband
prison of Mughals he was compelled to eat meat and becomes the symbol of polluted life of Indian youth,
other non veg meals though he was religious vegetarian. who are ready to leave and to play some illegal and
Thus religious encroachment may be seen in some other material tricks with their life partners like wife, brother,
stories like Bhaskararao, Chennamma, and Rayanna. father, and a host of others. Naikar, through this story,
Bhaskararao was compelled to eat the meat, which he depicts the twentieth century elite social problem in
rejected, by Britishers when he went to meet them. India. The educated youth is not taking care of wife,
Willing acculturation process is slow mechanism mother, and father because they migrate to developed
where a few cultures live together and people learn the countries like USA and UK to make their career and to
cultural norms, ethos, and festival of each other. India earn best facilities of life while they forget their duties
is a multicultural state, in which, many regional, religion, towards their parents and life partners. The story of
and caste cultures live together because there is much Girija pours in analysis of women’s place in Indian
diversity. Contemporary short stories of Naikar include society. She has to carry the values and principles of
this cultural amalgamation of people and reveal the Indian society and culture.
multicultural setting of Indian society. “Her Husband Apart from these major acculturation processes,
Went to America”, short story of Naikar, has the there are some minor incidents too which explain the
multicultural setting where encounter of western and acculturation process, for example, a married girl goes
Indian culture may be seen. This is the married life to her husband’s house and has to adjust a new cultural
story of Rajasekhar and Girija. Rajasekhar represents background; she has to leave her traditional cultural
the urban life or particularly the modern civilized life behaviour patterns and has to accept new culture of
and his wife is the symbol of Indian village and cultural her husband’s house, village, state, or some time religion
woman. The story explains the marriage ceremony of or caste. When people immigrant to new places for
Rajasekhar and Girija with the major and minor details employment, education, or for other reasons they have
of the marriage. How the rituals keep away the bride to practice the new cultural patterns of cuisine, cloths,
and groom from each other. Writer captures the greetings, and festivals which may be seen in the stories
psychological and mental movements of newly married like “A Chronic Patient Became A Doctor,” “She
couple. After some days, Rajasekhar went to America Wanted a Child,” “Coffin in the House” etc. The
to complete his education and did not come back to his narrator in “A Chronic Patient Became A Doctor” is a
nation and does not accept his wife as wife, but cunningly student of university where he has to come for service
he got signed the divorce papers by Girija and marries and to complete his research work of PhD. There, he
there in America with another girl. Girija’s parents ask faces many problems of research which are raised by
Girija to come back to live in their house or remarry to his guide and other circumstances. He adopts the
someone and to live another happy life. But at the end campus culture which was unknown to him. He makes

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changes in his behaviour according to the demands of [2] ---. Light in the House. New Delhi: Authors
university campus and higher education culture. Press, 2006. Print.
Thus, different forms and natures of acculturation [3] ---. The Queen of Kittur. New Delhi: Authors
and enculturation which are encountered in creative Press, 2009. Print.
works of Naikar shows the changes in Indian [4] ---. The Thief of Nagarhalli and Other Stories.
civilization for a few centuries together. Bhaskararao, New Delhi: Sarup and Sons, 1999. Print.
Hindu King, who rejects the meat, is the symbol of [5] ---. The Rebellious Rani of Belvadi and Other
Indian culture in nineteenth century and the Boss, the Stories. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and
officer who is Hindu, in “The Spider’s Web” demands Distributors, 2001. Print.
the meat and wine to pass the bills and to sign the [6] ---. Rayanna: the Patriot and Other Novellas
papers is the symbol of Indian culture in twentieth (in the press).
century. The process of acculturation inculcates the [7] Agarawal B. R., and Sinha. Major Trends in
habits of eating meat among Indian people which may the Post-Independence Indian English Fiction.
be seen in a few stories in relation of education, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors,
festival, culture, cuisine, cloth, language, and a host of 2003. Print.
others. Naikar covers the changes in Indian culture [8] Chandra N. D. R., et al. (Eds) The Works of
and cultural responses in last five centuries in India. Basavaraj Naikar:Critical Perceptions. New
He shows the changed habits of the people due to Delhi: Sarup Book Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2010.
education, civilization, cultural amalgamation, foreign Print.
rules, industrialization, and urbanization of Indian [9] Sarangi, Jaydeep. (Ed.) Voice of India: Critical
people. Essays on Basavaraj Naikar. New Delhi: Sarup
Works Cited: Book Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2009. Print.
[1] Naikar, Basavaraj. The Sun Behind the Cloud. [10] ---. (Ed.) Basavaraj Naikar: Trends and
New Delhi: Atlantic Publisher and Distributors, Techniques. New Delhi: GNOSIS Publishers of
2001. Print. Educational Books, 2008. Print.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 48-51.
Paper ID: 10012013012
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 27 Dec 2012. Paper accepted: 10 Jan 2013.

COLONIAL AND POSTCOLONIAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN

‘KARMA’ AND ‘THE CONVERT’
Anil N. Dadas
Colonialism is the process of settlement by terms of their native values, indigenous use of language
Europeans in countries like Asian, African, American, and retheorizing of literature and culture. Postcolonial
Australian etc. Colonization often destroyed native theory explores how colonial ideology, strategies of
cultures and produced new hybrid forms out of it. It representation, and racial prejudices are coded into the
can be seen as a powerful mode of exploitation based literary texts. In postcolonial studies, colonialism-
on the difference in race, culture, forms of knowledge, exploitation of backward or weak peoples by a large
technical advancement and political systems. A good power – has a clear pejorative meaning with oppression,
example of the cultural dimension of colonialism would inequality, racism and exploitation. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth
be the role of the English in India. There is direct or Griffiths and Helen Tiffin defined ‘postcolonial literature’
indirect impact of the English on the natives in general as:
and the Indian in particular. The present paper aims at We use the term ‘post-colonial’ ...to cover all the
analyzing and tracing the colonial and postcolonial cultures affected by the imperial process from the
consciousness in the short stories ‘Karma’ and ‘The moment of colonization to the present day. This is
Convert’ by Khushwant Singh. because there is a continuity of preoccupations
Colonial consciousness is an important aspect of throughout the historical process initiated by
the literary preoccupations of many novelists and short European imperial aggression. We also suggest that
story writers. They are well known for their creation it is most appropriate as the term for the new cross-
of their both Indian and British memorable characters cultural criticism which has emerged in recent years
in English literature. They have represented the relative and for the discourse through which this is
merits and demerits of the manners and cultural patterns constituted (qtd. in Nayar: 12, 1989:2).
of the East and the West. The theme of ‘colonial Postcolonialism seeks to understand how
consciousness’ may be found in almost all literatures oppression, resistance, and adaptation occurred during
such as American, African, Australian, Caribbean, colonial rule. Both the stories ‘Karma’ and ‘The Convert’
Indian etc. It is a hierarchical system of interdependent by Khushwant Singh are the best examples of it.
variables and constants-racism, a constant is at the The story ‘Karma’ is a ridiculous story of Indian
centre. The other variables are the historical past people who disowned their own people in the days of
forming confusion of group and individual identities, the Raj, and aped their British masters. Sir Mohan Lal
colour prejudice, a caste or class system. is the representative of those Indians. He is always
Postcolonial literature addresses the issues of westernized and imitates them artificially:
political and cultural independence of the ex-colonized He wanted everything ‘tickety-boo’ and orderly. In
countries. It is a discourse that seriously takes into his five years abroad, Sir Mohan had acquired the
account the emerging identity of postcolonial people in manners and attitudes of the upper classes. He
Anil N. Dadas: Head, Dept. of English, Dahiwadi College, Dahiwadi (MS) India.

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rarely spoke Hindustani. He was fond of ‘Keep yer ruddy mouth shut!’ And Jim struck Sir
conversation, and like a cultured English-man he Mohan flat on the face (12).
could talk on almost any subject-books, politics, The word ‘nigger’ is an offensive term for Negro
people. How frequently had he heard English people which means “slave”. So we have racial discrimination
say that he spoke like an Englishman! (10) between man and man. Indians are outcasts to British.
Being educated and due to the impact of Again there is power relation. The British have shown
imperialism, Sir Mohan Lal doesn’t like his illiterate wife. that they are superior to Indians. The soldiers have to
He didn’t want to live for a long time in the company of travel by second class but by race they are supposed to
Lachmi, his wife. The author narrates: be superior. Though Sir Mohan Lal wanted to welcome
Her husband never had any time to spare for her. them, English soldiers threw him out. It shows how
She lived in the upper storey of the house and he relation between men is governed by racial
on the ground floor. He did not like her poor illiterate discrimination. His misplaced friendliness gets rudely
relatives hanging about his bungalow, so they never shaken when calling him nigger and throws him out of
came. He came up to her once in a while at night compartment. English soldiers have dual power i.e.
and stayed for a few minutes. He just ordered her white race supremacy and as British rulers. Soldiers
about in anglicized Hindustani, and she obeyed are able to overpower the educated Sir Mohan Lal inspite
passively. These nocturnal visits had, however, borne of the title ‘Sir’.
no fruit (9). The colonized mind of Mohan Lal continues to live
Lachmi, on the other hand, tolerates the situation with self-satisfied till the end of the story. The India’s
passively and lives life happily. She doesn’t bother about colonial mentality is found in him. He is also
the absence of her husband. She has respect for her representative of anglicized Indians who imitate the
husband: manners and attitudes of the British upper class. Thus,
He travels first class. He is a vizier and a barrister, a colonial’s personality (as suggested by O Mannoni)
and meets so many officers and Englishmen in the develops solely in accordance with its own inner
trains -and I am only a native woman. I can’t structure. Sir Mohan Lal is the representative of egoistic
understand English and don’t know their ways, so I husbands who try to dominate wives. Two English
keep to my zenana inter-class (9). soldiers (COLONIZERS) represent the power over
She is portrayed as an assertive and submissive kind of colonized people. In short, it explains the complete
woman. Though both are native and married, there is dehumanization of the native under colonialism.
class difference between them. The end of the story The story ‘The Convert’ depicts the transformations
tells us the effects of having such kind of relation due to gossip in the life of human beings and its effects.
between wife and husband. For the colonized woman It is remarkable for gender relations as well as breaking
like Lachmi, the double bind of colonialism and up of the stereotypes. Different dimensions of the
patriarchy represses her completely. relations at various levels such as man-woman, man-
Secondly, the story focuses on the relationship man and woman-woman are presented in this story.
between man (West) and man (East). Sir Mohan Lal The author presents both positive as well as negative
was alone in the first-class compartment. He wanted views very successfully. Sarla Sethi, the central figure
to have an impressive conversation with the Englishman. of the story is proactive and bold. She is playing the
Two English soldiers (COLONIZERS) walked towards cards with her husband and others. When her husband
his compartment. Sir Mohan decided to welcome them. doesn’t pay attention she asks ‘will you pay attention
Both the soldiers came up and looked at Sir Mohan: to the game!’ Even she flings her cards in her husband’s
‘Get the nigger out,’ he muttered to his companion. face. It is a deviation from the feminine stereotype.
They opened the door, and turned to the half-smiling, Sarla also represents feminine point of view. Though
half-protesting Sir Mohan. she has changed herself and loved all, at the end of the
‘Reserved!’ yelled Bill. story she gives a slap to her sister-in-law without
‘Janta-Reserved. Army-Fauj,’ exclaimed Jim, interacting with her. The author shows another side of
pointing to his khaki shirt. her personality and how two women quarrel each other.
Ek dum jao-get out!’ There is dominance of racism. Sarla prefers white
‘I say, I say, surely’, protested Sir Mohan in his race supremacy. She doesn’t like Indian woman in
Oxford accent (11). contrast to white woman. If there is Indian woman she

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50 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

has to dismiss her. On the other hand, she is more which constructs the images of women. The story has
courteous to a white woman. ‘She actually preferred portrayed images of women in a stereotypical way
to mix with the English rather than her own countrymen.’ where women are shown to be naïve, quarrelsome,
Colonized minds like her cannot resist colonial unreasonable and impulsive. The character of Mrs
subjugation because they are taught to believe ‘British Moore although not embedded any of these
superiority and, therefore, in their own inferiority’ characteristics still fits the stereotype of women as
(Tyson: 421). Sarla plays cards with Robinsons but hates peace loving characters or peacemakers. The place
Pakistan because she loves her own country. She has assigned by Homi K. Bhaba to stereotypes in his theory
misconceived notion of patriotism, nationalism and she of colonial discourse is also noteworthy. He says:
tries to get out of it. Becoming angry, Sarla flung her It seeks authorization for its strategies by the
cards in her husband’s face. It can be described in the production of knowledge of colonizer and colonized
words of Edward Said “aggressive sense of nation, which are stereotypical but antithetically evaluated.
home, community and belonging” (1991:12). The objective of colonial discourse is to construe
Most of the colonizers had the desire to “civilize” the colonized as a population of degenerate types
or “cultivate” the indigenous people they encountered. on the basis of racial origin, in order to justify
Mrs Moore is one of them. She is shown as a woman conquest and to establish systems of administration
struggling for reconciliation. She brings about and instruction (1994:70).
reconciliation between Sarla and her sister-in-law who At least Mrs Moore’s character is in the position of
have quarreled two years ago. Positive attitude of the making an impact, even a positive impact. As a part of
author is seen through the character of Mrs Moore the ‘civilizing mission’ of the British, the colonial authority
towards women. The attitude of the male characters is Mrs Moore took it upon herself to educate local/native
patriarchal. Both Mr Sethi and Mr Ali do not take people in English. Sarla Sethi’s character emerges as
women seriously. They consider women as an object most vulnerable initially, to the feelings of anger and
of ridicule. Their behaviour is patriarchal. Mr Sethi hatred then subsequently to the desire for overcoming
doesn’t pay attention to what Sarla says while playing anger and hatred and finally to the insensitivity of
cards. Mr Ali also doesn’t take seriously what Sarla Pakistani ambassador who turns all her good intention
tells him. He quotes the evidence as a fun in many into a party joke. He is a socio-politically mobile person
parties and makes joke of Sarla’s visit to him. Lack of having access to dozens of parties and gatherings and
thinking on the side of Mr Ali, Consul-General is Sarla Sethi has absolutely no means and her disposal to
responsible for changed behaviour of Sarla. Fear is counter the impact of the gossips and grape-wine gets
common for both men and women in an unexpected initiated due to his insensitivity. Khushwant Singh
situation. But the author has not considered this view efficiently focuses on the psyche of the character, as
in this story. We are aware of it as readers. Generally, how she undergoes such transformation. So colonialism
women are considered to be fearful. But Mr Ali’s does not exclude women from the process of
condition is very fearful. His nervousness grows when colonization. It means colonization does not happen with
Sarla says, ‘Hate can only be overcome by making a men only but also with women and Khushwant Singh
clean breast of it, cleansing your heart by a candid has focused such relationship of women in this story.
confession. Then you make room for love to enter; isn’t The civilized West with its traditional commitment
that so Mr Ali?’ (p. 217). The author has shown that to human dignity, liberty and self-determination is
women are at the front in spreading the represented by Mrs Moore who is volunteer and involved
misunderstandings. Even general consideration is that in social work particularly for women. The personalized
all women are gossip-mongers. But male are also relationships allow the European complete control over
responsible for such act. Mr Ali tells about Sarla’s visit the native. The acceptance of one excludes the other
in every party. It causes to the quarrel between Sarla in the colonial era. But writing in an advantageous
and her sister-in-law. Only women are gossip-mongers ‘postcolonial space’ Khushwant Singh accepts the
is the misconception among all people. Sarla is the victim existence of both these levels of the transformation and
of this misconception. Though there is reconciliation attempts to present a vivid picture of the events. Both
and unity in the relation between Sarla and her sister- Lachmi and Sarla are two opposites from the same
in-law, Sarla speaks badly without thinking over the soil. Khushwant Singh has tried to bring up the Indian
situation. Such portrayals are presented in literature cultural values in Lachmi as the Western values are

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COLONIAL AND POSTCOLONIAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN... 51

represented by Mrs Moore. Thus, in both the stories [6] Nayar, P K. Postcolonial Literature: An
Khushwant Singh has focused on not only culture and Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson & Longman,
human gesture but also on colonial and postcolonial 2008. 12. Print.
consciousness. Both the stories show how colonialism as [7] Ravindranathan, S. & Jacob R.K. “Khushwant
a base as well as debasing ideology has inflicted damage Singh Writes at Home: A Post-Colonial Reading
on the native Indian culture, society and family relationships. of Train to Pakistan.” The Journal of Indian
References: Writing in English, Gulbarga 27 (1999). 27-31.
[1] Ashcroft, Griffiths & Tiffin. The Empire Writes Print.
Back: Theory & Practice in Post-colonial [8] Said, Edward. The World, the Text and the
Literatures. London: Routledge, 1989.2. Print. Critic. New Delhi: Vintage, 1991. 12. Print.
[2] Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. [9] Singh, K. The Collected Short Stories of
London: Routledge, 1994.70. Print. Khushwant Singh. New Delhi: Ravi Dayal and
[3] Dadas, A. N. “Feminist Reading of ‘Karma’ by Permanent Black, 3rd imp. 2003. Print. (All the
Khushwant Singh”, Vishwabharati 2 (2010). quotes are taken from this edition).
148-150. Print. [10] Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-
[4] Kadam, M. G. “Amitav Ghosh’s The Glass Friendly Guide. London; Routledge, 2006. 421.
Palace: A Post-colonial Novel.” Indian Writing Print.
in English. Ed. Mishra Binod and Kumar Sanjay. [11] Zaidi, N. “Fiction, History and Fictionalized
New Delhi: Atlantic, 1999. 15-18. Print. History A Postcolonial Reading of Khushwant
[5] Kunwar, Shakuntala. “Post-colonialism as a Singh’s Delhi: A Novel.” The Journal of Indian
Dialogical Metaphor in The Inheritance of Writing in English, Gulbarga 27 (2006). Print.
Loss”, Asian Quarterly, (2010): 75-82. Print.

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52 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 52-54.
Paper ID: 10012013013
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 20 Oct 2012. Paper accepted: 15 Nov 2012.

TO THE LIGHTHOUSE: A KUNSTLERROMAN PERSPECTIVE

Ravikiran Kalyan Mali

To the Lighthouse is written by Virginia Woolf the rigid society, until gradually one discovers ones
(1882-1941). The novel belongs to the modern literature identity and role in the world and is accepted by the
written in the era of high modernism. As her Jacobs society. The following definition is helpful to trace the
Room published in the year 1922 which saw the exact idea.
publication of Ulysses by James Joyce and Waste Land A novel in which the chief character after a number
by T. S. Eliot. To the Lighthouse is ranked by Time of false starts or wrong choices, is led to follow the
magazine as one of the hundred best novels in English right path and to develop into a mature and well-
language novels from 1923 to the date. To the balanced man -The Oxford Companion to
Lighthouse is divided in three chapters respectively German Literature (83).
The Window, Time Passes and To the Lighthouse. The With the help of this definition it can be stated that
novel is quite famous for psychological realism and the in this kind of novel, change is inevitable which leads
effective use of stream of conscious technique; a protagonist towards ‘self actualization’ by resolving the
significant feature of modernism. The novel belongs to repeated clashes at psychological and mental level and
the category of kunstlerroman (artist novel) Generally, describes the long process of maturation.
the common tendency seen in the kunstlerroman is that The kunstlerroman, subtype of bildungsroman novel
most of the kunstlerroman novel are written to get rid stresses the journey of a sensitive artist from childhood
from the traumatic past which continued playing hide to maturity. The genre depicts the journey of a sensitive
and seek role in the life of author. It is one effective artist either in fictitious manner, autobiographically or
way of reconstructing the past and understands the semi-autobiographically which is further characterized
elements which do not clearly come out and they are by a number of formal, typical and thematic features.
there at the bottom of mind peeping into the present In such novels an artist succeeds in overthrowing the
and disturbing the life of the artist. Virginia Woolf wrote values of bourgeois society and declares himself as an
this novel to understand the mysterious relationship of artist by achieving mastery of artistic work. The
her father and mother. The character of Lily is based following definition is useful to throw light on this genre.
on her own sister who was a painter. The novel contains “Class of Bildungsroman or apprenticeship novel that
strong autobiographical elements. Kunstlerroman (artist deals with the youth and development of an individual
novel) is important sub-type of Bildungsroman. who becomes-or is on the threshold of becoming-painter,
The Bildungsroman (formation novel) is a specific musician or poet” Encyclopedia Britannica (500).
genre of the novel which focuses on the development The above definition clearly states that
of protagonist’s psyche and character. This type of novel kunstlerroman novels is also known as apprenticeship
stresses the journey of a sensitive protagonist from novel, moreover it deals with the protagonist who is on
youth to adulthood passing through various crises the edge of becoming artist especially painter, musician
including emotional loss, spiritual crisis and struggle with or poet. These types of novel are notably different from

Ravikiran Kalyan Mali: Shri Shivaji Mahavidyalaya, Barshi, Solapur (MS) India.

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TO THE LIGHTHOUSE: A KUNSTLERROMAN PERSPECTIVE 53

bildungrsroman that only deals with sensitive protagonist the dining table declares “that women can neither paint
who is not artist. This is another significant definition nor write” (To the Lighthouse 287). The whole novel
which reads as given below, seems to be a reaction to the statement of Charles
A novel which has an artist (in any creative art) as Tansley.
the central character and which shows the She is trying to portray one picture of Mrs. Ramsay
development of the Artist from childhood to maturity and James; younger son of Ramsey, but not capable to
and later The Dictionary of Literary Terms and complete the portrait after continuous efforts. Probably
Theory by J. A. Cuddon (446). this happens due to the lack of confidence and inferiority
With the help of these definitions it is quite clear to complex in her created by the opinion of Mr. Tansely.
note that the Kunstlerroman is about an artist’s journey Lily taking opinion seriously struggles a lot to wash out
from immaturity to maturity, where protagonist has to the philosophy to Mr. Tansley. Lily shows extraordinary
struggle with and society previous to prove his identity patience and efforts and overcome the fear in her mind
and declares himself as an artist carrying the burden of after long span of ten years. The novel has a major
caste, class, gender, race and ethnicity. The struggle is shift of time and it reopens after ten years on the Isle
more subtle if the artist protagonist is female and needs of Skye the title of second chapter is the Time Passes
a complete different perspective because those virtues and meanwhile World War I starts and finishes few
are beneficial when the protagonist is male turns as members of Ramsay family died including Mrs. Ramsay
vices for female protagonist. whose impact on Lily is great. The period of ten years
The place of To the Lighthouse is significant in reminds us the time span of tranquility given by
the history of English literature and the tradition of Wordsworth. All major characters in the novel are
female authors in feminist critical theory .The novel intellectuals and developing their own path to become
explores deep psychology and throws light on female immortal. Mr. Ramsay has no confidence that his words
creativity. Notably, the novel is produced after James will remain constant after his death. Mrs. Ramsey
Joyce’s classic prototype The Portrait of Artist as a developing relations and being more hospitable wants
Young Man (1916) having Stephen Dedalus as its artist to understand life as well as desires to be remembered
protagonist. The task of feminist critical theory and for her virtues after her death. Lily is also haunted by
Postcolonial theory is the same as these theories the same fear and comes to the conclusion that the
concentrate the hidden element here- throw neglected only way to be immortal is art and by art only one can
by the literary tradition and explore female tradition of sustain after death. Lily Briscoe seems to be engaged
author and throws light on the tradition of female in solving the Sphinx enigma. She after the death of
authors. In this regard ‘female kunstlerroman’ is Mrs. Ramsey completed the picture that she held in
significant as it provides ample choice to explore the her mind for ten years the period can be the period of
area of female creativity and the turmoil of female artist meditation or the period where controversies are
while producing art. resolved. It is much like a player who caught in ‘bad
The novel opens at the summer house of Ramsay patch’ or a writer suffering from ‘writer’s block.’ Lily
family at the Isle of Skye in Scotland where large family Briscoe strives hard to complete the picture but
of Ramsay and their guest are gathered for summer somehow failed to do. Lily enables to fill the space in
vocation Lily Briscoe, a budding painter is one among the picture, probably she has no clarity of aim or lines
them who at the age of thirty-four leads a single life are not coming clearly to her all these reasons keep her
.But her dedication for art is great and for arts sake away from final stroke. Actually the space is not on
she avoids to marry. In spite of the advice of Mrs. canvas rather present in her mind. She wants to portray
Ramsey, another major character in the novel and the reality, the inner truth which is vague to her. There
everybody is influenced by her character. She is a foil is a tension in the relationship of Mr. Ramsay and Lily.
character to the Lily because she has eight children He demands sympathy which she can’t offer him as
and very hospitable to everyone where Lily leads well as all the prejudice in the mind of James regarding
isolated life and happy in loneliness. Mrs. Ramsey cares his father that his father always destroys the pleasure
for Lily .According to Lily marriage and motherhood of children in the family are resolved and everything
will distract her path of becoming artist. Among the becomes clear to all. At this moment her heart is filled
members gathered in summerhouse Mr. Charles with sympathy for Mr. Ramsey and Lily transcend to
Tansley, a friend of Mr. Ramsey is one. Mr. Tansley at another world.

