author
Satyajit Ray, born on May 2, 1921, in Calcutta, India, and
died on April 23, 1992, in Calcutta, was a Bengali motion-
picture director, writer, and illustrator who brought Indian
cinema to world recognition with Pather Panchali (The Song
of the Road) in 1955, and its two sequels, known as the Apu
Trilogy. As a director Ray was noted for his humanism, his
versatility, and his detailed control over his films and their
music. He was one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th
century.
Ray's films span an unusually wide gamut of mood, milieu,
period, and genre, with comedies, tragedies, romances,
musicals, and detective stories treating all classes of Bengali
society from the mid-19th to the late 20th century. Most of
Ray's characters are, however, of average ability and talents.
It was the inner struggle and corruption of the conscience-
stricken person that fascinated Ray, his films primarily
concern thought and feeling, rather than action and plot.
2 summary
The Short story ‘Fritz’ written by Satyajit Ray published in his book
‘Collected Short Stories’ is about a Swiss doll named Fritz.Jayanto,
the protagonist, works in the editorial section of a newspaper and
Shankar, the narrator is a school teacher. Both of them are great
friends and have finally managed to get some time to go on a trip
together. They decide to go to Bundi; a village in Rajasthan where
Jayanto had been before in his childhood with his parents.
They stay at the Circuit house (a kind of guest house) where
Jayanto had stayed before in his childhood due to his father’s
frequent work trips there. Upon reaching, Shankar realises that
Jayanto is in somewhat pensive mood and queries about it.
Jayanto says that the old memories are rushing into his mind.
Shankar thinks that being the overemotional guy Jayanto is, he’s
being nostalgic, so he doesn’t say anything in that matter.
They go for sightseeing in the compound and suddenly Jayanto
remembers that there was a tall deodar tree there. He searches
for it and finds it at the end of the compound. He looks at the
trunk searchingly and says here he had met a European but
doesn’t exactly remember who it was or how they had met.
They return to the Circuit house where Dilwar, the cook, has
prepared their dinner. Meanwhile Jayanto seems to remember the
old memory of the European. He tells Shankar the tale about Fritz
which Shankar hears amusedly. It was a one-foot tall Swiss doll
brought from Switzerland by his uncle for him. He says he was very
much attached to the doll and was devastated when two stray
dogs had mutilated it. He had buried the doll’s remnants under the
very same deodar tree.
Shankar is quite tired so he