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54 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

There it was-her picture. Yes, with all its greens Lily in frenzy, to be apt in a “moments” of epiphany
and blues, its lines running up and across, its realizes the truth and completes the picture. The incident
attempt at something. It would be hung in the is highly suggestive that indicates protagonist’s
attics, she thought; it would be destroyed. But recognition of artistic potential
what did that matter/she asked herself, taking Works Cited:
up her brush again. She looked at the steps; they [1] Selected Works of Virginia Woolf, Wordsworth
were empty; she looked at the canvas; it was Editions, Ware, Hertfordshire SGI2 9HJ, 2005.
blurred. With the sudden intensity, as if she saw [2] Barry, Peter, Beginning Theory, an
it clear for a second, she drew a line there, in Introduction, to Literary and Cultural Theory,
the centre. It was done; it was finished. Yes, Manchester University Press, Manchster, 2002.
she thought, laying down her brush in extreme [3] Cuddon, J. A. and Preston, C. E. The Penguin
fatigue, I have had my vision (To the Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary
Lighthouse 391). Theory, Penguin Books, 2000.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 55-58.
Paper ID: 10012013014
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 28 Dec 2012. Paper accepted: 10 Jan 2013.

MULTIPLE VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES IN EMILY BRONTE’S

WUTHERING HEIGHTS
B. Sreekanth Reddy
Abstract:
The central theme of Wuthering Heights is a love was known for his poetry and imagination even though
story that challenges the established social rules in which he was the cleric. Her mother, a staunch Methodist,
the protagonists, Catherine and Heathcliff have lived; it died when Emily was only three years old, so what she
is a story that survives the unfortunate choices that both knew of her she learned from her siblings and her Aunt
lovers make and even mystically survives Catherine’s Elizabeth (Maria’s sister), who raised the children after
death. The aim of this article is to provide a detailed Maria’s death. Elizabeth brought a religious fervor to
study of the various multiple views and perspectives in the house that Bronte soon rejected.
which the novel can be studied and understood. Bronte’s environment shaped her life and her work.
This article tries to analyze the multiple perspectives The village of Haworth was isolated and surrounded
in Wuthering Heights to order to obtain a deeper by moors and thus, this was the one and only world she
understanding of the message that perhaps Emily Bronte knew and lived in, became the setting for her only novel.
wanted to convey. By focusing on the different literary Parallel to her own life, she created motherless
elements of fiction used in the novel, we can be able to characters in Wuthering Heights. Writing was a means
understand how the author successfully uses the theme, of amusement for the Bronte children. After the two
characters, and setting to create a very controversial oldest sisters died, the remaining siblings began writing
novel in which the reader is torn between opposite poles plays and poems, creating a world called Angria and
of love and hate, good and evil, revenge and forgiveness Gondal. These worlds became little books and the
in Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights. There sources for later poetry and prose. Though she went to
is no doubt that the use of conflictive characters such school, but she was unable to stay there. Possessing a
as Catherine Earnshaw, Heathcliff, and Edgar, with their reclusive nature, she had longings and desires for her
interactions in the two different settings creates an home on the moors, which compelled her to return home
excellent background for a doomed love story. after a mere three months. Living with her father at
Bronte was one of six children born to Reverend the parsonage in Haworth, became a period of creativity.
Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell Brontë. Born in Like most authors, Emily Bronte was a product of her
Thornton, Yorkshire, England, on July 30, 1818, she was environment, and this directly influenced her writing.
the sister of Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Anne, and During her life she had no close friends, was interested
Branwell. Her family moved to Haworth when she was in mysticism, and enjoyed her solitude outdoors. All of
two years old, and here she first experienced the moors, these elements are portrayed in her poems and
a part of the Pennine Chain of mountains, and she lived Wuthering Heights. In fact, many contemporary critics
here until she died 30 years later.A variety of conflicting praise Emily Bronte first and foremost as a poet,
influences shaped her life. Her father, of Irish descent, marveling at the poetic nature of Wuthering Heights.
B. Sreekanth Reddy: Lecturer in English, Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, Kadapa (AP) India.

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Evidence suggests that Emily Bronte began writing of to raise someone from the working class as a member
Wuthering Heights in December 1845 and completed of the middle-to-upper middle class. Even Nelly, who
it the next year. A year after that, in July of 1847, was raised with the Earnshaw children, understood her
Wuthering Heights was accepted for publication; place below her childhood friends. When Mr. Earnshaw
however, it was not printed until December, following elevates the status of Heathcliff, eventually favoring
the success of Jane Eyre. Although Wuthering Heights him to his own son, this goes against societal norms.
did not meet with the critical success Jane Eyre This combination of elevation and usurpation makes
received, contemporary critics tend to consider Emily Hindley to return Heathcliff to his previous low status
the best writer of the Bronte sisters. Emily Bronte’s after the death of Mr. Earnshaw, and that is why
highly imaginative novel of passion and hate was too Heathcliff relishes in the fact that Hindley’s son Hareton
savage and animal-like and clumsy in its own day and is reduced to the level of a common, uneducated laborer.
time, but contemporary audiences consider it mild. And social class must be the reason for Catherine
“Wuthering Heights is a peculiar type of novel- marring Edgar; she is attracted to the social comforts
baffling all regular criticism; yet, it is impossible to begin he can supply her. No other reasonable explanation
and not finish it; and quite as impossible to lay it aside exists. Catherine naively thinks she can marry Edgar
afterwards and say nothing about it.” This review, from and then uses her position and his money to assist
Douglas Jerrold’s Weekly Newspaper, was one of Heathcliff, but that would never happen.
the first receptions to Emily Bronte’s novel, and When Heathcliff returns, having money is not
concluded with the line, “we must leave it to our readers enough for Edgar to consider him a part of acceptable
to decide what sort of a book it is.” The conclusion in society. Heathcliff uses his role as the outcast to
this review, which is the extent of praise the novel encourage Isabella’s infatuation. The feelings that both
received on its publication, pertains not only to the novel Catherine and Isabella have for Heathcliff, the common
Wuthering Heights but to Emily Bronte herself. In the laborer, cause them to lose favor with their brothers.
Victorian Era, social class was dependent on the source Hindley and Edgar cannot accept the choices their
of income, birth, and family but not upon the amount of sisters make and therefore, withdraw their love. When
money a person had. These aspects played a major a woman betrays her class, she is betraying her family
role in determining one’s position in society. And, and her class-both unacceptable actions.
significantly, most people accepted their place in the Of the major themes in Wuthering Heights, the
hierarchy. In addition to money, manners, speech, nature of love-both romantic and brotherly but, oddly
clothing, education, and values revealed a person’s enough, not erotic-applies to the principal characters
class. The three prominent sections were the elite class, as well as the minor ones. Every relationship in the text
the middle class, and the working class. Further sections is strained at one point or another. Bronte’s exploration
existed within these three class distinctions. of love is best discussed in the context of good versus
The characters in Wuthering Heights demonstrate evil (which is another way of saying love versus hate).
the nature of this class-structured society. The Lintons Although the polarities between good and evil are easily
were the most elite family in the novel, and Thrushcross understood, the differences are not that easily applied
Grange was a superior property to Wuthering Heights, to the characters and their actions.The most important
yet they were not members of the elite section of society; relationship is the one between Heathcliff and
rather, they were the professional middle class. Catherine. The nature of their love seems to go beyond
Although Wuthering Heights was a farmhouse, the the kind of love most people know. In fact, it is as if
Earnshaws were not members of the working class their love is beyond this world, belonging on a spiritual
because they were landowners who had servants. Their phase that supercedes anything available to everyone
status in society was below the Lintons but not else on Earth. Their love seems to be born out of their
significantly below. Nelly, a servant of the Earnshaws, rebellion and not merely a sexual desire. They both,
represents the lower middle class-those who worked however, do not fully understand the nature of their
non-manual labor. Servants were superior to manual love, for they betray one another: Each of them marry
laborers, which explains the problems created by a person whom they know they do not love as much as
Heathcliff. they love each other.
Heathcliff is an orphan; therefore, his status is below Contrasting the capacity for love is the ability to
everyone else in Wuthering Heights. It was unheard hate. And Heathcliff hates with a vengeance. Heathcliff

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MULTIPLE VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES IN... 57

initially focuses his hate toward Hindley, then to Edgar, relationships. Many critics, praising Bronte’s style,
and then to a certain extent, to Catherine. Because of imagery, and word choice, contend that Wuthering
his hate, Heathcliff resorts to what is another major Heights is actually poetry masquerading as prose.
theme in Wuthering Heights-revenge. Hate and This lyrical prose has a distinct structure and style.
revenge intertwine with selfishness to reveal the Predominantly, Wuthering Heights is about ordered
conflicting emotions that drive people to do things that pairs: two households, two generations, and two pairs
are not particularly nice or rationale. Some choices are of children. Some critics are of the view that the plot of
regretted while others are relished. These emotions the second-generation characters is just a simple
make the majority of the characters in Wuthering retelling of the first story; however, it is not so. Clearly,
Heights well polished and more than just traditional in order to appreciate fully Wuthering Heights, attention
stereotypes. Instead of symbolizing a particular emotion, must be paid to the second half, particularly noting that
characters symbolize real people with real, oftentimes the second half is not just a retelling but rather a revising-
not-so-nice emotions. Every character has at least one a form of renewal and rebirth. These ordered pairs,
redeeming trait or action with which the reader can are pairs of contrast. The most noticeable pair is that
empathize. This empathy is a result of the complex of the two houses: Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross
nature of the characters and results in a depiction of Grange. Wuthering Heights has the wild, windy moors
life in the Victorian Era, a time when people behaved and its inhabitants possess the same characteristics.
very similarly to the way they do today. Opposite to this are the calm, orderly parks of
Victorian society would not accept the violent Thrushcross Grange and its inhabitants. Each household
characters and harsh realities of Wuthering Heights, has a male and female with a counterpart at the other.
but subsequent audiences are both more understanding Readers gain insight into these characters not only by
and accepting of the use of unsavory aspects of human observing what they think, say, and do but also by
life in literature. The first person to praise publicly comparing them to their counterparts, noticing how they
Wuthering Heights was Charlotte Bronte, Emily’s do not think, speak, and act. Much is learned by
sister, who wrote a preface and introduction for the recognizing what one is not.
second publication of the novel in 1850 and became the Structurally, the narrative is also primarily told from
novel’s first and foremost critic. The Victorian a paired point of view. Lockwood frames the initial story,
audience’s view of women could not allow anyone of telling the beginning and ending chapters (with minor
that period to accept that Wuthering Heights was the comments within). Within the framework of his story,
creation of a female (published originally under the Nelly relates the majority of the action from her
pseudonym Ellis Bell). After its initial publication, both outsider’s point of view. In essence, readers are
critical and popular audiences ended up embracing eavesdropping rather than experiencing the action. And
Wuthering Heights, and it remains one of the classic embedded within Nelly’s narrative are chapters told
works still read and studied. primarily from another character’s point of view that
Wuthering Heights is an important contemporary has been related to Nelly. This technique allows readers
novel for two reasons: Its honest and accurate portrayal to experience more than would with any one narrator,
of life during an early era provides a glimpse of history, enabling readers to gain an insider’s perspective.
and the literary merit it possesses in and of itself enables The role of the outsider should not be overlooked
the text to rise above entertainment and rank as quality because the setting of Wuthering Heights is one of
literature. The portrayal of women, society, and class complete isolation; therefore, only those with first-or
bear witness to a time that’s foreign to contemporary second-hand experiences are able to relate them to
readers. But even though society is different today than others. The moors connecting Wuthering Heights and
it was two centuries ago, people remain the same, and Thrushcross Grange serve a dual purpose-linking the
contemporary readers can still relate to the feelings two households while simultaneously separating them
and emotions of the central characters-Heathcliff and from the village and all others.
Catherine-as well as those of the supporting characters. This isolated setting is important for Bronte’s
Because Bronte’s characters are real, they are human combination of realism and gothic symbolism. Bronte
subjects with human emotions; therefore, Wuthering took conventions of the time and instead of merely
Heights is not just a sentimental romance novel. It is a recreating them in a work of her own, used them as a
presentation of life, an essay on love, and a glimpse at springboard to write an entirely original tale, creating

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characters who are simultaneously real and symbolic psychological novel. (Contemporary audiences, for
archetypes. Bronte uses these characters to explore example, easily relate to issues of child abuse and
themes of good versus evil, crime and punishment, alcoholism). In fact, Wuthering Heights cannot be
passion versus rationality, revenge, selfishness, division easily classified as any particular type of novel-that is
and reconciliation, chaos and order, nature and culture, the literary strength that Bronte’s text possesses. The
health and sickness, rebellion, and the nature of love. novel told from multiple points of view is easily read
These themes are not independent of each other; rather, and interpreted from multiple perspectives, also.
they intertwine as the story unfolds. Like other literary masterpieces, Wuthering
Wuthering Heights is also a social novel about class Heights has induced many dramatic productions, a
structure in society as well as a treatise on the role of musical retelling, movies, and even a novel. Emily
women. Bronte illustrates how class mobility is not Bronte’s novel has overcome its initial cold reception
always moving in one direction. For Catherine, to warm the hearts of romantics and realists worldwide.
representing a lower class, social class plays a major Long after its initial publication and subsequent death
role when deciding to get married. That is why she of its author, Wuthering Heights has become one of
cannot marry Heathcliff and agrees, instead, to marry the classics of English literature.
Edgar. For Isabella, however, just the opposite is true. Works Cited:
She is drawn to the wild, mysterious man, regardless of [1] Wuthering Heights Middlesex: Penguin Books
the fact that he is beneath her social standing. Because Ltd.1975.
of her infatuation, she loses everything that is dear to [2] Wuthering Heights. Introduction by Bonamy
her. We must therefore look not only to social class when Dobree. Indian Edition. Calcutta: Rupa, 1977.
judging and analyzing characters; but also determine [3] Buckler, W. E. “Chapter VII of Wuthering
what decisions are made by members of a certain class Heights: A Key to Interpretation” in Nineteenth
and why these characters made the decisions. Century Fiction, 7. 1953.
On the surface, Wuthering Heights is a love story. [4] Davies, C. W. “A Reading of Wuthering heights”
Delving deeper, readers find both a symbolic and in Essays in criticism XIX, N.O.3, July 1969.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 59-61.
Paper ID: 10012013015
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 31 Dec 2012. Paper accepted: 10 Jan 2013.

POSTMODERN LITERATURE: AN OVERVIEW

Anil Patil
It is difficult to say what exactly postmodernism or postmodernism as a new post-modern style based on
postmodern literature is. It is because the term eclecticism and populism, and helped to disseminate
postmodernism itself defies definition. But there is the concept of the ‘postmodern.’ After that, the
agreement among some critics on the exact nature, postmodern debates began in earnest in the 1970s and
characteristics, and importance of postmodern literature took on an international scope and resonance by the
and postmodernism in general. T. Ravichandran, the 1980s.
renowned British critic, defines postmodernism as a Modern literature includes ideas such as
cultural phase or era following that of modernism and fragmentation, parody, playfulness, irony, parody and
in part continuing, in part negating its cultural questionable narrators, and in a way these ideas are
programme. This definition is mercifully brief and very much found in postmodern literature as well, but
informative, encapsulating the term’s innate ambiguity they are found with a great difference. For example,
in a few words. The term postmodern literature refers modern literature describes fragmentation or
to certain radically experimental works of literature fragmentary forms and a condition of spiritual apathy
produced after the Second World War. and indifference as in T. S. Eliot’s The Hollow Men
It can be said that postmodern literature is both- a (1925):
continuation of most of the practices of modern Shape without form, shade without colour,
literature, and at the same time a critique or a reaction Paralysed force, gesture without motion.
against the Enlightenment ideas like rationality, Yet it describes it with much lamentation.
objectivity, reality or truth implicit in modern literature. Postmodern literature, on the other hand, celebrates
It is commonly agreed that at some point between the the idea of fragmentation in its practice. Postmodern
end of the Second World War and the student revolt of literature also takes most of the characteristics of
1968 a ‘postmodern turn’ occurred. Modernism began modern literature to the extreme stage.
to mutate definitively into something else, into that The major body of postmodern literature is supposed
elusive phenomenon which is now called to have started from the 1950s onwards. But this
postmodernism. While it is certainly not the case that literature has its origins in some few earlier literary works
all literature since 1945 can be called postmodern. and its early echo in English fiction is in Laurence
Most of the critics agree that it is the British Sterne’s Tristram Shandy (1767). In Tristram Shandy,
historian, Arnold Toynbee who first adopted the term there is heavy emphasis on parody and narrative
“postmodernism” in his book A Study of History (1954). experimentation. This novel is made up of many
Arnold Toynbee described the postmodern age as one elements which can be called postmodern literary
of anarchy and relativism. Two decades later, Charles elements such as metafiction, fragmentation, anti-novel,
Jencks’ influential book, The Language of Modern anti-hero, intertextuality, and there is a lack of many
Architecture (1977), celebrated the term standard elements of novel-writing like structured plot
Anil Patil: Dept. of English, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune (MS) India.

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and conventional narrative technique. This novel was is accessible to us through language because its objects
written in the eighteenth century and it does not have are mirrored in the language that we use. Postmodernism
the standard conventional features of the so-called gives up on language’s representational function and
‘novel’; because of these basic reasons this novel can follows poststructuralism in the idea that language
be called an early echo of postmodern literature and constitutes, rather than reflects the world. Since the
the postmodern novel. nature of language is unstable and slippery, we cannot
Much of postmodern literature presents a sense of insist that a literary work has to have single determinate
anxiety, alienation and meaninglessness of human meaning and artistic structure as the literary work is
existence in the twentieth century. Samuel Beckett’s made up of language. Therefore, we can agree with
play Waiting for Godot (1954) is taken to be the first the postmodern notion of the culture as unstable since it
postmodern literary work in the twentieth century. In is the construct of language. What postmodern fiction,
this play we see that nothing happens twice, meaning in theatre, and poetry have in common is the view, explicit
two acts. The play shows the meaninglessness of life, or implicit, that literary language is its own reality, not a
indeterminacy of future, the characters’ actions are futile means of representing reality. The famous critic, Sabrina
and meaningless, and they also are involved in language Hassumani also observed that philosophically,
games. postmodern fiction illustrates the idea that direct
The major postmodern writers are Italo Calvino, knowledge of the world is impossible.
UmbertoEco, Jose Saramago, Alejo Carpentier, Gabriel Postmodern literature describes and celebrates the
Garcia Marquez, Julio Cartazar, Peter Carey, Margaret sense of fragmentation, of discontinuity, and of reality
Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Salman Rushdie, Vikram as a pastiche. It avoids the possibility of meaning and
Chandra, Amitav Ghosh, John Barth and Thomas the postmodern novel is often a parody of the quest for
Pynchon. meaning. The French theorist Jean Baudrillard felt that
We observe that in postmodern literature, there are postmodernism has led to a loss of the real or reality
no epics, no heroes or grand narratives that elevate our because of the influence of film, television, and
thoughts and passions. Postmodern writers employ advertising and in place of representation in postmodern
metafiction to undermine the author’s univocal control, literature, there exists simulation, that is, counterfeiting
i.e. the control of only one voice. The terms like or pretence. For postmodern writers, history has to be
metafiction and pastiche are often used for parody. seen only as a narrative, that is, a human construct.
Postmodern fiction is the writing of reflexive or They emphasize that history is accessible to us, but only
metafiction, that is, the fiction which is in the first as text. Postmodern literature rejects the values of
instance aware of itself as fiction and which may eighteenth century Enlightenment thought, most
dramatize the false or constructed nature of fiction, on particularly, the notions of rationality and objectivity and
the one hand, or the inevitable fictionality of all the understanding of the self as a rational and unitary
experience on the other. It is an attempt to integrate art entity. Instead, postmodern thought emphasizes a form
and life by including popular forms, popular culture, and of subjectivity that is multiple rather than singular, and
everyday reality. It also attempts to cross the borders fluid rather than static.
between fiction and non-fiction, between literary genres, The concern of postmodern literature, criticism and
and between high and low culture. We find that the art is to decenter and to unfix these rationalist and
distinction between high and low culture is attacked by humanist assumptions about what is natural and
employing pastiche, the combination of multiple cultural essential. The consequence of this decentering is that
elements including subjects and genres, which were, one of the primary postmodern projects is the
previously, not supposed to be fit for literature. problematizing of the marginal, and the other, that have
Postmodern theorists and writers do not believe in been traditionally overlooked. This has entailed a shifting
a stable and structured concept of the world and reality. of attention from the study of European-American white
They tend to give emphasis on the ideas of uncertainty, males and their cultural productions to an examination
indeterminacy and postponement in truth, reality, of the complex contexts of the lives of, for instance,
signification or meaning. According to them, language women, ethnic and racial minorities, gay, lesbian, and
is not enough as a means for communication and inhabitants of the so-called Third-World. There is a
therefore, we cannot say that it is a reliable means that positive effect of postmodernism on gay and lesbian
creates and represents reality and truth. Like studies. The postmodern emphasis on problematizing
poststructuralists, the postmodernists reject the empirical marzinalized or ignored peoples, cultures, has helped to
idea that language can represent reality that the world develop gay and lesbian studies and move them into

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POSTMODERN LITERATURE: AN OVERVIEW 61

new areas of criticism and theoretical sophistication. In of the unified or coherent individual and unlike many
seeking to be inclusive of all gender deviances and all modern narratives, a postmodern text rejects the idea
gender-deviant or transgendered persons, many of progress, unity, and coherence. We observe that
postmodern gay and lesbian writers have chosen to postmodern writing strongly insists on the importance of
describe themselves as queer and to reconfigure gay hybridity and the unstable identity as the crucible for the
and lesbian studies as queer theory. emergence of the new. Postmodern writers also do not
Postmodern literature tends to claim an make any attempt or claim to defend authentic traditions.
abandonment of all metanarratives. We find that it is Reference Books:
very difficult to classify the postmodern literary works, [1] Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot, New York:
at least according to traditional schemes of classification Oxford University Press, 1989.
because they frequently combine aspects of diverse [2] Bertens, Hans. The Idea of the Postmodern: A
genres. History, London: Routledge, 1995.
Postmodern critical schools include deconstruction, [3] Blake, Andrew. Salman Rushdie, A Beginner’s
whose practitioners explore the indeterminacy of texts, Guide, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 2001.
and cultural criticism, which erases the boundary [4] Brennan, Timothy A. Salman Rushdie and the
between high and low culture. The major theorists of Third World: Myths of the Nation, London:
postmodernism are Jean-Francois Lyotard, Jean Macmillan, 1989.
Baudrillard, Jurgen Habermas, Ihab Hassan, Fredric [5] Brians, Paul. Modern South Asian Literature
Jameson, David Harvey, Andreas Huyssen, Umberto in English, London: Greenwood Press, 2003.
Eco, and many others. These theorists have coined some [6] Eliot, T. S. The Hollow Men, in Sachithanandan
of the major concepts which are usually used by the V. (ed.). Six English Poets, Delhi: Macmillan
postmodern writers in their literary works. These major Indian Ltd. 1987.
postmodern literary concepts and other features of [7] Fletcher, M.D. Reading Rushdie: Perspectives
postmodern literature are: metafiction, intertextuality, on the Fiction of Salman Rushdie, Amsterdam
magical realism, self-reflexivity, writerly text, hybridity, and Atlanta, GA: Rodopi, 1994.
foreshadowing, fabulation, surfiction, parody, irony, anti- [8] Hassumani, Sabrina. Salman Rushdie: A
hero, anti-novel, use of language games, hyperreality etc. Postmodern Reading of His Major Works,
In postmodern literature intertextuality is found in Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, London:
the form of parody, explicit borrowings, indirect Associated University Press, 2002.
references and quotes. There is a merging or mixture [9] Hawthorn, Jeremy. A Concise Glossary of
of myths, fairy tales, legends, and contemporary realities, Contemporary Literary Theory, Great Britain:
and historical figures jostle with contemporary men and Edward Arnold, 1994.
women, and the distinction between real history and [10] Hutcheon, Linda. A Poetics of Postmodernism:
mere fiction is called into question. History, Theory, Fiction, London and New York:
Sabrina Hassumani also observes that in Routledge, 1988.
postmodern fiction, there is no promise of a utopian [11] Kirpal, Viney. The New Indian Novel in
future. Instead, we receive new styles of registering English: A Study of the 1980s, New Delhi: Allied
the world. Binaries are exposed as being inherently Publishers Limited, 1990.
hierarchical and therefore violent and they are exploded. [12] Lucy, Niall. Postmodern Literary Theory: An
The linear narrative is replaced by the concept of an Introduction, Oxford UK: Blackwell Publishers,
open text. “Truth” is rejected as an impossibility as 1997.
postmodern fiction consciously exposes the process that [13] Nicol, Bran, Postmodernism and the
leads to a metanarrative or closure. Rationality and Contemporary Novel: A Reader, Edinburgh:
rational explanations are also treated with suspicion. Edinburgh University Press Ltd., 2002.
Postmodern literature never advocates any kind of [14] Ravichandran, T. Postmodern Identity, Jaipur
universality and permanence. (India): RBSA Publishers, 2007.
In postmodern literature, we also find the prominent [15] Sim, Stuart. The Routledge Companion to
themes like cultural hybridity, crisis of identity, Postmodernism, London and New York:
experiences of migrants and their feeling of alienation, Methuen, 1987.
the general feeling of rootlessness, and it also stresses [16] Woods, Tim. Beginning Postmodernism,
the disbelief in God or the disbelief in conventional notions Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 62-64.
Paper ID: 10012013016
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 01 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 04 Jan 2013.

NEW GENERATION REALISM IN CONTEMPORARY FICTION OF JHUMPA

LAHIRI AND CHETAN BHAGAT
Joseph Rodrigues
The theme of New Generation Realism in undimmed by the dislocations of foreignness. The
Contemporary fiction is a continuation of the progressive contemporary story of the rise of India is intertwined
literature of the bygone decades, but definitely more with the Indian Diaspora, which has played a vital role
militant in its approach. It is an outcome of the creation in the economic resurgence of the country. The
of reading mass which was trying to construct an prominent diasporic author JhumpaLahiri shares a
identity in the context of finding a name and place in diasporic consciousness generated by a complex
the society. This attempt combined liberal reformist network of historical connections, spiritual affinities and
ideology with an affirmation of an Indian cultural unifying racial memories and that this shared sensibility
specificity. The new generation Realism, as found in is manifested in the cultural productions of the Indian
contemporary fiction, is both liberal and humanist. The diasporic communities around the world. “Existential
realist novels focus on growth and individual freedom. dilemma forms the crux of human experience, and
It is transformed in the context of India with the cultural encounter, anguish of alienation along with the
economic conditions of uneven capitalism, therefore the reality of hybridity and multiculturalism grasp the core
economic political as well as the social conditions serve sensibility of most of the authors living in diaspora.”1
to provide the basis for Realism in the fictional works Diasporic reality is reflected throughout in the works
of contemporary Indian writers like ChetanBhagat, the of JhumpaLahiri. ‘The Namesake’ follows the Ganguly
bestselling author, who resides in India and family through its journey from Calcutta to Cambridge
JhumpaLahiri, the second generation immigrant to the Boston Suburbs. Ashima and AshokeGanguly
throwing light on the lives of imaginary characters in arrive in America at the end of 1960s, shortly after
her fictional works as a diasporic author. In a burst of their arranged marriage in Calcutta, as Ashoke has to
innovation, a new generation of young, iconoclastic and finish his degree in Engineering at MIT. Ashoke is
cosmopolitan authors are rapidly expanding India’s forward thinking ready to enter the American culture,
literary horizons in the area of prose fiction. These if not fully at least with an open mind. His young bride
authors have the ability and courage to unfold their is far less malleable. She is isolated, desperately missing
disarmingly intimate and often unconventional images her large family back at home in India, she will never
of India to readers beyond the national borders. The be at peace with this new world. Soon after the couple
new generation Indian writers have dipped into a deep arrives in Cambridge their first child is born, a boy.
well of memory and experience far removed from that Ashoke choose a name for the boy that has a particular
of their fellow novelists working in English. Truly significance for him: on a train trip back in India several
Americans, English men and Australians have at years earlier, he had been reading a book by one of his
different times set their fictions in distant lands, but most beloved Russian writers, Nikolai Gogol, when the
Indians write about India without exoticism, their insights train derailed in the middle of the night killing almost all
Joseph Rodrigues:Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering, Navi-Mumbai (MS) India.

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NEW GENERATION REALISM IN CONTEMPORARY FICTION OF... 63

the passengers on board. Ashoke had stayed awake to life, death, love and fate-the novelist relates the lives of
read, and he believes that the book saved his life. His a girl and boy who, one winter, share a house in
child will be known, then, as Gogol. Lahiri brings her Massachusetts. They travel from innocence to
enormous power of description to her first novel, experience on separate, sometimes painful paths, until
infusing scene after scene with profound emotional destiny brings them together again years later in Rome.
depth. Condensed and controlled; The Namesake JhumpaLahiri’s writing illuminates the experience of
covers three decades and crosses continents, all the first and second generation Americans who trace their
while zooming in at very precise moments on telling roots to South Asia, and how the quest to become
detail, sensory richness and fine nuances of character. successful in this country can extract a price. Characters
The crisis of identity, at other places, has been the in her books experience the cultural as well as the
prominent theme of Lahiri’s work. Interpreter of generation gaps. She therefore comments on the effects
Maladies is the package of short fiction about the lives of Western colonialism on Indians and Indians in
of Indians and Indian Americans who are caught diaspora. Lahiri displays a wonderful capability to draw
between the culture they have inherited and the new her readers into the story not only through her detail
world they now find themselves in. “Whether set in but also by making them feel the emotional, physical
Boston or Bengal, these sublimely understated stories, and mental needs of the characters.
spiced with humour and subtle detail, speak with universal The bestselling English author, ChetanBhagat
eloquence to anyone who has ever felt the yearning of basically writes about the generation that doesn’t oil its
exile or the emotional confusion of the outsider.”2 hair i.e. the young people just coming out of their
The very spirit of Unaccustomed Earth has been teenage, dealing with their pain and passion, longing
expressed in nutshell on the introductory page that reads: and desire to secure a name and place both in society
“Human nature will not flourish, any more than a potato, and in the hearts of their beloved. His novels have
if it be planted and replanted, for too long a series of shown that the basic difference between the culture of
generations, in the same worn-out soil. My children have a writer and the culture of a reader is no barrier to
had other birthplaces, and, so far as their fortune may communication. It is the shedding of the over anxiety
be within my control, shall strike their roots into to interpret India in its most modern sense that makes
unaccustomed earth.”3 ChetanBhagat assume a commanding position in the
Unaccustomed Earth is a superbly crafted collection present scenario of the Literary World. His first novel
of eight stories that take the readers from Cambridge Five Point Someone won him many awards and above
and Seattle to India and Thailand detailing the lives of all recognition as a new and impressive signature, a
sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers, daughters rising star. His second novel One night@ the call
and sons, friends and lovers. In the stunning title story, center is less concerned with literariness as such and
“Ruma”, a young mother in a new city, is visited by her far more with the possibilities of identification. Three
father, who carefully finds the earth of her garden, Mistakes of My Life, his third attempt as novelist, have
where he and his grandson form a special bond. But he young, ambitious and passionate characters sharing the
is harboring a secret from his daughter, an amorous same moral, social and religious dilemma with millions
relation he is keeping all to himself. In A Choice of of young population of India. His entire writing has come
Accommodation, a husband’s attempt to turn an old up as a potential blockbuster delighting the new
friend’s wedding into a romantic gateway weekend with generation to find reality in his work. His 2 States of
his wife takes a dark, revealing turn as the party lasts My Marriage Life is fictionalized autobiography
deep into the night. In Only Goodness, a sister eager revolving around the incident of love marriages taking
to give her younger brother the perfect childhood she place in typical Indian condition. On the back jacket of
never had is overwhelmed by guilt, anguish and anger the book the description of love marriages in India in
when his alcoholism threatens her family. “She clipped comparison to the rest of the world has been depicted
the ribbon with scissors and stuffed the whole thing in humorous way.” Love marriages around the world
into the garbage surprised at how easily fit, thinking of are simple: Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. They get
the husband who no longer trusted her, of the son whose married. In India there is a few more steps: Boy loves
cry now interrupted her, of the fledgling family that had girl. Girl loves boy. Girl’s family has to love boy. Boy’s
cracked open that morning, as typical and as terrifying family ha to love girl. Girl’s family has to love boy’s
as any other.”4And in Hema and Kaushik, a trio of family. Boy’s family has to love girl’s family. Girl and
linked stories a luminous, intensely compelling elegy of boy still love each other: They get married.5

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Five Point Someone is a story about three friends the young generation. ChetanBhagat has just started
in IIT,who are unable to match up with the pace of the his promising literary career. “Whatever you think of
grand institute. They have five-point-something GPA ChetanBhagat’s books, his success provides valuable
out of ten, ranking near the end of their class. Their insight into the needs and aspirations of a large
GPA is sticked to them as a tattoo that will remain with readership whose engagement with literature is still at
them, and like a worst nightmare will keep on haunting the grassroots level.”8
them in the way of anything that matters in their real Whereas a diasporic writer, JhumpaLahiri attempts
life i.e. their friendship, their future and their love life. to unfold the inner state of her characters who struggle
“While the world expects IITians to conquer the world, hard for the search of their roots or establishing their
these guys are struggling to survive, how screwed up identity. Her bi-cultural perception makes interesting
your college years can get if you don’t think straight.”6 reading of her work that refuses specific cultural pigeon
Three hostel mates Alok, Hari and Ryan get off to holding. JhumpaLahiri, the winner of Pulitzer Prize for
a bad start in IIT. They screw up the first class quiz. fiction, makes a sensitive exploration of the lives of
And while they try to make amends, things only get Indian immigrants and expatriates in her epoch-making
worse. contribution to literature.
One Night@ the call center is an interesting References:
romantic comedy with an element of surprise that take [1] Niramal, Arti, from Gogol to Nikhil: Existential
the readers to the journey of one International Call Dilemma of Diaspora in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The
Center, where cultural cross-wires entangle together Namesake, Abstract of paper published in
with perfect pathos, hilarity and spice. All the people Souvenir of Nation (PN-41) Seminar on Indian
working at the Call Center have some personal problems Diasporic writings: Problem and prospects 23-
in life, however, they are friends rather colleague 24 Feb, 2007 organized by Dept. of English Govt.
working together. Their call Center was under the threat TRS College Rewa (MP).
of closure because of the economic slowdown and other [2] Lahiri, Jhumpa (2000) Interpreter of Maladies,
reasons. That is another worry that this group of people Introductory Page, Harper Collins publishers
share together. One can imagine the looming threat of India
the pink slip by the expectation of the blackmailer boss. [3] Lahiri, Jhumpa, Unaccustomed Earth, (2008),
Who knows the worth of job for his employees? The Random House, India.
email from SubhashBakshi, the boss, to Esha, the [4] Lahiri, Jhumpa, Unaccustomed Earth, (2008),
employer, is a real life situation. The email read as Random House India, 173.
follows: [5] Bhagat, Chetan, 2 State of My Marriage Life,
Dear Esha, Back Jacket.
Don’t be upset. My offer is simple-just spend one [6] Bhagat, Chetan,Five Point Someone, 1.
night with me. You make me happy-I’ll save you [7] BhagatChetan, One night @the call center, 245.
from the right-sizing. My pleasure for your security- [8] Singh, Jai Arjun (April 2009), The end of
I think it, is a fair deal. And who knows, you might pretension, Biblio, PN -27.
enjoy it too. Let me know your decision soon. Webliography:
Your admirer [1] h t t p : / / v i c t l i t . m i n b . d e / i n d e x . p h p ?
Bakshi7 c=Realism%20and%20the%20NovelRealism in
Both the writers, ChetanBhagat and JhumpaLahiri, the English Novel
form a unique and interesting group. They write about [2] http://www.enotes.com/literary-criticism/realism-
the sentiments and realistic problems of people living in english-novel
contemporary society. ChetanBhagat should be taken [3] http://english.emory.edu/Bahri/Lahiri.html
as a writer dealing from India about the psychological [4] http://headlinesindia.mapsofindia.com/special-
and social trouble often posing a threat to existence to reports/the-pied-piper-of-indian-

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 65-67.
Paper ID: 10012013017
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 21 Nov 2012. Paper accepted: 15 Dec 2012.

TREATMENT OF CULTURE IN THE NOVELS OF KINGSLEY AMIS

Ms. Rashmi Rani
Kingsley Amis is one of the most prolific writers of man by ranks or by man, the human mind would closely
20th century. He is well known as a novelist, poet, editor, flattered to the general will of the greatest number. The
short-story writer, biographer, and journalist. His present study is based on Kingsley Amis’ works which
concern in most of the works is intellectual, cultural will try to highlight the culture of 50s. The study is based
and educational. His works, particularly novels reflect on novels: Lucky Jim, That Uncertain Feeling and
a post World War society which is disillusioned with Take a Girl like You.
the traditional culture and morality. Disease, ignorance Culture is the integrated pattern of human
and idleness are the core issues of this era. The intellect knowledge, belief, and behaviour. In a broader term
is the force which wanted to bring the improvement in culture is defined in The New Encyclopaedia
the society. The main motive of the people of this era Britannica. Culture consists of language, ideas, beliefs,
has been reconstruction. In order to do so they have to customs, taboos, codes, institutions, tools, techniques,
include the wise, happy enjoyment of leisure. The social works of art, rituals, ceremonies, and other related
conscience become as a driving force in the 1950s. All components; and the development of culture depends
writers of this era concentrate on the social conscience upon man’s capacity to learn and to transmit knowledge
of their protagonists and other characters. They also to succeeding generations.
concentrate group therapy instead of individualism Every human society has its own particular culture,
notions of permissiveness. To replace the older more or socio-cultural system, this overlaps to some extent
authoritative patterns and influenced, perhaps, by a with other systems. Variation among socio-cultural
modern derived free association techniques in systems is attributable to physical habitats and resources,
psychotherapy are much mooted. The resultant gain in to the range of possibilities inherent in various areas of
personal freedom, however, has been mashed by new activity, such as rituals, language and customs, and the
manifestation of group tyranny. The notion of adjustment manufacture and use of tools, and to the degree of social
to society comes to play an important part as a value development.
concept. The logical derive, in modern social scene, The writers of 1950s highlight that learning is no
away from notion of individual responsibility is very longer a class matter. Printing was invented and was
powerful. The primary group is the basis unit of the made commercial. Books, magazines and papers were
society. The problem of the old ethnic was man’s multiplied and cheapened. As a result of the locomotive
indifference to man, that of the new, man’s too confident and telegraph, frequent, rapid and cheap
and complete assumption of concern. There are two intercommunication by mails and electricity was called
tendencies of equality-the one leading the mind of every into being. The result has been intellectual revolution
man to untried thought, the other inclined to prohibit learning has been put in circulation, stimuli of an
thinking at all. The philosophers of this age belief that intellectual sort pour in upon us in all kind of ways.
after having broken all the bondage once imposed on Amis’s characters particularly Jim Dixon believes that
Ms. Rashmi Rani: Asst. Professor, Dept. of Humanity, Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering, Koparkhairane,
Navi-Mumbai (MS) India.

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66 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

being a university graduate he is equal to the others, puppets in their hands. The Protagonists seem to bear
but his superiors do not agree with this concept. Amis with them as they want to reach the manners of
satirises these kinds of characters like Prof. Welch who aristocratic people by getting the reputable job. This
on telephone announces that history speaking. F.R. getting of job is obviously based on the approach of
Lewis rightly points out that it was as if society, in so these upper-class people. Jim Dixon has to give a
complicating and extending of machinery of organisation lecture on “Merrie England” unwillingly but for having
had lost intelligence, memory and moral purpose. Amis the job of a lecturer in history, it seems necessary to
would like to reform the society and intend to establish him. Also John Lewis has to satisfy the lust of Elizabeth
the moral purpose through his writing. That Uncertain for having the job of a sub-Librarian. Take a Girl Like
Feeling is the best example which reflects the intention You due to social and cultural changes, questions about
of Amis. Other writers like ‘John Braine and John the value of adjustment become more a matter of
Osborne are also against the purposelessness of the superficial comedy and the worth of adjustment, like
society. Indeed the fifties educational dilemmas merely that of learning to order a meal, drive a car, or lose
serve to highlight our inability to find an adequate virginity, is taken for granted. The novel centres on the
substitute for the old culture of the people which (increasingly desperate and cruel) attempts of Patrick
industrialism has destroyed. But literature of fifties tries Standish, a 30 year old schoolmaster at the local
to establish the old culture including the new one as grammar school, to seduce Jenny, against a backdrop
well. Jim Dixon, John Lewis, Jimmy Porter are the best of his skirmishes with his school authorities and with
examples who ultimately become sensitive to the the shabby, suburban middle class milieu in which the
realities of society and accepted as it is. novel is set. But ultimately these protagonists realise
Eliot and Auden have rightly called this age the age the hypocrisy of these bourgeoisie people and return
of lost generation. Like these two poets, novelists also back to their own class.
depict the decay of human relations and values in there On moral ground also they return back to moral
novels. Kingsley Amis in his novels Lucky Jim, That values after experiencing the immoral acts. John Lewis
Uncertain Feeling and Take a Girl Like You presents and Jim Dixon in starting present the hypocrisy of love-
his anti-authority and anti-tradition attitude towards making. They for having physical pleasure seem to
contemporary 1950s culture. The protagonists of these become the victim of the upper-class women. Christine
novels-Jim Dixon, John Lewis and Jenny Bunn voiced and Elizabeth represent the women who for having
their frustration with the complacent leadership of a physical pleasure get involved with other men. But in
tradition bound social and political establishment. These the end they realize the sanctity of marriage. Amis here
protagonists protest against the richer section of society believes in the purity of marriage and also of the
because it securely possesses all that these lower class importance of man-women relationships. He rejects the
young men desire. However, the irritated agitation we sexual relationship outside marriage and restores the
witness in them as their habitual state of mind cannot purity of husband-wife relationship.
be the basis for any sustained programme of protest Amis also points out the financial conditions of these
and resistance. They merely want comfort or perhaps lower-class people of 1950s.Whether it is Jim Dixon or
power but despite the show of rebellion they ultimately John Lewis, they do the job uninterestedly because of
become the part of the hypocrisy themselves. But the need for money. Jim Dixon is not interested in the
somehow Amis showing preference of traditional job of the lecturer in history but he has to bear with it
morality makes these protagonists on the side of moral as he has no other choice. John Lewis is also felt bore
values. in doing his job of Assistant Librarian but it is for money
Jim Dixon and John Lewis struggle hard to be that he does it. But as soon as they realise the futility of
accepted by the bourgeoisie society, but these upper the job, they leave their previous jobs and join the
class people ultimately reject them. Mr. Welch and Mr. interested job which they perform well. In the end these
Vernon Williams represent this upper-class of two prefer to join the moral side and make a new
contemporary 1950s bourgeoisie society. These people beginning.
are used to of throwing parties in which they invite Lucky Jim, That Uncertain Feeling and Take a
lower class people for showing their aristocratic Girl Like You very aptly highlight the characteristic
manners. They are fond of drinking, smoking and traits of the 1950s culture, By presenting the men-
dancing and are in fact cultural snobs. They think lower women relationships Amis shows the contemporary
class people like Jim Dixon and John Lewis to be the society which is based on hypocrisy and dissatisfaction.

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TREATMENT OF CULTURE IN THE NOVELS OF KINGSLEY AMIS 67

The class-consciousness is the main characteristic of References:

these people. People like Jim Dixon and John Lewis [1] Amis, Kingsley. Lucky Jim. 1954; rpt. Middlesex:
struggle hard to reach up to their standard but fail as Penguin Books Ltd. 1987.
these bourgeoisie upper-class people leave no stone [2] Amis, Kingsley. That Uncertain Feeling. 1955;
unturned to do them down. Things like love and marriage rpt. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1984.
seem no more important in this contemporary society. [3] Amis, Kingsley. Take a Girl Like You. 1960;
Committing adultery is no big thing for these people. In rpt. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1984.
fact marriage is not a sacred commitment for them. [4] Allsop, Kenneth. The Angry Decade: A Survey
For having physical pleasure they mix love with lust. of the Cultural Revolt of Fifties. London:
Politically also these people are hypocrite. They make Longman, 1958.
much advantage of their money and position to tempt [5] Atherton, Stanley S. “The Temper of the Times:
the lower-class people like Jim Dixon and John Lewis. Introduction and Background.” Allan Sillitoe:ACritical
The getting of job is no more based on merit but is on Assessment. London: A Howard Wyndham Co. 1979.
the approach or favour of the higher-class people. Amis [6] Christopher, David. British Culture: An
through the lives of Jim Dixon and John Lewis truly Introduction. London: Routledge, 1999.
present before us all these traits of the Contemporary [7] Matz, Jesse. The Modern Novel: A Short
culture of 1950s society. Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2004.
That Uncertain Feeling, Lucky Jim and Take a [8] “The Concept and Components of Culture.” The
Girl Like You are a powerful lampoon on aristocratic New Encyclopaedia Britannica: Macropaedia.
manners and culture. Amis through these novels tries 15th ed. 1987.
to find out a new post-war counter culture-the [9] Levis, F.R. The Great Tradition. London:
alternative culture that emerged to fill the vacuum left Longman, 1983.
when high-cultural values proved inauthentic and [10] Patil M. R. The Fictional World of Kingsley
conventional ‘bourgeoisie’ life lost its hold. Amis. Latur: Indotech Publications, 2011.

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68 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 68-70.
Paper ID: 10012013018
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 01 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 04 Jan 2013.

NON-FICTIONAL WORKS ON THE THEME OF THE PARTITION OF INDIAN

SUB-CONTINENT
Roopesh Chaturvedi
The partition of India into India and Pakistan draws came in path of the creation of Pakistan, and troubles
the attention of a number of people involved in creative that the country had to face as an independent nation.
activities. The theme of the partition has always been a Describing Indian politicians humbug the book tells that
matter of immense interest for the novelists, short-story the problems that Pakistan had to face as a newly
writers, play writers, film makers and political-social created nation were more numerous and more difficult
writers to shape their imagination-sometimes their than India for India’s capital Delhi was a going concern.
experiences related to the partition through their Because of its being pro-Pakistan, the book of
respective means of presentation. It is a very interesting Chaudhary Muhammad Ali cannot be taken as an
fact to know that the non-fictional works dealing with impartial account of the partition of India.
the historic, geographic and political aspects of the History of Punjab (1799-1947) is a description of
partition are more numerous than the fictional works the people of Punjab in their social, religious and political
expounding the human aspects of the division. However context. Written by Ikram Ali, the book describes in
non-fictional, non-literary works do not touch the human particularize the gradual development of the political
dimension of the catastrophe very deeply, still, they are, situation, leading towards the partition of Punjab. Like
undoubtedly, significant for they give a handsome ‘History of Punjab’, ‘History of Partition of India’ by
account of the political activities, religious conflicts and K. K. Aziz expounds the political thoughts of the people
geographic disputes during the terror haunted partition- in the political front responsible for the bifurcation of
hit days. It looks pretty significant to give a brief India. The voluminous work of K. K. Aziz with Ikram
introduction of the non-fictional works based on the Ali’s are also significant pieces of non-literary
partition in the present context. compositions contributed by Muslim authors on the
Non-fictional works on the theme of the partition theme of the partition, because they make it convenient
of India can be described under three heads: First, books for one to get acquaint with the thoughts of the
written by Indian writers. Second the contribution by community hardly hit by the partition of India. K. K.
the foreign writers. Third the books written by the Aziz keeps on extending his views in ‘Public Life in
authors from Pakistan. Pakistani writers’ writings Muslim India’. The book, at the same time, expresses
cannot be treated along with the rendering of the foreign how fit or unfit Muslims are in free-India. ‘The Making
writers, they, because of their anti-India attitude, have of India and Pakistan’: Select Documents’; of S. R.
framed out their own category. Many examples in this Bakshi is a sheer diplomatic piece of composition.
respect can be given. ‘The Emergence of Pakistan’ by Written in six volumes the title of the each supports
Mohammad Ali, the ex-prime minister (1955-1956) of their being a absolute political non-fictional work:
Pakistan, is an example in hand. Entirely a diplomatic volume first is entitled, ‘Congress and its Ideology’;
piece of work the book describes in detail the problems volume second is titled ‘Muslim League and its
Roopesh Chaturvedi: Asst. Professor of English, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur, India.

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NON-FICTIONAL WORKS ON THE THEME OF THE PARTITION OF ... 69

Ideology’; the title of the third volume is ‘Ideology of describing the human dimensions of the partition. Less
Hindu Mahasabha and Other Political Parties; the fourth political and not having much of geographical description
volume is entitled ‘British Policy in India’, the title of of the incident, the composition enrols itself in the list
the fifth and sixth volume are ‘Congress, Musim League of prominent works done on the subject of the partition.
and British Cabinet’; and ‘Partition of India’ ‘The Partition of India and Mountbatten’ by L.A.
respectively. ‘Mojahir’s Pakistan’ gives detail about Kesharwani touches not much of the partition as an
migrated Indian Muslims living miserable life in Pakistan- incident causing a great harm to the common mass.
a place which came in existence as a land meant for The book revolves around a great figure actively
Muslims only. In a way the book of M.G. Chitkara is participating in the act of unwanted partition. The book
humanistic enough for it pictures pains and passions of tries to justify the ways and actions of Lord during the
the Indian Muslims trapped in the illusion of Pakistan. days of the partition of India. Kesharwani’s composition
To support his view the author narrates the real life is also about the Britishers’ cryptic intention of leaving
stories in a fair amount. Magnificently enlightening and the country by setting a certain time limit. Kewal
exciting, as praised by National Observer, Washington, Singh’s, ‘Partition and Aftermath’: ‘Memoirs of an
‘Freedom at Midnight’, is an unbiased, authentic piece Ambassador’, is a personal account of a man who
of work by two foreign writers Dominique Lapierre watches and experiences the calamity very closely. The
and Larry Collins. This from America, that from France. work of Kewal Singh discloses a number of secrets
The writers make a unique team in a way that each regarding how unprepared and illequipped were the
pens down in his own language and then published it governments of India and Pakistan to handle the
simultaneously in English and French. The book gives situation. The book also raises one question that did
an excellent depiction of new India coming into being India really deserve freedom in the year 1947? The
with the approaching dawn of the mid-August day. Here book is an important partition document by a bureaucrat.
India has been described as a nation often beset by The composition of Gurubachan Singh indicates the
famine and frustration, struggling towards modernity action of Sikhs against Muslim during the days of the
and industrial power through the burden of her partition. Gurubachan Singh extends the view that the
multiplicity of peoples, cultures, tongues and religions. Muslim league was solely responsible for the violence
On occasion authors of the book are accused of being and the partition of India. The title of the book itself
pro-Mountbatten in its pages, but the popularity earned indicates towards the intention of the author that is
by the book fades all kind of criticism. A best seller in ‘Muslim League’s Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the
Europe, USA and Latin America, the book’s most Punjab’. The book accuses League and gives argument
significant impact was on the Indian subcontinent. It to prove his accusation. The book condemns Muslim
was translated in every Indian language in which books League, precisely, on conducting ‘Direct Action Day’.
are published. In Pakistan, however, the book is banned, Mohammad H.R. Talukdar, edits ‘Memoirs of Huseyn
for ‘Freedom at Midnight’, describes the indisputable Shaheed Suhrawardy’. With a Brief Account of his Life
human failing of the Islamic Nation’s founder. The book and Work’. The book basically concentrates itself on
discloses an interesting secret that had Mountbatten the life of a much talked about Muslim leader Shaheed
known the fact that Jinnah was dying of T. B., he would Suhrawardy. Earlier a nightclub and Champaign-loving
very probably have acted quite differently. Knowing politician, who had unleashed the terror of direct action
Jinnah was dying Mountbattern would have been surely on the city of Calcutta, changes his course of action
tempted to await his death. Then perhaps an and becomes the saviour of Hindus at Noakhali. The
independent Pakistan would never have come into book is more about the noble deed of the Muslim leader,
being. The book has also inspired much of script writer therefore it covers a little of the partition and almost
John Briley’s academy award winning script for Richard nothing of the darker side of Shaheed Suhrawardy. S.F.
Attenborough’s film ‘Gandhi’. Undoubtly ‘Freedom at Tucker, a foreign writer, makes the humanistic
Midnight’ is one of the most popular works on one of explanation of the partition with its relation to the life of
the most unpopular incident of the world history. a common man. Tucker’s ‘Indian Partition and Human
Mushirul Hasan’s ‘India’s Partition: Process, Strategy Debasement’ expresses the defeat of the humanistic
and Mobilization’, is a long description of the transfer attributes in each and every act of the people in India
of the power involving all the political and non-political and in Pakistan. Throughout self-centred politician’s acts
actions carving two new nations out of one. ‘Partition: and helplessness of humanity as theme make the book
The Real Story’, is a composition of moderate length an important partition-composition. Urvasrhi Butaliya

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70 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

earns immense popularity as she narrates many real authorities. ‘India Wins Freedom’, also considers from
life stories related to the survivors of the partition. She every possible point of view the scheme of Pakistan as
becomes ultimately realistic about ‘voices from the formulated by Muslim League. It examines the implications
partition of India’ in her ‘The Other Side of Silence’. of the scheme for the future of India as a whole.
The book, having many real life stories of the people References:
suffered from the greatest convulsion of history, cannot [1] Lapierre, Dominique and Larry, Collines,
be described as a pure fictional work, for it covers Freedom at Midnight, New Delhi, Vikas
everything real: real political conditions, real politicians, Publishing House, 1999.
real people, real pain and real data. The book [2] Menon, V. P., The Transfer of Power in India,
commences describing the riots of 1984, where Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1967.
everything was anti-Sikh. The book tells that Sikhs had [3] Azad, Maulana Abul Kalam, India Wins
the same experience in 1984 in India, as they had been Freedom, Calcutta, Orient Longman, 1989.
through in Pakistan in 1947. The autobiography of [4] Ali, Chaudhri Muhammad, The Emergence of
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, ‘India Wins Freedom’, is Pakistan, New York, Columbia University Press,
basically a political document imparting ideas about the 1967.
attitudes of the different prominent leaders before and [5] Butaliya, Urvashi, The Other Side of Silence,
after the independence. The book raised many Penguin India, 1998.
controversies as soon as it came into print. In his search [6] Cameron, James, An Indian Summer, London,
of finding the responsible men for the partition of India Macmillan and Co. Ltd, 1973.
Maulana points his finger towards some of the most [7] Campbell, Alexander, The Heart of India, New
influential political figures of the time. The book serves York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1958.
as an excellent source for information of the political [8] Campbell-Johnson, Alan, Mission with
activities as watched by a man close to the topmost Mountbatten, London, Robert Hale Ltd, 1951.

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 71

THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 71-74.
Paper ID: 10012013019
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 16 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 20 Jan 2013.

ACOUSTIC FEATURES OF TELUGU VOWELS:

A SPECTROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
S. Jaya Raju
Abstract:
For the study of human speech, acoustic issues have symbols as consonants and vowels, based on
taken a dominant role now-a-days. Linguists often adopt physiological factors involved in the production of the
the acoustic techniques to establish speech auditory symbols. In this connection, it is established
characteristics across the world. Using such acoustic that the oral stricture during the articulation of the
tools and techniques, the present paper looks into the auditory symbols is a fundamental physiological factor.
phonological behaviour of the Telugu vowels-[e:], [o:], With reference to vowels, Ladefoged (1975) says that
[u] and [a]. For the investigation, two sets of disyllabic their (vowels’) acoustic and temporal characteristics
words are chosen. In each set, the words are clustered subtly differ across the languages, though perceived
into three pairs. For each pair of word, a spectrograph the same. Therefore, acoustic cues can be of greatly
is taken. Thus, six spectrographs are taken into useful for the study of vowel characteristics in accuracy.
consideration for the study. There, the paper postulates Vowel Descriptions:
that there is vowel harmony among the test vowels, In articulatory phonetics, vowel descriptions are
which gives rise to the vowels [ æ ] and [Tù] in Telugu. made based on three physiological activities. They are
The analysis has been made with reference to formant 1) place of the tongue, 2) height of the tongue, and 3)
frequency of the vowels and the vowel durations. In lip shape. In acoustic phonetics, the frequency of vocal
conclusion, the paper has established the interesting fact folds during the articulation of vowels and the duration
that the vowels [a] and [u], being in the second syllable, they occupy are paramount. With regard to frequency,
affect the long vowels [e:] and [o:] that occur in the formants are potential source of acoustic cues to
first syllable. As well-known, this sort of phonological scientifically understand vowels. To correlate the
behaviour is known a vowel harmony. acoustic characteristics of vowels with their articulatory
Introduction: features, the first three formants i.e. F1, F2, and F3 are
In the human life and history, language has non- crucial. Hence, the formant frequency and the
controversially proved to be a unique means of durational factors are the irreducible for the present
communication. It is purely human and non-instinctive study of the target vowels in Telugu, one of the four
method of communicating ideas, emotions, and desires major Dravidian languages spoken in south India.
by means of a system of voluntarily produced symbols. Telugu Vowels:
These symbols are auditory and visual. The auditory In its writing system, Telugu has twelve vowels
symbols constitute spoken language, which is being paid including monophthongs and diphthongs i.e. [a, a:, i, i:,
more attention, in the modern technological society, by u, u:, e, e:, ai, o, o:, au]. However, Nagamma Reddy
linguists, speech scientists, audiologists, pathologists and (1986) excludes the two diphthongs i.e. [ai and au] and
so on. The linguists have described those auditory states that there are ten vowels in Telugu.
S. Jaya Raju: Associate Professor, Dept. of Phonetics & Spoken English, EFL University, Hyderabad (AP) India.

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72 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

Krishnamurthi (1961) introduces [æ and æ:] to the Set -II & Pair -1
modern Telugu. Though, [æ and æ:] do not have their
respective phonetic letters among the syllabaries of
Telugu.
The Present Study:

Frequency
This paper examines the quantity and quality of the
Telugu vowels /e:/, /o:/, /u/ and /a/. It is postulated that
there is vowel harmony among these vowels in terms
of quantity and quality. The short vowels /u/ and /a/
affect the quantity and quality of the long vowels /e:/ Duration
and /o:/. Taking their occurrence and the phonetic Length : 1.720 seconds Fig.2

environment into consideration, the paper gets along

with investigating the postulation. Since acoustic Duration of the Test Vowels:
phonetic techniques have reached relatively great level The test vowel in the words of set-I i.e. /e:/ and
of accuracy, we would like to adopt those techniques the test vowel in the words of set-I i.e. /o:/ have been
and to use instruments for this study. paid attention since their duration ( is to be quantified.
Method: The duration of the test vowels is quantified in each of
For the aforementioned purpose, two sets of their occurrence, taking the length of the spectrogram
disyllabic words in which the test vowels [/e:/, /o:/, /u/ ( ), the spectrographic length of the target vowels ( ,
and /a/ ] occur have been taken up. Each set consists and the time ( the spectrogram took. The duration of
of three pairs of words and all these words have the the test vowel in each occurrence is arrived at following
same syllable structure CV-CV. In the syllable structure the equation:
of the chosen words, /e:/ and /o:/ always occur in the
first syllable and /u/ and /a/ in the second syllable. The
chosen words are as follows: For instance, let us take set-I pair 1 word ‘a’ meeku,
and the vowel is /e:/. To arrive at the duration of the
vowel /e:/,
Length of the test vowel = 2 cm; Length of the
spectrogram = 15 cm, and
Spectrogram time = 1815 ms (1.815 secs) are
established. Therefore,

Spectrographic Analysis: = 242 ms

A spectrograph of each pair of words is taken up
and thus the study concentrates on six spectrographs for Likewise, the duration of all the occurrences of all the
six pairs of the test words. Two of those six spectrographs test vowels are quantified and tabulated in table (1).
as samples, representing each set, are given below (i.e.
Fig.1& Fig.2). The spectrographs are analyzed looking
at the duration of the test vowels /e: / and / o:/, the total
duration of the words, and also the phonetic environment
where the test vowels have occurred.
Set -I & Pair -1
Frequency

Looking into the Table (1), the following facts can be drawn.
1. / e: / occurs in the same phonetic environment in
each pair of words of the first set.
Duration 2. / o: / occurs in the same phonetic environment in
Length : 1.815 seconds Fig.1
each pair of words of the second set.

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ACOUSTIC FEATURES OF TELUGU VOWELS: ... 73

3. Though / e: / and / o: / occur in the same phonetic than the difference between F1 and F2 of the test
environment in the pairs, there is significant vowels in the second word. This shows that the
difference in the duration. vowel in the first word is more front than the vowel
4. The difference can be observed even in the ration in the second.
of duration. Taking the Table (1) and Table (2) into consideration,
5. This durational difference of the individual sounds we can say that the quality and quantity of the same
affects the total duration of the words. test vowel vary from word to word in every pair. Though
The above facts evince that the increase in the the test vowel is orthographically similar, in pronunciation
duration of the test vowels has affected the total duration it differs from word to word in this context. All these
of the word. There are actually several factors that facts tell us that each of the test vowels / e: / and /o: /
affect the duration of the speech sounds. One of them has two different realizations that really differ from each
is the phonetic quality of the speech sounds. In the case other in terms of both quantity and quality. So, /e:/
of vowels, the duration appears to be correlated with realizes as /Q/ and /o:/ realizes as / •:/.
openness or the tongue height. Moreover, the two different realizations of the same
Frequency of the Test Vowels: phoneme are found in the same phonetic environment.
Table (2), given below, gives us very interesting Why does this happen? This is the immediate question
information about the formant frequency which explains one can ask. Let us examine the phonetic environment
the test vowels in terms of height. in which the test vowels occur.
Phonetic Environment:
As mentioned earlier, all the selected words have
the same syllable structure like CV – CV. So far, we
have examined the vowels /e:/ and /o:/ in the first
syllables keeping the adjacent consonants in mind. Even
though, we are left with the above mentioned question.
At this juncture, it is necessary to take all the four sounds
into consideration, in other words two syllables. The
data regarding the syllables of the chosen words is
The following facts can be drawn from the table (2). presented below in Table 3 and 4.
1. In each pair F1 of the test vowel in the second
word has at least twice the frequency that F1 of
the test vowel in the first word has. This can be
observed in both sets of the words.
2. F1 of the test vowel has higher frequency in the
second word than in the first word, in every pair. A
cue says that if F1 of a vowel is higher, the vowel
originally lowers. According to this, the test vowel
occurred in the words of second set are lower than
the vowels in the words of the first set.
3. Another cue says that if F1 of a vowel is lower, the
vowel is higher. So, the test vowels occurred in the
words of first set are higher than the test vowels in
the words of the second set.
4. The difference between F1 and F2 of the test
vowels in the words of first set is greater than the
difference between F1 and F2 of the test vowels in
the words of second set. This shows that all the
test vowels in the first set are front vowels and all
the test vowels in the second set are back vowels.
5. If we look at the words of the first set, it can be
found that the difference between F1 and F2 of the
test vowels in the first word of every pair is greater

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74 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

From the tables 3 and 4, the following inferences The study, hence, concludes with the interesting
can be drawn from the observation of the segmental information that the vowels /a/ and / u / affect the long
values of the words presented in set I and set II. vowels /e: / and / o: / that occur in the first syllable,
1. In the words 1 (a), 2 (a), and 3 (a) of set I, F1 of / being in the second syllable. This is due to vowel
u / and F 1 of /e: / have the same frequency. harmony. The spectrographs clearly and accurately
2. Similarly, in the words 1 (a), 2 (a) and 3(a) of set II, show that the vowel harmony has taken place in terms
F1 of / u / and F 1 of / o: / have the same frequency. of quantity and quality of the vowels, evinced by the
3. In the words 1 (b), 2 (b) and 3(b) of set I, F1 of / a fundamental frequency of formants and duration of the
/ and F 1 of / e: / [Here, realized as / Q / ] have the test vowels.
same frequency. References:
4. In the words 1 (b), 2 (b), and 3(b) of set II, F1 of / [1] Clark, J. An Introduction to Phonetic and
a / and F 1 of / o: / [Here, realized as / •: / ] have Phonology. Basil Blackwell Ltd., 1990.
the same frequency. [2] Code, C. Experimental Clinical Phonetics,
5. Clearly, / a / has greater duration than / u /. And / a Croom Helm (ed.). London & Canberra, 1984.
/ has also greater frequency than /u/. [3] Denis Fry, B. The Physics of Speech. London:
6. When /a/ occurs in the second syllable and / e: / in Cambridge University Press, 1979.
the first syllable, /e: / is affected by the duration [4] Krishnamurti, B. H. Telugu Verbal Bases: A
and frequency of / a / and it realizes as / Q / with Comparative and Descriptive study (Vol. 24).
greater duration. Similarly, / o: / is also affected Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of
and it realizes as / • :/ with greater duration. California Press, 1961.
7. The data tells us that if low vowel occurs in the [5] Ladefoged, P. Elements of acoustic Phonetics.
second syllable in CV-CV structure, the vowel in London: The University Press, 1962.
the first syllable realizes as low vowel. If high vowel [6] Ladefoged, P. A Course in Phonetics. New
occurs, the vowel in the first syllable realizes as York: Blackwell Publishers,1975.
high vowel. So, the vowels that occur in the first [7] Ladefoged, P. Vowels and Consonants: An
syllable are affected in terms of quantity and quality Introduction to the Sounds of Languages:
by the vowels that occur in the second syllable. Blackwell Publishing, 2001.
Phonetic Form and Conclusion: [8] Denis Fry, B. The Physics of Speech. London:
In this context, / e: / and /o: / are harmonized with / Cambridge University Press, 1979.
u / and / a / in terms of quantity and quality. Then the [9] Lehiste, I. (Ed.) Readings in Acoustic
phonetic transcription of the chosen words will be as Phonetics. London: The MIT Press, 1967.
follows. [10] Lieberman, P. Speech Physiology and Acoustic
Phonetics. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.
Inc., 1977.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 75-78.
Paper ID: 10012013020
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 16 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 20 Jan 2013.

APPRECIATION OF SHAKESPEARE’S THE TEMPEST IN CONCERN OF

COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND PARAPHRASED
CONTENT
Vishal Chandrakant Bodhale
Abstract:
The present paper exposes appreciative problems It is general problem of poetic language and the
in concern of Shakespearean Dramas which are paraphrased language. Thus paraphrased content also
available in both original and paraphrased contents. The may change subjectively based on the translators view
focus is on the comparative study of these both contents towards original text. This fact also has been referred
and aesthetical problems of the drama. In this concern at last of the paper.
William Shakespeare’s drama ‘The Tempest’ is Introduction:
selected. As it is tragicomedy and also the perfect, Drama is genre of literature which is mostly related
mature work of art. There are no. of dialogues in the to the art of per formation. Dialogues, Characters,
Tempest where the paraphrased version is not expected Settings play an integral part in the set up of drama. To
as it nullifies aesthetic make up of all drama. study Shakespearean drama in now day’s context is
Implications and Pragmatical standardization which is not so easy, as the language of such drama is not familiar
the basic need of such dialogues is not fulfilled in this and nearly outdated now days. So in case of those
paraphrased version of original content. However there dramas prescribed for syllabus both original dramas with
are no. of dialogues which are hard to understand, as its modern version in paraphrase are imparted for the
Old English language and also Socio-cultural context students and teachers. Thus to reflect features of
behind the used words. Such dialogues must be turned original drama in this paraphrased content is not
into modern version. Drama contains various puns, satisfactorily possible. So appreciative problems
quotations and short poetic lines meaningful in their observed here is to accept paraphrased version to
shortness. They are not so hard to comprehend, but in concise clear meaning or to accept original content for
paraphrased version these lines are converted in modern the chaotic search of aesthetic meaning hidden in the
version which broadens there size. Due to which text. Here William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest ’is
aesthetic effect expected by author remains in question. taken as an example to survey differences mentioned
Characters and their spoken dialogues are the two basic above. This drama is studied with following points.
facts of any drama. Intentions of characters given in Unwanted Paraphrases:
original content are hard to transform in modern version Dialogues are the most important aspect of drama.
of paraphrase. In concern of The Tempest colonialism These are the only driving factors of meaning and theme
is also the major theme of this drama. Slave-master, in the drama. In concern of The Tempest there is no.
colonizer-colonized such like boundaries also have of dialogues which do not need any paraphrases. As
specialty in the original interactions. Finally this some are resembled to our modern English and others
comparison leads further to the songs in The Tempest. are so attached to the aesthetic value in the situation
Vishal Chandrakant Bodhale: Asst. Professor, Balwant College, Vita, Sangli (MS) India.

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that their transformation in modern version will nullify grave (Act-5, Scene-1).
the style, structure and linguistic approaches to the In this dialogue sentence ‘Every third thought shall
drama. See the following example; be of my grave’ is difficult to understand in its original
Prospero: (Aside) Poor worm, thou are infected! version. In paraphrased version ‘third thought’ will be
This visitation shows it (Act-III, Scene-1). the third old stage of life and ‘grave’ is the denotation for
Incident taken place in this dialogue is the secret the death. Prospero wants to die satisfactorily in his Milan.
meeting between Miranda &Ferdinand which is Thus such like dialogues in paraphrased versions
witnessed by Prospero. So pragmatically meaning of will delimit the ambiguity about meaning. These
‘worm’ and ‘visitation’ can easily be understood by the dialogues need to be translated into Modern English
reader who acquaints with the incident in the drama. version. Without which there will remain skeptic residue
Same is about the dialogue of Gonzalo, when he serves by dramatist to the readers.
his blessings to the new married couple, as below; Short Sentences and Quotations:
Gonzalo: Look down, you gods, Para phrasal meaning hardly needs in case of short
And on this couples drop a blessed crown! (Act-1, poetic lines, quotations and puns in the original drama.
Scene-1) In case of Shakespeare, puns and quotations are very
If paraphrased meanings of ‘gods’ and ‘crown’ are important which are the short but sweet signs of
elaborated in the sentences they will not impart any dramatic character.
aesthetic value which is included in the original context. Note the following quotations;
So such like dialogues and their paraphrasalversion will Trinuclo:… misery acquaints a man with strange
differentiate this gap in large extend. These dialogues bed-fellows (Act-2, Scene-2).
must be remained, studied and taught in original forms Prospero: The rarer action is in virtue than in
for the sake of literariness in them. vengeance (Act-5, Scene-1).
Need of Paraphrases: Para phrasal versions of these two quotations will
All dialogues are not related to the context and become only the simple sentences, which can’t get the
situations by which they will be understood in original original decorum of their verbal presentation. If
version. There is also no. of dialogues which are difficult Prospero’s quotation is paraphrased like, “there is very
due to using extra-verbal implementation and Old English less action in virtues than in revengeful act.” such like
uses. They become hard to understand in original form. version will affect on the alliteration, ellipsis employed
See the following dialogues by Prospero in three by Shakespeare in the original form.
different situations; Now study following puns;
1. Prospero: It was mine art, when I arrived, Miranda: Good wombs have borne bad sons (Act-
And heard thee, that made gape the pine, 1, Scene-2).
And let thee out (Act-1, Scene-2). Ariel: Hell is empty,
This dialogue is about the masterly denotation of And all the devils are here (Act-1, Scene-2).
Prospero to the Ariel about informing him how he had These short sentences in paraphrased version will lose
freed him from the captivity through the pine tree. But their literary value.’ Good wombs’ is the special
‘gape of pine’ is the hard phrase to be understood.So in metonymy and in the second sentence certain climax
such case paraphrasal version is also important. has been used. It is not possible in modern language to
2. “we are such stuff ,as dreams are made on, equalize these quotations and short lines with their
And our little life is rounded with sleep (Act-4, definite vigor, though they used the meaning will be
Scene-1). artificial rather being naturally related with the text.
This dialogue is but the philosophical expression of Emotional Attachment:
Shakespeare through the character of Prospero. Drama is per formative art, where emotions stand
‘Stuff’,’little life’ and ‘sleep’ are three important side by side with the intellect. Altenbernd and Lewis
implicatures in this speech. If this dialogue is paraphrased note about this, “Dialogues also express the feelings,
it will simplify all the meanings and also the actual decisions and conclusions of the characters. The
philosophical sublimity. In paraphrase ‘stuff ’are meaning is in the interaction or conjunctions of the lines”
‘meaningless things’ and ‘sleep’ is ‘the death’ which are (A Handbook for the Study of Drama).
the fixed meanings. So in case of written availability of drama dialogues
3. Pro: “And thence retire to my Milan, are the only mediums through which emotions of
Where Every Third thought shall be of my characters will be conceived.

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APPRECIATION OF SHAKESPEARE’S THE TEMPEST IN CONCERN OF... 77

See the excitement of Ferdinand when he firstly Caliban: Thou strok’dstme ,andmadst much of me;
saw Miranda, Wouldst give me water with berries in’t
Ferdinand: O Heaven! O Earth, And teach me how to name the bigger light and
Bear witness to this sound, how the less,
And crown what I profess with kind event (Act-3, That burn by day and night (Act-1, Scene-2).
Scene-1). Prospero: I’ll rack thee with old cramps, fill all thy
In this dialogue interjections are denoting the bones with aches,
excitements of the speaker. If these lines are Make thee roar, that beasts shall tremble at thy din
paraphrased in the Modern language though with same (Act-1, Scene-2).
interjections like; “O Heaven! O Earth, here this Note the intentions in these both dialogues. Caliban
question and my answer to it.” Note the clarity; is speaking with the great humbleness but there is much
intentions of characters which we find in the original rudeness and masterly intention in Prospero’s speech.
speech will not be observed in general, plain language All sentences in these both dialogues are short and have
of the paraphrase. cut quickly. So they do get certain comprehensive
Now note the dialogue of Prospero, when does he meaning in their short forms. In paraphrased level such
express love about his daughter; short sentences will not be appeared. Though we have
Prospero: Thou didst smile, known about theme of master-slave relation; the actual
Infused with the fortitude from heaven, pride of master and humbleness of slave would not be
When I have decked the sea with drops full of salt, got in paraphrased version. Also see the following
Under my burden groaned (Act-1, Scene-2). dialogues of Caliban which describe slavishness of
If the words like ‘fortitude from heaven’, ‘full salt colonized people and revolt in his mind about the master;
sea’, and ‘burden groaned’ like phrases converted in ‘I prithee, be my god’ (Act-2, Scene-2).
general language, then meaning will be cleared but an ‘I’ll kiss thy foot; I’ll swear me thy subject’ (Act-2,
attachment with the speakers emotions would not be Scene-2).
suggested by paraphrased language in an expected limit. ‘A plague upon thy tyrant, that I serve’ (Act-2, Scene-2).
In another approach see the following dialogue from Here are the special coinage of words appeared for
Miranda; Caliban. Their paraphrased meaning will be general,
Miranda: O, woe the day! (Act-1, Scene-2). common to all characters. So boundaries made by
Paraphrase- Alas! How sorrowful it is! (Act-1, Shakespeare about this thematic purpose will not be
Scene-2). observed in the modern version.
Here note the change in exclamation. But the Songs in TheTempest:
shortness needed in actual drama attached with the Songs play very important role in Shakespeare’s
very state of characters mind will not be described in play. It is the musical and poetical delight in the prosaic
the paraphrased content. So dramatist adds such drama like The Tempest. Songs in The Tempest are
sentences which are appropriate for the earlier pitiful generally sung by minor characters like Ariel, Stephano,
incident. Thus the original set-up of intentional unity is Nymphs and the various gods gathered at the marriage
nullified in these paraphrased versions. of Ferdinand and Miranda. General aesthetical problem
Colonialism as the Major Theme: observed in the paraphrased versions of the songs is
The Tempest is the tragi-comedy by Shakespeare.It that such versions neither give musical delight nor they
was the most mature work by the author.Colonialism is impart mood of the singer at that event. See following
also the major theme of this drama. Here Prospero is extract from the song of Ariel;
symbolized as colonizer\master and his attendants like Full fathom five thy father lies;
Ariel and Caliban are as colonized people, the slaves Of his bones are coral made;
who are exploited by the Prospero. It will be important Those are pearls that were his eyes,
to observe whether this theme has been differentiated Nothing of him that do the fade (Act-1, Scene-2).
between the language of slave and their master. As Appreciate alliteration of ‘f’ sound and metonymy
stated earlier dialogues depend upon character, his used for sea as ‘fathom’, islands ‘coral.’ Such like
status and appearance. It signifies the interaction coinage of words though used in paraphrase would not
between power discourse and counter power discourse. carry natural mood of singer. Its paraphrase will become
See the following interaction between Prospero and potent artificial form of well image set in the song. Also
Caliban. see the song of Stephano;

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For she had a tongue with a tang, Conclusion:

Would cry the sailor, Go hang!”(Act-1, Scene- Any original work of drama is an amalgam of
2) different flows able to flow through it. The appreciative
Last words ‘Go hang’ have come for not only the problems which are exposed in this paper are due to
purpose of rhyme, but also they serve as instant reply taking at a time only paraphrased content or taking only
of a singer about his plightful condition. This last as original text. If these two contents are taken side by
imperative denotation will not benaturally intermixed side and also taught, guided to the students then no. of
with the modern paraphrase of song. Actually problems will be nullified. The real vigor of any work
paraphrase of poetry itself is an artificial thing to adapt. of art lies in its originality. However in recent days
So in this case hard, difficult songs also should be education this originality has been observing as in very
remained in their original form or tried to conceive poor condition in the readers and students. To read
their meaning in the original text. Para phrasal form original text of Shakespearean drama with aid of
also will help to get meaning without any poetic value paraphrase will nullify lot of problems. Somewhere there
in them. is possibility to ignore novelty of original content. So
Subjectivism of Paraphrase Maker: selective approach of readers is important to choose
Finally it is observed that though original text of where follow originality and where to paraphrase. Thus
The Tempest is written by Shakespeare, there will be this is an effective solution on the appreciative problem
no. of availability of paraphrase makers who will discussed the paper. To appreciate Shakespearean
change original meaning according to their personal drama is to belong with experience of The Greatest
knowledge. Paraphrase of this same text may change Dramatist of the world. Where justifying only
as per the author. Ambiguous words coined by paraphrased meaning will be being ignorant about such
Shakespeare like the ‘New Brave World’ will be outstanding creation of a great author.
understood by someone as new generation, new future Reference Books:
or the new challenges in the lives of human being. So [1] William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Paraphrase
the word fathom also will be appreciated person wise. & Annotations by Dr. Raghukul Tilak, Rajhans
Someone will take it as the sea, as the deep or also Agencies, Meerut, 1988.
the hell. In these instances subjective mind of [2] Lynn Altenbernd & Leslie Lewis, A Handbook
paraphrase maker can’t always get fixed, universal for Th Study Of Drama’, Macmillan Company,
meaning of particular text. Thus subjectivism in London, 1966.
concern of paraphrase is also the major error to get [3] Christopher Reaske, ‘How To Analyze
real appreciation of drama. Drama?’ Monarch Press, NewYork, 1966.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 79-81.
Paper ID: 10012013021
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 11 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 15 Jan 2013.

A CRITIQUE OF MAHESH DATTANI’S SEVEN STEPS AROUND THE FIRE

Bashisth Choubey

Dattani in the process of engineering the current of but not in South India where more than 80% take up
Indian drama by bringing it closure to the real life sex work to earn a living. Since very few can afford
experiences tried to articulate the voices of the sexual reassignment surgery, most go to ‘daiammas’
oppressed sections of society whose identity is shrouded within their community or quacks for emasculation.
in the cover of myths and social prejudices. They have With this crude surgery they achieve what they call
been dragged in darkness, doomed to survive in ‘nirvana.’
perpetual silence bearing the oppressive burden of ‘Hijras’ trace their origins from the myths in the
hegemony of the elitist class. The dramatic mode, Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The legend in the
adopted in Seven Steps Around the Fire has come Mahabharata is that Aravan, the son of Arjuna and
close to T. S. Eliot’s own observation of drama: Nagakanya, offers to be sacrificed to Goddess Kali to
It should remove the surface of things, explore the ensure the victory of the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra
underneath, or inside of natural surface appearance. war. The only condition that he made was to spend the
It may allow the characters to behave inconsistently last night of his life in matrimony. Since no woman was
but only with respect to a deeper consistency. It willing to marry one who was doomed to be killed,
may use any device to show their real feelings and Krishna assumes the form of a beautiful woman called
volitions instead of just what in actual life, they Mohini and marries him. The hijras of Tamil Nadu
would normally profess to be conscious of, it must consider Aravan their progenitor or and call themselves
reveal underneath the vacillating or inform character, aravanis.
the indomitable unconscious will and underneath the In Seven Steps Around the Fire Mahesh Dattani
resolute purpose of the planning animal, the victim explores the unusual love relationship between Kamla
of circumstances and the doomed or sanctified and Subbu. Kamla is a hijra, while Subbu is the son of a
being [1]. minister. The minister is a politician who is capable of
In the Indian context, the story is somewhat unusual doing anything. Kamla married Subbu secretly but very
as it projects the lives of the third sex. The hijra soon she was murdered. Uma wants to know who the
community existed in the most parts of the world with murderer of Kamla is. She meets Champa and Anarkali.
their own local identities. They are called ‘baklas’ in Their conversation makes clear that in this insensitive
the Philipines, ‘berdaches’ among American Indian society nobody cares for the hijras whereas they are
tribes, ‘serrers’ in Africa and ‘hijras, jogappas, jogtas, also an integral part of the society. Champa and Anarkali
shiv-shaktis and aravanis in South Asia. discourage Uma to abandon the effort of finding out
The hijra community in India which has a recorded Kamla’s murderer. Anarkali tells Uma, “Don’t put your
history of more than 4,000 years, was considered to own position in danger. Go home”
have special powers because of its third-gender status. Uma attends the wedding ceremony of minister son
In the North, their blessings are considered auspicious, along with her husband. Champa and Anarkali also come
Bashisth Choubey: Jagadamba Mahavidyalaya, Achalpur (MS) India.

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there to sing and dance but Mr. Sharma asks security be permitted to live of themselves as long as they
forces to take them out because he is afraid of respect the laws of the land and impede no one’s
happening something unwanted. When Subbu is shown freedom. This is not only the conclusion of this play,
his own photograph with Kamla by Anarkali, he begins but also of all the plays written by Dattani. The play
to cry and asks for photograph. After taking the Seven Steps Around the Fire holds up a mirror before
photograph from Anarkali, he takes a gun, aims at his the life of the hijra community in India. No one has
father reveals the secrete of Kamla’s murderer. In an made any such an honest attempt to deal with this
outburst, he cries ‘you killed her ‘and kills himself. After ignored section of society as dattani has done through
his death everything is clear. Uma’s husband, Suresh Indian English literature. Dattani has taken up an issue
who is the Superintendent of police, is interested in that is beyond the visible zone of social behavior by
protecting the minister. The minister is the villain in the venturing to explore the misery of other marginalized
play. The minister offends the moral order, and the order sections of society struggling against the forces of social
is resituated with the death of his son. He is not a apathy.
distinguished person according to Aristotle’s definition Through the characters of Champa and Anarkali,
of a tragic hero. Yet he is more than ordinary. He is a the play throws light on the guru-chela tradition of the
minister and he suffers from tragic flaws. His serious hijra community. Accordingly, hijras have to find out a
drawback is that he cannot excite our sympathy because guru who agrees to accommodate them in the guru’s
he is not a character on the line of Aristotelian theory household. The chelas have to pay certain amount as
of tragedy. His voices too are moderate. How it can be initiation fee. Once accepted the chelas work for the
forgotten that the minister got Kamla murdered and guru. The guru takes care of the chelas. After spending
then tried to tamper with the evidence? some time with the hijra-fold, the new chelas have to
The basic question arises in this play is that why undergo a painful castration operation. Thereafter, they
Mr. Sharma wants to eliminate kamla. The answer is become a permanent member of the fold. The Chelas
that the society does not approve a man’s marriage are the earning members of the family. They go out in
with a hijra .Mr Sharma does not want to be socially groups, move in their stipulated area, and beg money.
ignored with the stigma of marrying his son with a hijara Some of them also indulge in objectionable activities
which was against the tradition of a so called reputed like male prostitution, extortion and kidnapping etc. When
society. The only one option was left to Mr. Sharma in the gurus become incapable of handling the household,
wake of his social status to any way eliminate kamla they are replaced by someone from their family.
and keep the marriage secret. Sometimes, the chelas break away from the guru and
But why the society so cruel to the hijras? Why join some other guru through a special process.
can’t it tolerate a deviant practice? Why should society However, the Guru is always financially benefited in
object to a man’s marrying a hijra if it makes both of every procedure.
them happy? Is anything in life more valuable than The relationship between Champa and Anarkali can
happiness which harms no one? To these questions be compared with the Hindu life stage, particularly that
society has no answers. Society should try to explore of the house-holder stage. The process of becoming a
the answers of the above mentioned burning questions. guru is like ‘procreation’. One becomes a guru only
It is the duty of the society to serve the issues of the after adding chelas from the larger community. This is
third gender because they are inseparable part of our similar of having children. Guru takes care of his
highly cultured and civilized society. They should not ‘children’, i.e. chelas. In that case, he has to perform
be punished for the guilt which they have not committed the role of a parent. Once guru becomes older, he might
at all. This kind of tribalism is natural to man unless he be replaced by good chelas. It is also equally true that
is properly educated and trained in rational and all chelas cannot become gurus. For a hijra, who has
humanistic ways of thinking. The enlightened Euro/ left all his relations behind, this structure is mentally
American world has thus become a truly humanist satisfying as it provides a sense of the family.
humanity in a large measure. The rest of the world To an average reader, Kamla-Subbu marriage
must learn to emulate their example. Then most of our seems to be socially unacceptable. This is because
problems will disappear and much of our unnecessary Kamla is a hijra and Subbu is a ‘normal’ man. Initially,
pain will go. In such a kindly atmosphere, heterosexuals, the reader may feel that Dattani is overstating the issue.
homosexuals, bi-sexual and the hijras may equally be However, marriage of Sonia Ajmeri, (a hijra,) with
able to live happily as respectable citizens. They should Amrish, (an Air India pilot), actually took place in

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A CRITIQUE OF MAHESH DATTANI’S SEVEN STEPS AROUND THE FIRE 81

Ahmedabad. This episode shocked everyone in the city. picture of marginalised class of the society. The play
A detailed account of it appeared in the newspapers. depicts the pathetic situation of the downtrodden section
The question which naturally arises is: why should a of the society. The plight of hijra in our society is very
hijra marry a man? But it is very difficult task to answer pathetic and heart moving.
the question because it is not easy to reveal the inner This is the irony of all ironies that the hijras who
meaning of human psyche. When two persons love each are whole heartedly welcome, on two occasions: at the
other, may be a man and a woman, or a woman and a time of marriage, and, at the time of childbirth, to sing
woman, or a man and a man or a man and a eunuch, and dance, are themselves deprived of their marriage
they want to live together. When they are living beyond and childbirth. Dattani introduces this new and unusual
the area of society, it would cause no problem. Actually theme for the first time to Indian English drama.
their unnatural relationship does not harm anyone in It is not a conventional love story but a realization
the civilized society but it causes other problems. Ties of life beyond the hold of social rituals. It signifies that
based on unnatural relationship do not damage the pillars the subterranean current of sublime realization is beyond
of the institution of marriage. Therefore, the society the surface of rational control of man. The dynamic
should not get angry by such instances which cause no representation of eunuch community is not confined to
harm to the established norms of the social values. Even social dynamics but also includes deeper emotional and
in the twenty first century human beings are not capable psychological suggestions. Dattani has the potential to
of taking decisions based on reasons and facts. It all extract the innermost recesses of human psyche that
depends on education. Proper education has made the compels an individual to make perpetual struggle
western humanity more sensible. In India also popular against the forces that makes oddities of life difficult to
attitudes are changing fast due to spread of education. bear. The last scene of the play is praiseworthy for the
In the news reports of the ‘hijra-marriage’ it is stated emotional intensity expressed in the texture of the play.
that the hijras have celebrated the event and given huge Dattani is convinced that the bonds of human
dowry to the marrying hijra. Other people flock to relationship are universal beyond the restrictions of
witness the event. It appears that people are myths and conventions.
progressively realizing more and more, that this form References:
of sexuality is a personal matter of a couple involved in [1] Eliot,T.S., Introduction to Shakespeare and
it, and nobody else’s business. It cannot be denied that the Popular Dramatic Tradition by S. K.
marriage gives a respectable status to a hijra who Bethall, Faber and Faber, 1945, p.13.
otherwise has to be satisfied with occasional role as a [2] Dattani, Mahesh, Collected Plays, New Delhi:
partner in sodomy. Mahesh Dattani has chosen unusual Penguin Books, 2000.
theme of hijras for this play as he wants to portray the

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 82-84.
Paper ID: 10012013022
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 04 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 10 Jan 2013.

ECOLOGICAL INSIGHTS IN PURANANUR LITERATURE

G. Srilatha

Ecology is a term derived from German ‘Oecologie’ King Pari in 16 poems and the poems are numbered
meaning “the branch of biology that deals with the from 105 to 120. The main focus of the paper is on a
relationships between living organisms and their study of the human relationship with nature as exhibited
environment” (Johnston 2000: 193). The etymology of by the poet Kapilar.
the word ‘Ecology’ describes it as the knowledge of Purananur was written before Aryan influence had
the household science. The first law of ecology is that penetrated the South as thoroughly as it did later and is
everything is connected to everything else. Barry a testament of pre-Aryan south India and to a significant
Commoner quotes “Any living thing that hopes to live extent, of Pre-Aryan India. The old Tamil Kings
on earth must fit into the ecosphere or perish” (The preserved a royal aura. It is crucial that they be treated
Closing Circle 1971: 8). Therefore ecology is not a with respect. They showed mercy and generosity toward
binary relationship between an organism and the their suppliants especially bards, poets and drummers.
environment; it is inclusive of the interrelationship among The society that is depicted in Purananur revolves
the environment, society and the individual. The present around the king who was thought to have important
study focuses on the ecological insights in Purananur powers over the environment and to have the ability to
Literature. neutralize and counter act dangerous magical forces.
Purananur is one of the oldest Tamil anthologies of The poems of Purananur illustrate what a king should
Sangam Literature reflecting the life of the Tamils 2,000 be, how he should act, how he should balance his
years ago. Purananur means “The Four Hundred responsibilities and how he should show his generosity.
[poems] About the Exterior.” Classical Tamil literature The king is supposed to be the main figure who makes
is divided into two categories: akam, “interior” and possible the creation of an ordered condition of the
puram “exterior.” The former are love poems and the world. It is believed that because of the king, the rains
later are poems that concern life outside the family, the come, enemies are kept at bay and the fields are fertile.
king and his greatness. The ancient Tamil area was in a state of incessant
Sangam literature, the golden age of the Tamils warfare and men were supposed to fight with bravery
exhibits heroic poetry of ancient Tamils. Amongst the and a reckless disregard of death. In south India, the
eight sangam anthologies, only two contain exclusively ideal king had been a hybrid figure. There were three
puram poems: the purananuru and the patirruppattu. great kings Chera, Chola and Pandya three dynasties
This classical work enables us to disentangle the strands and many minor kings and chieftains. To survive, the
of early Indian culture. Purananur is a collection of four bards travelled around the countryside and attempted
hundred poems sung by various poets. This paper is an to attach themselves to the court of a king. Upon arriving
attempt to study the life of the city Parampu as sung by at a court, they would sing the greatness of the king’s
the bard Kapilar and identify the ecological insights exploits, expecting some reward. The king is a god for
represented in the poems. The poet sings the glory of the people. Even if people bring him Erukkam flower,
G. Srilatha: PG Dept. of English, PB Siddhartha College of Arts & Science, Vijayawada (AP) India.

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ECOLOGICAL INSIGHTS IN PURANANUR LITERATURE 83

which is neither good nor bad, with its tight cluster and Even at times of evil or unfavourable periods still
its brownish leaves, still the king is pleased. It is a custom the fields were full of grain and the bushes blossomed
that if people visit him he will reward them because he with colorful flowers. When the rains failed, even in
is a generous man. Even water tastes less sweet than dry land, Jasmine blooms with its green leaves. During
the grace of Vel Pari from whom bards win a Crimson the times of monsoon when rains poured down heavily
ornament if they go to him and sing songs of praise. the flowers of the terul vines bloomed like ornamental
Pari! Pari! they say, and with their eloquent tongues paint on the faces of the elephant, that is the flowers
The bards praise one man and sing of his many were used to decorate the elephant.
strengths. During monsoon the red hills and the field had
But more than only Pari matters (The Purananur abundant moisture, though Venkai trees had grown there
73: 1999). in the intense heat and mix in the dust and grow big,
The poet Kapilar sings the greatness of King Pari in 16 they cut the fresh common millet that has grown so
poems. The abundant natural resources of the city well and they cut the little millet then when the green
Parampu and the life of its inhabitants are narrated in sesame seeds blackens, and in every house in the huts
these poems. It is believed that nature is a blessing and roofed with grass they share the clarified toddy that
provides them everything in excess. had been buried and matured in liquor jars. As such
The natural world is splendid with monsoons to monsoon gives them abundance of food such as curry
protect the world. The clouds bring rain but expect with tamarid, and sweet butter milk and a wealth of
nothing in return. The monsoon protects the world by soft millet.
bringing freshness and life to nature. Nature is nourished In such a land no one feels the pain. People from
by the rainfall. The bountiness of nature is seen in the four directions come to him in their need. Irrespective
city by the sound of a waterfall on one side and on the of the rainfall the flowers of blue waterlilies stay fresh.
other side filtered, clear, sweet toddy flows. Nature is Their dark petals swarm with bees at the surface of
resplendent and sweet for the bards to sing mountain pools. The poet describes the beauty of the
enthusiastically about nature and man. land as thus:
On one side, the sound of a waterfall. On the other, For the first-from bamboo, with its tiny leaves, a
Filtered, clear, sweet toddy, eager to fill the bowls rice springs up,
of bards, and the second, with its sweet pulp, is the ripening
Poured out and spilling and flowing, carrying along jackfruit,
stones! (76). and third, thickly growing, is the valli root with its
The people of those times led a carefree life without luxuriant vine,
any thought. This was so because nature was splendid and the fourth is honey, with its lovely darkness
and blessing. Every creature in that land seems to be pouring out,
happy. The girls are found happy as they go around the color overwhelming the peak of the tall mountain
and climb up on a heap covered with dwarf date palm dense with vines! (74)
where sponge gourd has rooted and has spread near a These lines illustrate the abundance of natural food
hut that has cotton growing in the front yard. They would available to the people without any effort put by them.
climb the highest peak on the wide mountain where Pari, the King is a good organizer for he is collective
prosperity was unending and the peacocks would rise and co-ordinates with 300 villages. Nature was gracious
up and dance in gardens of cultivated flowers while on to them and they were able to be collective. There are
the slope monkeys were swinging and leaping and trees 300 villages in Parampu and all the 300 villages are
gave fruit both in and out of season. The fruits were so well managed and organized in an order. The reservoirs
plenty that the monkeys could not take them all. This or tanks supplied water and allowed Pari’s land to hold
shows the abundance of fruits that are available in the out indefinitely against the three great kings who were
city of Parampu without any efforts made by the people. jealous of him.
Thus, the city of Parampu is blessed with rich natural The name and fame of King Pari spreads far and
resources and the king is also generous to give gifts. wide so that three kings become jealous and attack
The king can be pleased by singing his glory. The king him. Inspite of the invasion of the three kings (Chera,
gives large amounts of gifts to the bards in the form of Chola, Pandya) and besieging of the city four crops
meat and liquor. The male goats were slaughted in a flourish with no need of farmers, so rich and abundant
never ending process. are the natural resources at Parampu. Even if the three

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kings invade Parampu with their elephants and spread Thus the people of those times led an emotional life
their chariots across every field he (Pari) will not yield. and that too curtailed to the present life. There was
Because swords would not force him to yield. But he nothing to complain and thought never bothered them.
may yield his country to the bards who come dancing Life was simple and rich in material. When man’s basic
and singing the rich glory of the king, Pari. The king needs and physical comforts are satisfied and nature is
will be pleased by listening to his praise. Although the plentitude what else does he need? Their life is equal
three kings with their murderous and victorious armies to the life of primitive people. They lived in the midst of
unite in enmity, still it would be difficult to defeat nature and nature was enough for them. They lived a
Parampu because of its vast natural strength. self contained life and there was no religious sentiment.
Of Course the great dark hill is a miserable place! Nature is their mother.
To conquer it by the spear would be hard for kings The ecological function of art is to connect humans
But easy to win for a woman with a drum, her with the biosphere. Each human being is to the biosphere
blackened eyes as Microcosm is to the Macrocosm. For thousands of
Like two blue waterlilies, if she comes to it singing! years human beings lived as one with nature. Many
(75) ancient literatures capture the importance and
The poems illustrate the close association of man and quintessential nature of ecological sensitivity. All lives
nature. The poems also exhibit that nature and man are are interwoven and dependent on other life. All living
mutually interdependent. Nature is represented as a beings are intimately couple with many other living
preserver and a destroyer by man. When the three kings beings, their health is our health. No life exists in isolation:
invade Parampu they destroy the reservoir. It is only every life exists embedded in a context of relationships.
by destroying the natural resources they conquer the Each and every living organism is interconnected to
city. The poems exhibit the happy life of King Pari and one another in a network, be it an organism or physical
his people without any thought and worry. The residents event, and the lines between them is their relationship.
of Parampu love nature immensely for its own sake This kind of ecological blending if found in the above
and incidentally they get what they want. A foreigner poems. The king, people of Parampu and nature seem
entering into the kingdom becomes an enemy to nature to live in harmony or rather they experience an oneness
and disturbs the ecosystem. with nature.
Even at evil times like natural calamity such as the Works Cited:
appearance of a comet do not harm nature nor take [1] Commoner, Barry. The Closing Circle: Nature,
away the food grains. Nature continues to give them Man, and Technology. New York: Knopf, 1971.
food. Nature is always bountiful to man as man is [2] Hart L. George and Hank Heifetz, The
generous in cultivation. They lived a life without any Purananaur. Penguin Books, 2002.
logic hence it is poetic life. There existed a unified life [3] Garrard, Greg. Ecocriticism. London and New
between man, nature and animals. The present life has York: Routledge, 2004.
made them plenty, rather it is cease the day and enjoy. [4] Glotfelty, Cheryll and Harold Fromm (Eds). The
They devoted their life for pleasure. Epicurean Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary
philosophical attitude prevails in these poems. For them Ecology. Athens and London: University of
happiness is the end of life. Carpediem attitude is Georgia, 1996.
observed among the people. This was so because nature [5] Johnston, Ronald John. The Dictionary of
was kind to them and nature provided all to them and Human Geography. Blackwell Publishing,
there was no need for them to worry about the future. 2000.193.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 85-89.
Paper ID: 10012013023
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 04 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 10 Jan 2013.

ABORIGINES’ RESPONSE TO WHITE DOMINANCE IN JACK DAVIS’ NO SUGAR

Suneetha Yedla

Jack Davis, a contemporary Australian playwright, dialogue to make the reader to know the response of
poet and indigenous right campaigner. Jack Davis as Aborigines when Cissie says ‘fat’ during her description
an Aboriginal Noongar people much of his work dealt of the apples the White children were sold.
with the Australian Aboriginal experience. Even though Characterization is also mildly used in this example,
Aborigines are persecuted by the White politically, making ‘Old Tony’ seem unjust and cruel to children,
economically and culturally, many Aboriginal writers which creates an emotive Aborigines response in the
still hold a positive attitude towards the future of their reader, already forcing them to dislike whites and the
people. Jack Davis also presents the positive viewpoint of way they treated Aborigines.
Aborigines to the white dominance in his book No Sugar. In addition to the realistic portrayal of Aborigines’
No Sugar is a play, which is intended to expose plight, Davis strives to advocate in his play that
Jack Davis’ own ideas about issues such as the Aborigines response to the White in No Sugar though
injustices of Aboriginal treatment during the 1930’s. It their persistence. Aborigines refuse to be subjugated,
is a revisionist text, and therefore offers a new no matter how the White people oppress them. The
perspective of an Aboriginal point of view, on events Millimurra family, from Mary, the newly-wed, to Gran,
which occurred during the time of the issue at hand. the grandmother, shows strong persistence and flexibility
The main theme of No Sugar is the oppression of in fighting against the treatment of the White. As the
Aborigines. The plot takes place in many locations in disadvantaged minority, each member in Millimurra
Western Australia, where the fate of the Millimurra family adopts different strategies to persist, such as
family is outlined–the town of Northam, the office of Joe and Mary’s perseverance, Jimmy’s direct
the Chief Protector of Aborigines in Perth or the Moore confrontation, and Gran’s acting, to protect their rights
River Native Settlement. One issue that is highlighted from the encroachment of the White. An incident
by Jack Davis in his book No Sugar is how Aborigines mentioned by Jack Davis in his play No Sugar is :
were discriminated against, for no reason other than MILLY: Come ‘ere.
having colored skin. An example of this is in Act One, She tugs it off him and swaps it for a clean one.
Scene One, when Cissie is complaining because when And you go straight down the soak after school
her and her brother go to buy apples they get given bad, [To SAM and JOE].
shriveled up ones, and the White children get big juicy ones. And you fellas, we got no meat for dinner or
CISSIE: Aw Mum, Old Tony the ding always sells supper; you’ll have to go out and get a couple
us little shrivelled ones and the wetjala kids big fat of rabbits (P. 16).
ones (P. 16). While people are marching in the street, the
Davis uses dramatic techniques to bring his ideas Millimurra family deals with the problem of having no
about issues like this to life. In this example, he uses food for dinner. Apart from the other problems of
Suneetha Yedla: Asst. Professor of English, University College of Engineering and Technology, Acharya Nagarjuna
University, Nagarjuna Nagar (AP) India.

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dispossession of the land and personal and social rights, future rather than tolerate subjugation under the rule of
the Millimurra family faces problems of how to get the White.
enough food to eat and how to make a living. At that Among the Millimurra family members, Jimmy is
moment Milly responded positively and ordered Joe and the one who dares to confront the White dominance
Sam to bring a couple of Rabbits for dinner. face to face and express his sarcasm freely. When
Joe and Mary, the newly-wed couple, show asking Neville for the train fare, Jimmy, taking no notice
Aborigines’ unyielding perseverance in striving for their of Neville’s indifference, keeps trying to break into his
happiness. In order to return to Northam, Joe and Mary office. Finally, Neville surrenders to Jimmy’s persistence
encounter many difficulties, such as the fight with Billy, and gives him money. Before leaving, Jimmy says to
Joe’s imprisonment for escaping the settlement and Neville,
Mary’s being whipped by Mr.Neal, but their persistence JIMMY: You know one thing about Fremantle Gaol?
receives the final reward: they can leave the Moore Even some of them screws are polite-not like this
River Settlement to find their new home. Joe, after place (Walking off). Native Protector couldn’t
discovering their family property home which the White protect my dog from fleas.
dominance promised to take care of is burnt down, NEVILLE: [returning to his office] Cheeky, too
laments that bloody Cheeky (P. 44)
JOE: Manatj………. [Bitterly] Burned everything Jimmy is never afraid of pointing out the White’s
those Bastards! pomposity straight forwardly. Neville, looking down on
[He looks at the rubble.] Jimmy as an Aboriginal, is unwilling to talk to Jimmy
We camped just ‘ere. and even refuses to help him in the first place. Although
[He leads MARY to the spot] Neville responds to Jimmy’s accusation by saying
[Painting up and off] See them rocks up there? “Cheeky, too bloody Cheeky,” it is Neville himself that
Me and Cissie used to slide them on pieces of tin is impolite. Here, Jimmy presents Aborigines’
when we was little. Magpies used to nest in that persistence in making Neville accept his request as well
white gum tree (P. 79). as their courage to defy the dominance by pointing out
In Joe and Mary’s process of resisting the White white’s hypocrisy directly.
dominance, the transformation of Mary is most striking. Gran, despite her old age, does not remain silent
Under the influence of the Millimurra family, Mary is when her rights are violated, even using her talent of
transformed from a crying girl who escapes from acting to get what she wants, when announcing that all
working in the hospital to a strong mother who is brave Nyoongahs need to be transferred to the Moore River
enough to express her opinion to Mr. Neal. Under Settlement, Sergeant Carrol tells Gran that she should
Neal’s threat of whipping, Mary in her pregnancy still take the train, and other family members should walk
firmly states that she wants to stay with Joe’s family to the Settlement, Gran refuses:
and not to work in the hospital. Living with the Millimurra GRAN: Chergeant, I ain’t going on no train. You
family, Mary learns to speak bravely, refusing to be can put me in gaol if you want to. (She begins to
subjugated by the White. wait and cry) I’m not goin’ by train; what we
Furthermore, Joe and Mary’s departure from the leaving Gubment Well for? Wetjala warrah,
settlement at the end of the play is not an exile, but the warrahmut, oooh!
continuation of family history with new hope. As Joe SERGENT: All right, Gran, you can go by road if
and Mary are about to leave, Milly gives Mary a bag you want to.
full of food and Sam offers Joe a home-made knife. GRAN: (Recovering instantly) I am, too (P. 51).
The parents’ gifts symbolize the succession of family Later, Gran “tears her hair and throws plates and
responsibility. Now, Mary has to shoulder the duty of mugs about” to make Sergeant agree she can bring her
taking care of the baby and her husband and Joe needs dogs with her” (P. 51). Apparently, wailing and tearing
to hunt to keep his family from hunger. At this moment, hair are Gran’s acting. In fact, Aborigines have a talent
a new family, made up by Joe, Mary and their baby, of acting by nature. Douglass Baglin and Davis R.
extends Aboriginal family history. More significantly they Moore in the book The Dark Australians point out
are leaving this desolate place ruled by the White and that Aborigines are superior “in visual and aural
searching for their new home. Through the ending of perception and memory, in acting, dancing and mime”
No Sugar, Davis manifests that aborigines, in spite of (P. 92). Davis also states with Adam Shoemaker in An
unpredictable hardship ahead, persist in striving for their Interview with Jack Davis, “Aborigines people are

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the greatest actors in the world.... We’ve acted up western musical instruments Sam and Jimmy’s anger
before magistrates, we’ve acted up before the police, originates from their assertion to their culture. Hence,
we’ve acted up before social workers; we’ve always Aborigines are so proud of their culture that they cannot
done our own mime” (P. 152). Rather than a direct tolerate any disrespectful behavior to their culture.
confrontation, Aborigines use their acting talent, Davis has a positive attitude towards the aborigines,
pretending to be inferior to cater to the pomposity of as they are fighting for their cultural identity by
the White. incorporating their native tongue into the “Wetjala’s”
In other words, Gran is strategic by keeping a low or whites’ English language. An example for this is use
profile to get what she wants. Taking advantage of her of Nyoongah language to rebel against the white people
old and tears, Gran successfully makes Sergeant feel and to practice one of their few forms of power.
sympathetic to her so as to grant her wishes. Even “Koorawoorung! Nyoongahs corrobein’ to a wetjala’s
through what Gran asks of Sergeant is trivial and she brass band!” is an example of the Nyoongah language
still cannot change the fact that her family is going to used by the character Sam, the father of the Millimurra
be transferred, what she does shows that Aborigines family. By this we know that Nyoongah language is
do their utmost to fight for their rights, no matter how also used as binary opposition of the aborigines from
trivial their goals are. It is more important to see the White. The Nyoongah language emphasises the
Aborigines’ persistence against the dispossession of the segregation of the aborigines and the White through
White than to evaluate the result and dismiss their effort their culture, and not just their skin colour.
as fruitlessness. Even though the White think that they bring
In addition to the persistence in fighting against the civilization to Aborigines and improve the Aboriginal
White dominance, Aborigines in Jack Davis’ No Sugar living quality, Aborigines, in fact, value their traditional
are proud of their Aboriginal culture and prefer their food or tools more, and they make good use of what
traditional life necessities to Western ones. Because of nature offers them. Utilizing the wisdom accumulated
the pride in their culture, Aborigines do not allow the from their ancestors for thousands of years, Aborigines
White to misrepresent their traditional dance. As No take advantage of materials in their surroundings to
Sugar begins, Joe reads the news in the news papers sustain themselves. Aborigines, under the White’s
about a group of Aborigines. In order to commemorate assimilation, still prefer their traditional life necessities
the white pioneers, they perform their traditional dance to western ones. For example:
incongruously to a brass band. Sam immediately SERGEANT: That shouldn’t worry you, Granny
responds, you should remember when you used to grind up
JOE: All right! ‘… Dancing… to a brass band.’ jam and wattle seeds.
[SAM laughs.] GRAN: More better than white man’s flour, no
SAM: Koorawoorung! Nyoongahs corroboreein’ weevils in jam and wattle seeds.
to a wetjala’s brass band! SERGEANT: Good tucker.eh? (P. 22)
JIMMY: Ah! That beats everythin’: stupid bloody When Gran complains there is not enough food in
blackfellas. their rations, Sergeant Carrol sarcastically suggests that
GRAN: Ay! You… dawarra you mirri up and get she can grind jam and wattle seeds like what Aborigines
them clothes down the soak, go on! did before the coming of the White. Gran answers that
JIMMY gets up, but can’t resist the final word. it is better than white man’s flour, no weevils in jam
(Pg: 15) and wattle seeds. Gran proudly asserts that the flour
Both Jimmy and Sam disregard those Aborigines ground up from jam and wattle seeds are better than
who dance to a brass band because Jimmy and Sam that given by the government because it, at least, has
think highly of their own dance which can only be no weevils in it.
accompanies by traditional Aborigines musical One more Example:
instruments. For the White, the performance of the GRAN: It makes a rear pretty belly button for you,
corrobore is to remind the viewers of the danger that just like your daddy’s. Now cover you in ashes.
the White pioneers faced. The focus, for the White, is More better than Johnson’s Baby Powder.eh? [The
the pioneers so that they take no notice of what actually baby cries] (P. 102)
the accompaniment of Aboriginal dance is. However, When Mary gives birth to a baby, Matron offers
Aborigines, who take pride in their culture, find it “plenty of clean cotton wool and baby powder and Lysol
ridiculous to have their dance accompanied by the soap.” But Gran refuses and uses ash from fireplace

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to cover the baby because it is better than Johnson’s through the awakening of the corroboree. Besides, the
Baby Powder. story of “The Magpie and the Crow” indicates that the
The above cited two examples show that Aborigines Nyoongahs, the magpie, and Billy, the crow, are
are proud of their ways of life. Aborigines take pride in brothers. Even though they are always in conflict and
their traditional food or tools, which are considered even even darken their features in different degrees, it cannot
better than western products. It is Aborigines’ pride in be denied that are tied with blood. Further, when Joe
their own culture that helps Aborigines to claim their and Mary tell Billy that they get the permission to leave
identity. Not only have that Aborigines cherished their the Settlement, Billy hands over his whip, a symbol of
own culture to make other people respect their culture. suppressive power, and gives his blessings to Mary as
Aborigines have to first identify themselves with their her kinsman.
own culture and appreciate the value and beauty of BILLY: You watch this one, she go Kargudda but
Aboriginals culture. Otherwise, it is different to she still Oomboolgari girl.
convince the White that what precious things they have JOE: She’ll be all right.
ruined for Aborigines. Therefore, Davis, by presenting BILLY: You want this one?
his characters’ strong affection for Aboriginal culture, (He hands him his whip)
advocates that Aborigines should be proud of their own Kill rabbit, snake, bungarra. […]
culture, which has been denigrated and suppressed by JOE: Thanks, Old Man.
the White for a long time. (JOE walks off, leaving BILLY and MARY
One of the Aboriginal ethnic features that Jack together)
Davis endeavors to emphasize the idea of Aborigines MARY: Goodbye, dumbart (P. 108).
response to the White is ‘Aborigines’ kinship.’ The Here, Billy, who is in the same tribe with Mary, urges
presentation of a balanced and harmonious Aboriginal Joe to take care of Mary as if he was Mary’s relative.
family in No Sugar is to establish a model for urban Even though Mary and Billy are not really blood
Aboriginal family. Davis endeavors to awake the relatives, the link of their Aboriginal tribal root makes
cooperative spirit in urban Aborigines’ minds, reminding them a big family. To show his good will, Billy gives
them of the duty to support their family. When Joe his whip as a gift. Here, the whip, which used to be
discussing the traditional family structure of Aborigines, a weapon to suppress Aborigines, now turns into a tool
Men take charge of hunting and bring home the meat, for hunting to sustain Joe’s family. Giving up the whip
while women take care of children and do chores. The is indicative of Billy’s desire to get rid of the identity as
Millimurra family in No Sugar follows the traditional a tracker, who assists the White in persecuting
pattern. Sam and Joe, the pillars of the family, go to Aboriginal people. Moreover, giving the whip as a gift
hunt rabbits, while Milly and Gran do the house chores. to Joe shows that Billy wishes to resume his role in
Each family member is aware of his/her responsibility their Aboriginal community. Joe’s calling Billy as ‘old
for the family and glad to support the family by fulfilling man’ presents that Billy is not an enemy any more, but
his or her duties. That is to say, the kinship system an intimate elder in the Aboriginal community.
enhances the solidarity between Aborigines. Davis, in Therefore, Davis’s idea of the Aboriginal community is
his plays, stresses not only the cooperative spirit in not confined to people in the same tribe, but extends to
Aboriginal ethnicity but also the solidarity formed by those who share the Aboriginal root.
the Aboriginal community to develop a rivalry force It is the solidarity of Aborigines beyond the
against the White. As long as Aborigines can be united, distinction of tribes that makes the large scale of protest
despite their small population, they can gather a strong against White domination possible in the Australia Day
to make the White hear their voice. scene in No Sugar. In that scene, many White guests
In addition to the solidarity in family, Jack Davis in and Aborigines in the Moore River Settlement are
No Sugar extends the Aboriginal community to gathered around to attend the celebration ceremony of
Aborigines of different tribes, epitomized by Billy Australia Day. When Aborigines are appointed to sing
Kimberley. Although Billy is supposed to be a villain “There is a Happy Land,” they make a parody of the
because he works for Mr.Neal and helps the White song, depicting the hardships of Aborigines not having
bully Aborigines; Jack Davis still endows Billy with enough food to eat during the dispossession of the White.
plenty of Aboriginal features, indicating that Billy is still Even when Neville orders Aborigines to stop, they
one part of the Aboriginal community. As discussed repeat the song and sing even louder. Sister Elieen,
previously, Billy recognizes his Aboriginal identity seeing this confusion, stands and sings “God Save the

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King,” but is laughed at by aborigines. This Australia However, Jimmy’s subverts the White’s definition of
Day scene can be regarded as the climax of the play prison. He plays the mouth organ and sings several
because all Aborigines in the Settlement finally have songs, making the atmosphere cheerful and even funny.
the chance to express their accumulated anger and Moreover, those who suffer in prison should be the
dissatisfaction to the White government in public and prisoners, but Jimmy’s singing overturns the roles.
uncover its hypocrisy directly. Even though the At last, Jimmy even drives Sergeant to ‘forsake’
Millimurra family keep defying the White dominance the police station. The top commander in the police
to defend their rights, their strength is too small to force office is supposed to be Sergeant, but Jimmy can make
the White to confront Aborigines’ plight. However, the him leave with his music. The scene signifies that music
solidarity formed by the gathered Aborigines on has such a powerful influence to overturn the power
Australia Day forces Neville and other White people structure. Music makes it possible that Aborigines have
to face the fact that, because of the White’s racial a way to claim their existence to the White, even shaking
discrimination to Aborigines, Australia is not a happy the power hierarchy. Hence, Aborigines’ music too
land at all. If this song is sung only by the Millimurra becomes the response of Aborigines to break the white’s
family, the government can just ignore them or even rules and power.
send them to prison. But all Aborigines in the Settlement In this article I tried to bring out the Marginalization
are united together and sing this song to express their of Aborigines, who was pushed to the fringes of society,
collective opinions in public. Their solidarity forms a such as when they are forced to move down to the
powerful strength that the government cannot overlook. Moore River of Northam, in Western Australia. More
Through this scene, Davis emphasizing the solidarity of specifically, Jack Davis’ idea of Aborigines response to
Aborigines, manifest that Aborigines should consolidate white dominance is presented through Aborigines’
with each other so as to gather enough strength to let persistence, kinship, traditional dance, culture and
the White hear their voice. language. Finally I would like to quote that black
Aboriginal music, including songs and musical aborigines are the race of people, who rose with the
instruments, plays an important role in Jack Davis’ plays Sun even through the sun is bitten by the snake and
as the Aborigines response to the white dominance. loses its power, it will rise again. The momentary sunset
Music not only provides an outlet for Aborigines to is the preparation of another sunrise. Likewise, it is
present their defiance against the White oppression but aborigines’ belief that in spite of white dominance they
also becomes a symbolic manifestation of Aboriginal will revive their status, culture and language with their
existence in the white-dominated discourse. Through response to the White. It is clearly depicted by Jack
singing, Aboriginal people are able to reveal their Davis’ in his book No Sugar.
oppressed existence and idea. In No Sugar, Jimmy’s References:
singing breaks the White’s definition of prison as well [1] Baglin, Douglass and Moore, David R. The dark
as overturns the power structure. After being caught Australians, New York: Australian and New
for drinking, Jimmy, imprisoned in jail along with Sam, Zealand Book Company, 1970.
plays the mouth organ cheerfully, regardless of the [2] Davis, Jack. No Sugar, Sydney: Curreny Press,
warning of Sergeant and Constable. Even though 1986.
Constable confiscates the mouth organ, Jimmy uses [3] Lawlor, Robert. Voices of the First Day:
his natural instrument, his voice, to make music and Awakening in the Aboriginal Dreamtime,
sings loudly. Finally, Sergeant Carrol cannot stand his Rochester: Inner Traditions International Ltd.,
singing and leaves the police station. A white 1991.
dominator’s prison is supposed to give punishment to [4] Shoemaker, Adam. Interview with Jack Davis,
the Aboriginal prisoners so the atmosphere in the prison Canberra: National Library of Australia, 1971.
should be serious and even frightful to Aborigines.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 90-93.
Paper ID: 10012013024
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 15 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 20 Jan 2013.

CHANGING TRENDS IN INDIAN POETRY, CHALLENGES AND NEW

DIMENSIONS
Anjana Tiwari & Raees Unnisa

Abstract:
Poetry has been the staple food of the soul. The Key Words:
first man who sang the glory of God and of creation Indian poetry, challenges, new dimensions.
was a poet. Other branches of literature such as Drama, Ideology ruins poetry, but not always. Rather every
Prose, and Fiction came later on. While serving the poet has to face this challenge at some period of her
aesthetic needs, poetry also gave expression to the life. From ancient times, poets have been regarded as
elevated thoughts of elevated minds into elevated profound observers commenting on social issues. Almost
compositions. The challenge that is always put forth all good poets try to convey their convictions and
before the poets is the need to cater to the exigencies ideologies through poetry. I think a good poet can always
of modern times. insert ideology into poetry without destroying aesthetic
Indian English poetry was born during a period, conditions. This is how a good poet is tested, at least in
when Wordsworth and Coleridge bridged the classic my opinion.
wall between the layman and literature, with the initiation In the last fifty years absorbing a variety of influences,
of the Romantic Movement. It dwelt on the finer dealing with a range of themes and generating diverse
aspects-sentiments, emotions, and imagination-of man strategies of poetic expression, the ever-increasing
and recognized nature as a living force. It concentrated number of Indian-English poets led to the all found growth
on man’s unlimited aspirations and considered common of Indian English language which is as much as a genre-
man and his language fit for poetry. The poetry of this as the other contemporary extensions in the field of
period evaded the realities, hardships, and struggles of literature. This phase of change and the outcome of the
man’s life. Through imagination it emphasized the challenges have led to the mutilation of traditional
preponderance of emotional life. grammar, syntax and usage of the English language. The
The advent of Henry Derozio (1809-31), a idea of correctness and originality of language is only
precocious poet who was the first Indian to use English “contingent and not absolute.”
as the medium of poetry, but Early Indian poetry in Each one of the new generation of poets has tried
English was imitative right from syntax to sentiments. to speak in a distinctly personal voice, at every step
For both inspiration and guidance, the indo English poets trying to engage novelty in thought and expression, yet
depended on England. Poets like A. K. Ramanujan, they form a part of chorus, a collective voice asserting
Dom Moraes, and R. Parthasarthy adopted the English the autonomy of thought. The ever increasing number
tunes for their metrical compositions. Although of regional poets has given impetus to the naturalization
complained of “Tongue in English chain”, Indian poets of the language. This Indianization has succeeded in
succeeded in carving an authentic identity and repute. giving a spurt to the creativity from all springs of life.
Anjana Tiwari: NITTTR, Bhopal (MP) India.
Raees Unnisa: Asst. Professor, The Bhopal School of Social Sciences, Bhopal (MP) India.

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S. Bala Rao has shown very broad strokes in the poetry of the first generation, the modern poets were
125 year span of the past Indian literature. The period not governed by the age old guidelines of subjects and
is conveniently divided into five main periods as follows: impressions. It shows freshness and variety and reflects
I. The new resurgence-(1856-1900) deeply and unfailing ethos and dilemma of modern
II. The romantic renaissance-(1900-1935) conflicts. The emergence of modern English poetry was
III. The progressive movement-(1935-1950) a part of modernization which included urbanization,
IV. The new of the experimental literature-(1950-1970) industrialization, mobility, independence, social
V. The contemporary post-modern period.”‘(1) challenges and the impact of liberalization
The second half of the nineteenth century marked The modern literature is becoming more and more
the appearance of such eminent poets as Michael international and cosmopolitan. it is grappling with many
Madhusudan Dutt, Toru Dutt, Rabindranath Tagore, thoughts and ideologies. The poetry of today bore
Manmohan Ghose, Sri Aurobindo and Sarojini Naidu. reflections of Darwinism, Marxism, Sex Psychology,
Amongst these Rabindranath Tagore, Sri Aurobindo and Freud, Upanishad-ism, Vedanta-ism, Gandhi-ism and
Sarojini Naidu are metaphysical poets as well as mystic Spiritualism of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Aurobindo
patriots. They dedicated ‘self as well as humanity’, as and Tagore. The modernity in the poetry also provided
a whole, to the complete reverence of God. Their poetry space for Imagism, Metaphysical Conciets and
takes the form of devotional songs in which the nation Unification of Sensibility marked with symbolism,
is portrayed as, in itself, the giver of life and recognition surrealism with an influence of myths legends and
in accordance to the will of god. everyday speech and rhythms of life.
These poets who wrote before independence Today, with passing time, English poetry has became
constitute the first generation of Indian poets in English. more Indianized in nature. The change that came about
Tagore’s poetry is highly lyrical, with a strong spiritual reflected the change in mentality that had ushered in
thread, although it would be inaccurate to describe him among the Indian poets. Such Indianization had been
as a poet of the first generation as his creativity defies proceeding for several generations and is prominent in
the test of time. He came from a prominent Bengali the poetry of Kamala Das and Pritish Nandy and present
family, and his writings draw from many sources, although more nuanced in the work of Keki N. Daruwalla
including Bengali classical and rural tradition, but he it is more likely to be felt in the verse of Nissim Ezekiel
was also educated in the European classics. Humanism and Jayanta Mahapatra or in the kind of rapidly
runs through his work, along with a pervading sense of expressed ironies found in the poetry of Ramanujan.
optimism, two qualities that appealed strongly to the K. Balachandran writes, “The post-Independence
mind of every poetry lover of any generation or country. Indian poetry saw its new poetry in the fifties. Among
The torch-bearers of modern writings experimented the new poets A.K. Ramanujan, R. Parthasarathy, Shiv
with all the new forms and technique of poetry. Modern K. Kumar, Kamala Das, Monica Verma, O. P. Bhatnagar,
Indian poetry found its place in the world of literature Gauri Deshpande, Adil Jussawalla, Ezekiel occupies a
by adopting new styles, keeping in tune with various prominent place. His versatile genius can be found in
contemporary trends, portraying the problems of society, his poetry, plays, criticism, journalism and translation.”
and retaining its own uniqueness. An emphasis on realism In modern Indian poetry in English there has always
and concern for individuals are hallmarks of Indian been a confessional tradition which was particularly
poetry. Although Indian poets write in many different noticeable in Ezekiel‘s poetry, Ezkiel, focussed on the
languages, poetry, like other art, is a unifying force. actuality of personal and family life.
Indian poetry expresses shared Indian feelings and Nizzim Ezekiel ‘Night of the Scorpion’ recalls the
ideas. Tolerance of diversity is an essential feature of behaviour of ‘the peasants’, his father, his mother and
Indian-ness, although unsuccessful attempts have been a holy man when his mother was poisoned by a
made to change this basic trait from time to time. At scorpion’s sting. Here the aim is to find poetry in
the same time, Indians are also given to making fun of ordinary reality as observed, known, felt, experienced
others habits, including food, dress, manner of speaking, rather than as the intellect thinks it should be. While
music, and so on. One notices this trend even in Natya the peasants pray and speak of incarnations, his father,
Sastra, an important ancient treatise on Indian Drama. ‘sceptic, rationalist’, tries ‘every curse and blessing,
Modern English poetry in India gained momentous powder, mixture, herb and hybrid’ and a holy man
and exerted its reverence at the end of the Second performs a rite. After a day the poison is no longer felt
World War, after the end of colonialism. Unlike the and, in a final irony, his mother, in contrast to the

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previous feverish activity center upon her, makes a significantly by coming from such communities as the
typical motherly comment: Parsis, Jews and Christians or by being rebels from
My mother only said Hinduism and Islam or by living abroad. Many of the
Thank God the scorpion picked on me writers came from the families that had already been
and spared my children (2). partly westernized or that moved extensively during their
The ‘Thank God’ is doubly ironic as it is a If Ezekiel’s scrupulous and witty humanism turned out
commonplace expression of speech in contrast to all to be incipiently religious, Kamala Das turns out to wear
the previous religious and superstitious activity. Ezekiel’s a veil which disguises her religious yearnings only from
purpose is not, however, an expression of scepticism those who do not want to see them. Popularly identified
but rather the exact notation of what he saw as a child. with free sex and women’s lib, she can be forthrightly
The aim is not to explain but to make real by naming, sarcastic about religious people (The Inheritance
by saying ‘common things’. The poem is a new childhood):
direction, a vision of ordinary reality, especially of Indian This then was our holy inheritance, this ancient
life, unmediated by cold intellect. The new purpose is Virus that we nurtured in the soul so
seen in the poem’s style, unrhymed, with line lengths That when at sundown, the muezzin’s high wail
shaped by natural syntactical units and rhythm created sounded from
by the cadences of the speaking voice into a long verse The mosque, the chapel-bells announced the
paragraph, rather than the stanzaic structure used in angelus, and
earlier poems. From the temple rose the Brahmin’s assonant chant,
Lawrence Bantleman, a representative of the we
modern poets, illustrates few of the best proportion of Walked with hearts grown scabrous with a hate,
imagism: “Reality is a black bird/the wells hold equal illogical,
parts of soil/And water as life holds myth and truth. And chose not to believe-what we perhaps vaguely
the land bears cane, a little rice,/ Millet; but the life / Is sensed-
only of polished rice/For thirty thousand Gods” (3). That it was only our fathers’ lunacy speaking,
Again in Keki N Daruwalla: “He reduced the marble In three different tones, babbling; slay them who
to his own terms- A resurrection of ghosts, as a half do not
moon Vomited upon a domed leprosy” (4). Believe, or better till, disembowel their young ones
The poems of A.N. Dwivedi are the mirror of And scatter on the streets the meager innards. Oh
modern life hagridden with corruption, bribery, falsity, God,
communalism, caste-ism, political and social imbalance Blessed is your fair name, blessed be the religion
and other foibles of human being. His voice rises in Purified by the unbelievers’ blood, blessed by
question when he looks at the demon of communal riots: Our sacred city, blessed be its incarnadined glory
Who is this dreaded demon (6).
Raising his ugly head However, as the critic R.K. Agrawal put it when
Scourging cities’n towns, he reviewed Das’s volume of poems, The
And scarring the face of our motherland? Descendants, her apparent sex-obsession is a
Where does the normal life go camouflage hiding the love-hungry Radha, who typifies
When Gemini rams into cancer (5). the longing of the soul for God, not the passionate
V. Sivaramakrishnan, an Indian critic, thought that the Cleopatra. This was confirmed by Das herself in an
‘new’ Indian poetry in English ‘transcended the pseudo- article entitled ‘Sex: Mindless surrender or Humming
spiritual preoccupations of the earlier … phase (and Fiesta?’, which she wrote for the women’s magazine
had) shifted the poetic quest... to the individual.’ If the Femina.
Aurobindians were religious, it was easy to see the If religious believers, humanists, skeptics and
‘new’ poets as humanist, secularist, modern. incipiently religious writers such as Kamala Das are all
However, this is not in fact the case. .The actual to be found among Indian writers in English, this is only
poetry written by these ‘new’ poets shows clearly their to be expected from such an extraordinarily large and
fundamental concern with essentially religious questions. diverse country. But if the extent of religious
The modern poets as a group tended to be marginal commitment is surprisingly large and deep, it takes
to traditional Hindu society not only by being alienated unorthodox forms as of ten as it takes orthodox ones.
by their English language education but also more And I modern Indian literature in English shows us

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CHANGING TRENDS IN INDIAN POETRY, CHALLENGES AND NEW DIMENSIONS 93

Indian traditions in the flux o being modernized and [2] Shaleen Kumar Singh, PhD., C S J M University
westernized, it also shows some of these writers Kanpur, India.
appropriating and modifying western literary forms for [3] Blackwell F. Eds and Stevens A.W, English
uniquely individual uses. Poetry by Indian.
References: [4] Modern Indian Poetry in English; an anthology
[1] Singh Kumar Amar, Enlightening Studies in and redo, Kavita Publishers, New Delhi, India,
Indian English Poetry, Post Independence Indian 1959.
English Poetry. [5] Das, Kamala. “An Introduction.” de Souza.

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THEMATICS
ISSN 0975-8313
Vol 4. Issue 1. Jan 2013. pp. 94-100.
Paper ID: 10012013025
Available online at http://www.thematicsjournals.org/Thematics
Paper received: 15 Jan 2013. Paper accepted: 20 Jan 2013.

EXISTENTIALISM IN MANJULA PADMANABHAN’S HARVEST

Raees Unnisa & Anjana Tiwari

Abstract:
Manjula Padmanabhan’s works are generally survival in the universe materialistically, psychically and
existentialist studies of individuals and hence spiritually. The formidable tasks he has faced in life,
background, politicality, historicity, social settings, class, especially during World War II has stimulated despair
cross-cultural pluralities are all only incidental. But being and frustration, set forth much difficult questions in his
incidental does not mean that they are essentially life about freedom and choice of freedom, incited a
extraneous. Their study is not only as important as the penchant to die and finally led to the making of a
study of ‘human condition’ in Padmanabhan’s fiction philosophy in the name of Existentialism that attained
and drama but in fact, they are intrinsic to the latter tremendous popularity in Europe, particularly in France.
study. Basically, it is the tension between what is to be It is essentially associated with the condition of man,
included and what to be excluded from the study of his act of living, his state of being free and the directions
literary text that makes it all the more interesting. This he takes to use his freedom in reciprocation to his wider
is especially relevant when the fiction deals with the experiences and enormous challenges he encounters
condition of being in a transformational existence. The in the universe that is drastically undergoing changes.
dilemma that Padmanabhan depicts in her characters Existentialism, a sophisticated philosophy that deals
is a result of the inner psyche of the characters as also with the definite attitude of looking at life.
their external circumstances. Loneliness is a Existentialism in the drama Harvest:
manifestation of both inner and outer conditions and It has been over a century now since alienization
hence, its sense can be evoked even in the middle of and marginalization explored the modern world and its
society. implications spread its implications on the civilization.
Key Words: Its impact on the culture and values of the 20th century
Existentialism, Manjula Padmanabhan, Harvest has been pervasive, its apocalyptic tenor spawning a
What is Existentialism? mood of gloom and a good deal of anxiety, anger, and
Human life has been a complex and a multifaceted terror. Interestingly, Manjula Padmanabhan, a radical
reality defying conceptual formulation and hence the skeptic preoccupied with language, knowledge,
contemporary mind has been perennially engaged in scientific advancements, and truth, anticipated many
pursuit of knowledge seeking to impose meaning on of the themes of post modernity in her works. It’s helpful
the chaos of experience, shape an orderly picture of to note, then, that she believed we could-at a terrible
life and evolve coherent patterns of thought from price-eventually work through the web which have
overabundance of ardent observation to comprehend surpassed its evils. If we survived the process of
man’s existence. Existence has never been an easy destroying all interpretations of the world, we could then
ordeal for man for it correlates with his struggle for perhaps discover the correct course for humankind. A
Raees Unnisa: Asst. Professor, The Bhopal School of Social Sciences, Bhopal (MP) India.
Anjana Tiwari: NITTTR, Bhopal (MP) India.

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study of the drama shows that the writer is unconsciously Any writer, who handles the theme of modern man’s
taking hold of Sartre‘s and Camus’ philosophy and the predicament, shall find his/her endeavour a colossal task
message underlining The Myth of Sisyphus, “The since modernity involves not only scientific and technical
workman of today works every day in his life at the improvements but also moral confusion, psychic
same tasks, and his fate is no less absurd….” (Myth of tribulations and spiritual trepidations resulting in the
Sisyphus p.1) and explains some aspects of the way evolution of Existentialism. Like Sartre‘s and Camus
the third world inhabitants both men and married women Manjula holds diverse thinking with regard to the world
think while struggling to survive. manjula also penetrates and man‘s life in it. Her writing exposes human
into the mind of her leading character, Jaya and discovers psychology. It substantiates a woman‘s search for
that she is the worst sufferer of all the characters that herself and her potentialities to create her own means
she has portrayed in her drama and we find that all her of self-satisfaction in the world. It describes women‘s
sufferings are that of the existentialist‘s. situations in its totality and cares for basic conditions of
Manjula Padmanabhan as an Existentialist their existence. It drives its contents from everyday
Dramatist: experiences and concrete facts of their domestic life.
Existentialism has been expressed more tellingly in It presents, therefore, a picture of life with hope and
the 19th and 20th literature, especially, in the plays and exultation amidst grim realities of life. It promotes
novels than in philosophical treatises. Manjula woman‘s striving for becoming truly human existence.
Padmanabhan’s work of art comes under the literary Its message is rooted in the fact that a woman‘s
contributions that are independent of any direct possibilities are not into preordained mould but exists
philosophical influence from the existentialists but first and then she makes herself out of her conditions.
carrying the implications of existentialists, especially of She therefore is the maker of herself. Jaya represents
Sartre’s and Camus.’ the third world woman with the third world dilemma’s
Like any other existentialist Manjula Padmanabhan enjoined with third world trounces. But the spirit with
has given preferences to the recurring themes of which she relives makes her a truly existentialist
existentialism.… such themes as freedom, decision, and character.
responsibility; and, even more, finitude, alienation, guilt, Sunil Sethi, the film actor of Bollywood Cinema,
death; and perhaps not least, that peculiar and describes his view on the theme of Harvest going to be
indefinable intensity of feeling that is apparent in most released in Hindi version: “Harvest is a modern morality
of the existentialists from Kierkegaard on. It is in this play in which Padmanabhan Question the limits of the
context Manjula Padmanabhan can be called an poverty material ambition and individual dignity” (Sethi
existentialist writer and the characters in her drama as 1997).
existential characters. Manjula Padmanabhan’s play Harvest, is also a
Manjula has achieved a place for herself as an dark fantasy of a high -tech racket in body organs. It is
existentialist with her drama Harvest along with the a cross between the 2002 thriller “Dirty Pretty Thing”
other dramatists of Indian English literature, Vijay and an episode of “ The Twilight Zone “, posits a not
Tendulkar, Girish Karnad and Mahesh Dattani. They too distant future in which Big Brother like multinational
have already been acclaimed for the treatment of company, Interplanta headnuts for organ donors in third
existential themes in their plays. They reveal the world countries. The play is an ironic, sci-fi examination
confrontation of modern man with his self and the of the relations between developing and developed
question of his existence making an earnest effort to countries. Set in the imminent future “Harvest”
break new grounds-a shift from the external world to imagines a grisly pact between the first and third worlds,
the inner world of an individual. in which desperate people can sell their body parts to
Manjula padmanabhan Harvest with existential wealthy clients in return for food, water, shelter and
problems has generated great impact upon the riches for themselves and their families. As such, it is a play
readers mind: ….it is the manifestation of the human about how the “first” world cannibalizes the “third” world
condition, of existential isolation and alienation, of to fulfill its own desires (Indian Traffic Identities, p. 2).
efforts at self definition, and vain Sisyphean Harvest 1997, is a play about an advancement of
struggle, that for good historical reasons has the science and technologies with modest modern
most direct reasons has the most direct appeal conveniences, from running water to video equipment
through out the world today (Of a future Interplanta donors sign away their body parts to rich
Mephistopheles p. 17). Westerners, their only communication is a;‘contact

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module’ that project a nagging video image of the is only too happy to enjoy the new gadgets that soon
recipient as well as slick corporate advertorials touting arrive, delivered by three perky, robotlike InterPlanta
the sardonic mantra “We make lives worth living” employees. Soon the family is dining on space-age food
Harverst is an ironic examination of the relations pellets doled out from the stainless-steel trolley that has
between developing and developed countries. The play replaced their old stove, and their shabby flat has been
is set in the imminent future, it imagines a grisly pact transformed into something more contemporary.
between the first and third worlds desperate people In return, they have to submit to daily interrogations
who can sell their body parts to wealthy clients in return via the contact module by Ginni , the predictably blond-
for food, water, shelter and riches for themselves and haired, blue-eyed American woman who now
their families. The dystopian play Harvest published in essentially owns the rights to Om’s body. They also
1997 by Indian woman writer Manjula Padmanabhan need to be prepared for the unannounced visits of the
examines the trade in human organs and the InterPlanta lackeys, who eventually arrive to take the
commoditization of the third world body that such a donor for harvest - and aren’t too discriminating about
trade predicted upon. which body they ultimately take. Manjula
The story, centers on Om, who signs up to be an Padmanabhan’s disturbing play Harvest deals with the
organ donor for an American woman named Ginni increasing trend of organ harvesting in India. Wealthy
because there are no other jobs available for him in individuals from privileged countries are turning to the
Mumbai. Ginni pays him to lead a “clean” and “healthy” developing world in order to procure spare parts-a form
life so she can harvest healthy organs whenever she of resource extraction that takes exploitation to a whole
needs them. Ginni begins to control every aspect of new level. What is interesting to note, however, is that
Om’s life, from when and what he eats to whom he unlike conventional modes of exploitation, organs are
sees and how he uses the bathroom. In fact, Ginni comes not produced they are harvested like a natural resource.
to control the entire family until the end of the play, Gaining large amounts of money for a product that
when Om’s diseased brother, Jeetu, is taken to give requires no labour is undeniable alluring for people living
organs instead of Om, and the recipient, Ginni, turns in areas of the globe that have few opportunities for
out to not be what she initially seemed. In a final act of advancement. The body becomes an object that can
defiance, the seeds of rebellion flower in a “checkmate” be bought and sold, devoid of agency.
ploy by Om’s wife, Jaya. In this work, Padmanabhan focuses on the
Jaya, is the moral centre, and gives her presence distancing of the organ receiver and the donor from
the role of a strong voice, conviction and visible physical touch. There is a strong virtual connection
presence. She is aggressively passive compelling the formed between the wealthy organ recipient, Ginni, who
capitalists to listen to her voice. acts as a kind of “big brother”, and the Prakash family
The author’s vision of a post-apocalypse future is she surveys. The family is forced to live an antiseptic
dark, but told with rich irony and humor. Themes of life, fattened like livestock in a factory farm. They are
globalization abound. Director Benjamin Mosse says, forced to eat multicolored pills and obey the contact
“We are struck more and more by the loss of module rules with no room for questioning, religion or
individualism because branding is becoming so universal. agency. After Om’s brother is taken by the authorities,
The first and third worlds are no longer geopolitical his wife, Jaya, is left alone and vulnerable, forced to
places, but economic zones. Om sells his body to the give over her own body to those in power. When Jaya
face of a corporation, which is indifferent to the fact refuses, she realizes that the only way she can exert
that he is American or Indian. A sci-fi parable “Harvest” agency in her own life is through control of her body.
is a dark fantasy about a high-tech racket in body organ Jaya threatens to take her own life rather than face a
it posits a not-too-distant future in which a multinational life of exploitation. She orders her controller to
company, InterPlanta, headhunts for organ donors in disengage from the world of virtual reality and appear
third-world countries. “Harvest” focuses on a small in person before her-or else she will take her own life.
family in India: Om, his wife, Jaya, reported to Identity and agency become affixed with the visceral
InterPlanta as his sister, since the company does not body and touch. Padmanabhan draws parallels between
use married donors; his mother, Ma; and his brother, a society that is becoming increasingly technological
Jeetu, a prostitute who is also Jaya’s lover. Om is initially but simultaneously disconnected. Even while the family
enchanted with the benefits of his nefarious bargain earns a decent living by becoming harvesters of organs
and in total denial about its consequences, and his mother as one brother is exploited by chance and the other

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EXISTENTIALISM IN MANJULA PADMANABHAN’S HARVEST 97

sacrifices out of existential fears. Jaya is left alone, will not. But Om returns to announce that he has indeed
and the cost of her living is her body. been selected for the ‘job’ at Interplanta Services.
Harvest, a play which launches a scathing analysis Having passed the medical tests at Interplanta, he has
of the organs market and of the global, predatory been decreed an eligible, healthy candidate for selling
capitalism that results in the commoditization of the third- the rights to his entire body to an anonymous buyer in
world body. Along with exuberating the impact of the the United States. His confused feelings about signing
rise in the existential tendency advocated by such a contract allow Padmanabhan to portray the
commercialization of human life, Indian writer in the complex mixture of hope and despair that has motivated
year 1996 Manjula Padmanabhan’s confronts us with his actions. At first, he verges on the ecstatic: ‘We’ll
a futuristic Bombay of the year 2010, a time when legal, have more money than you and I have names for!’ he
moral and bioethical debates about organ sales and says to Ma, proudly. ‘Who’d believe there’s so much
transplants have been overcome. The trade in human money in the world?’ (Harvest p. 219).
organs is now fully institutionalised and smoothly When his wife expresses her reservations for what
operated by the entity embodying all the rapacious he has done, he becomes defensive: “You think I did it
forces of global capitalism: a transnational corporation lightly. But […] we’ll be rich! Very rich! Insanely rich!
named Interplanta Services. But you’d rather live in this one small room, I suppose!
Padmanabhan’s has the cast of the drama into two Think it’s such a fine thing-living day in, day out, like
groups. This division is made on the basis of the major monkeys in a hot-case-lulled to sleep by our neighbours’
tenants divided into two main groups consisting of Third rhythmic farting! […] And starving” (Harvest p. 223).
World donors and First World receivers. Although When Jaya accuses him of making the wrong choice,
Padmanabhan chooses, ‘[f] or the sake of coherence’, he is adamant that his decision was not made of his
to make the donors Indian and the receivers North own free will:
American, her stage directions emphasise that:the Om: I went because I lost my job at the company.
donors and receivers should take on the racial identities, And why did I lose it? Because I am a clerk and
names, costumes and accents most suited to the location nobody needs clerks anymore! There are no new
of production. It matters only that there be a highly jobs now-there’s nothing left for people like us!
recognizable distinction between the two groups, Don’t you know that?
reflected in speech, clothing and appearance (1997, p. Jaya: You’re wrong, there are choices-there must
217). be choices-
The play’s futuristic setting allows Padmanabhan Om: Huh! I didn’t choose. I stood in queue and
to deploy a series of sci-fi gadgets on stage; with a was chosen! And if not this queue, there would have
purpose, to alert the world to the crucial role that been other queues- […] (Harvest, p. 238)
technology plays in both seducing and policing the third- Om’s insistence that his role in the selection procedure
world donors into submission. It is the agony of was entirely passive allows Padmanabhan to critique
existence which compels them to part with life so that the liberal discourse of free will and choice that
thanks to one such sci-fi gadget that we see the first- advocates organ markets on the basis of individual
world receiver and organ purchaser Ginny, whose body autonomy. She suggests that it is precisely this discourse
is never present on stage, but visible only on a screen which creates the economic structure of millennial
suspended from the ceiling. The four Indian donors capitalism in which the selling of organs becomes an
belong to the same household: Om; his wife Jaya; Om’s ‘option’ for the disenfranchised third-world individual.
mother, referred to simply as Ma; and Om’s younger As Om’s final reaction makes clear, his judgement has
brother, Jeetu. While Padmanabhan uses her donor been severely impaired by the lure of unlimited wealth.
characters to interrogate the particular circumstances When the reality of what he has done hits him, he is
that make the option of selling one’s body parts so terrified: ‘How could I have done this to myself? What
seductive, ultimately, I contend, she upholds the Kantian sort of fool am I?’ (Harvest , p. 234).
idea of human dignity which views the selling of one’s Om’s mother, however, expresses no such regret.
body parts as a violation of human integrity. When the Upon first hearing her son’s promises of unimaginable
play opens, Jaya and her mother-in-law are impatiently riches, Ma is mystified: ‘What kind of job pays a man
waiting for Om’s return from his job interview. Both to sit at home?’ (1997, p. 220). As she begins to
are fretful: Ma fervently hopes that Om will get the understand what Om’s ‘job’ entails, she resumes her
job; Jaya, knowing what the job entails, hopes that he queries as though she cannot believe their good fortune:

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‘Tell me again: all you have to do is sit at home and contact module. She is thus never physically present
stay healthy? […] And they’ll pay you? […] Even if on the stage, a fact that is highly significant because
you do nothing but pick your nose all day?’ (1997, p. Padmanabhan’s chosen genre-theatre-is explicitly
222). concerned with a tangible, embodied and physical
By showing Ma’s continued amazement at the fact presence on stage. Yet throughout the play, Ginny is
that her son will be paid to do absolutely nothing, only ever
Padmanabhan is able to depict the extent to which the visible in two-dimensions, on the screen of the
forces of millennial capitalism appear to provide a quasi- contact module. The only embodied performers on the
magical means of making money. stage are the racially and visually distinct bodies of the
By Act II of the play, Ma has become completely third-world donors. Thus, the audience has no choice
addicted to their new life of luxury. The family household but to gaze on a body whose sheer presence on stage
is littered with an array of gadgets that Ginny has challenges the supposed remoteness of the labouring
provided in order to entertain the donors and keep them and now cannibalised body, the very body that capitalist
comfortable, and Ma spends most of her time production in the era of globalisation has displaced into
compulsively watching television on the interactive set the remote third-world. Furthermore, the contact-module
that Ginny has sent them. She becomes the perfect allows Padmanabhan to establish a structure of gazing
recipient of Ginny’s gifts as she dismisses Om’s and surveillance that mirrors the role of the audience.
compunction and increasingly seeks to escape the reality For, like the receiver, the audience too, gazes at the
of her life in Bombay through technological devices. only physical bodies on stage: the donors. The audience
By the end of the play, she has locked herself away is thus impelled into an uncomfortable identification with
into what Padmanabhan terms a VideoCouch, a capsule the receiver, the very entity who is responsible for the
into which Ma can plug herself, watch one of 150 objectification of third world bodies that the play so
television channels, and not worry about food or digestion overtly criticises.
because the unit is entirely self-sufficient. The comforts Keeping the first-world receiver’s body remote
with which Ginny so willingly provides her seduce Ma serves a second purpose. It allows Padmanabhan to
into an amazed contentment at their sudden reversal of signal to the profound tensions underlying the predatory
fortunes. Surrendering to the joys of technologically- relationship between donors and receivers, this situation
induced bliss, Ma is thrilled that, for literally performing would be considerably different if the play were
no labour at all, ‘they will be rich forever and ever’ performed in a third-world country. The third-world
(Harvest, p. 235). bodies on stage would be more familiar to the audience,
Not all the high-tech devices that Ginny delivers to whereas the first-world American character would be
the donors are designed to pamper the body, however. visible in the same way as the majority of third-world
In the very first scene of the play, shortly after Om’s audiences are already accustomed to from television,
return with a new ‘job’, representatives of Interplanta cinema and magazines: in two dimensions. However,
Services, his new employers, barge into the donors’ Padmanabhan has herself admitted that, frustrated by
home to install a series of gadgets. As Om, Jaya and the lack of opportunities for English-language
Ma watch, they dismantle the family’s rudimentary playwrights in India, she originally wrote Harvest for
kitchen and replace it with their own cooking device production in the first-world, when she entered the play
and jars containing multi-coloured food pellets. They for (and later won) the inaugural Onassis Prize for
then install a Contact Module, a device that hangs from Theatre (Gilbert, 2001, p. 214) donor’s hitherto healthy
the ceiling and which looks, Padmanabhan tells us, like body harbours, on the one hand, the possibility of
a ‘white, faceted globe’ (1997, p.221). Each time the prolonging the ailing receiver’s life. Yet, on the other
device springs to life, Ginny, the American who has hand, the third-world body produces in its new owner,
purchased Om’s body, is able to make contact with the the first-world receiver, a profound anxiety. For like
donor family. I wish to dwell at length on the sci-fi the receiver’s own body, the donor’s body too is
gadgetthat is the contact module. What interactions vulnerable to the encroachment of disease and
between the donors and the receiver does the contact degeneration that must be kept at bay at all costs. Firstly,
module permit? And what does this device allow then, the contact module enables Ginny to intervene in
Padmanabhan to achieve on stage? the donor world without having to set foot in the
Let us begin with this latter question. Ginny geographical location that the donors inhabit. Nor would
communicates with the donor family only through the she want it any other way. She has purchased the rights

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EXISTENTIALISM IN MANJULA PADMANABHAN’S HARVEST 99

to Om’s organs in order to fend off disease and death organs that’ll survive a transplant best, smiling organs…
and has no intention of risking a visit to their unhygienic (1997, p.229)
dwellings. Secondly, the contact module allows Ginny Reading the receiver’s actions as an investment
to police the daily habits of the donors in order to ensure permits us to return, once again, to the parallels between
that the organs that will one day be hers remain healthy the human body and land that the play’s title, Harvest,
too. Thus, realising, after the first visit, that Om’s family alludes to. The term effectively assimilates the whole
shares a toilet with forty other families, Ginny reacts human body, from which the part is extracted, to a crop-
with horror. ‘It’s wrong’, she exclaims. ‘It’s disgusting! producing plot of land, and thus, by extension, to the
And I-well, I’m going to change that. I can’t accept possibility that land harbours of generating life. The
that. I mean, it’s unsanitary!’ (1997, p. 225). extractable human body part is accordingly assimilated
Accordingly, Interplanta is commissioned to install a to the yield or crop; this is the commodity with genuine
toilet in their home that very same day. The regular use-value, the part that it is profitable to detach from
monitoring that the contact module permits is rendered the whole. In order to obtain the best possible harvest,
even more effective given that only the receiver is able as Ginny is well-aware, one must not only select the
to operate it at will. family never knows when Ginny best possible site in which to invest: one must maintain
will ‘visit’ them next. By the opening of Act II of the a continued investment in this site. Quality input will
play, we see how well her strategy is working. Two produce quality output: namely, a healthy harvest.
months have elapsed, and Om is panicking because The workability of the analogy I present here is,
they are late for lunch. (Lunch, of course, consists of however, limited. An ideal agrarian economy is
the multi-coloured nutritional pellets provided for them sustainable. The organ, once extracted, is irreclaimable.
by Interplanta Services.) ‘You know how [Ginny] hates This, however, matters little to the receiver, who sees
it when we’re late to eat’, Om says, worriedly (1997, the bodies of the donor world as disposable bodies
p.228). The contact module\ thus allows the receiver comprised of spare pa rts she can use to prolong her
to establish a permanent structure of surveillance in own life. And yet, while all the donors fall prey to Ginny’s
Om’s home. Fearing Ginny’s rebuke, or worse, a tactics, Padmanabhan uses Jaya, the only character in
revoking of his contract, Om urges his entire family to the play who is virulently opposed to Om’s decision, to
police their own behaviour. The contact module reclaim a human dignity of sorts, a dignity that allows
inculcates self-discipline, rendering the donors’ bodies Jaya to resist the lure of money and the seductive
into perfect sites of ‘docility-utility’, optimal sites, in escapism of technology. It is a dignity that is predicated,
other words, from which to extract the healthiest I contend, on the very limitations of the physical body
possible organ (Foucault, 1995, pp.135-169). Ginny is that the receivers are so desperate to overcome.
careful, however, to provide the donors with plenty of The final scene of the play sees only Jaya on stage.
comforts to compensate them for their efforts. When Om has abandoned her, having wilfully chosen to seek
the curtain lifts for Act II of the play, the stage reveals out Ginny and give up his body to her. Ma is plugged
that, a mere two months later, the donors’ household is into her VideoCouch, oblivious to her surroundings. Jaya
fully equipped with an air-conditioning unit, a mini-gym awakes to an unfamiliar, disembodied voice coming
and a gleaming, fully-equipped kitchen (1997, p. 227). from the contact module. This is Virgil, yet another
Ginny reminds the family that by pampering them so, American receiver with designs to prey upon Jaya’s
she is only fulfilling her own contractual obligations: ‘I body. Jaya, however, refuses to negotiate with Virgil as
get to give you things you’d never get in your lifetime, long as he attempts to pull the strings from his safe,
and you get to give me, well… maybe my life’ (1997, disease-free environment in the first-world. She is
p.230). Ginny’s casual sentence serves as a jolting and determined to lay down her own conditions. If Virgil
disturbing reminder that receivers and donors hardly wants her body, he must come to her in person.
trade in equivalents: Ginny provides ‘things’ for which ‘I know you’re stronger than me, you’re richer than
the donors pay her back in their own lives. In fact, me. But if you want me,’ she insists, ‘you must risk
Ginny’s continual gifts amount to little more than mere your skin for me’ (Harvest p.248).
investment. As she says to the family, warping the Bragging that she cannot win against him, Virgil sends
pronunciation of Om’s name: The Most Important Thing his Interplanta employees to break down Jaya’s door.
is to keep Auwm smiling. Coz if Auwm’s smiling, it But Jaya has discovered ‘a new definition for winning.
means his body is smiling and if his body is smiling it Winning by losing’ (Harvest, p.248, emphasis
means his organs are smiling. And that’s the kind of added). She announces to Virgil that she plans to

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100 THEMATICS Vol 4 Issue 1 Jan 2013 ISSN 0975-8313

reclaim the ‘only thing [she] ha[s] which is still [her] published in 1927).
own: [her] death’ (1997, p.248). Thus, Jaya resists [5] Bloomington Maly K and Emad P: Contributions
Virgil’s advances and retains her own dignity in one to Philosophy (From Enowning), translated by
swift stroke: she embraces the very mortality that Indiana University Press, 1999.
Virgil and his fellow receivers seek to eradicate [6] Warnock Mary, Existentialism, Oxford University
from their own bodies. ‘I’mholding a piece of glass Press, 1970.
against my throat’, she warns an increasingly [7] Marino Gordon, Basic Writings of Existentialism
frustrated Virgil. The play concludes on this (Modern Library Classics) [Paperback]
unresolved note. While Virgil weighs his options, [8] Camus Albert , Myth of Sisyphus, Indiana
Jaya threatens (promises?) to reclaim her own body Publications, 1976.
through suicide (Harvest, 1997, p. 248). [9] Gilbert Helen Postcolonial Plays: An Anthology,
Harvest poses a potent critique of the first-world’s google books, 1997, 216.
exploitation of third-world bodies for the commodities [10] Roy, P. (1998) Indian Traffic: Identities in
of labour-power and, as the recently emerged trade in Question in Colonial and Post-colonial India,
organs shows, health. Should third-world individuals Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
resist such commoditization? Indeed, can they? While [11] Sethi, S. (1997) ‘Of a future Mephistopheles’,
opponents of organ markets embrace human dignity as Outlook 15 December: 97-101. Indian Traffic
an inalienable right that no individual should have to Identities
relinquish, the black market in human organs continues [12] Padmanabhan, M., 2001 (1997). ‘Harvest’, in
to be the only solution for those who have no other H. Gilbert (ed), Postcolonial
assets to sell. In this context, Padmanabhan’s notion of [13] Pravinchandra Shital eSharp Issue 8 Un/Worldly
‘winning by losing’ seems a disturbingly apt way to Bodies The Third-World Body Commodified:
define the third-world individual’s predicament: lose your Manjula Padmanabhan’s Harvest (Cornell
own body-part to win the cash. Jaya’s victory over her University)
body overshadows her existentialist potentials as she [14] Gilbert Helen Postcolonial Plays: An Anthology
emerges a strong individual. Google Books p 215
References and Bibliography: [15] Scheper-Hughes, N., 1998. ‘The New
[1] Ahmad, Sheikh Mushtaq. Existential Aesthetics: Cannibalism: A Report on the International
A Study of Jean Paul Sartre’s Theory of Art and Traffic in Human Organs’, New Internationalist,
Literature. New Delhi: Mehra Offset Print, 1991. 300, pp.14-17.
[2] Anand, Chandra, Sharad. Camus and India. New [16] http://www.publicanthropology.org/TimesPast/
Delhi. National Pub. House. 19911976, Indiana Scheper-Hughes.htm (Accessed 10 June 2005)
Publications. [17] Scheper-Hughes, N., 2000. ‘The Global Traffic
[3] Collin, Wilson. A Case Book on Existentialism. in Human Organs’, Current Anthropology, 41(2),
Ed.William V.Spanos. New York: Thomas Y. pp.191-224.
Cromwell Company, 1966. [18] Waldby, C and Mitchell, R., 2006. Tissue
[4] Robinson E and Macquarrie Being and Time, Economies. Durham: Duke University Press.
translated by. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1962 (first

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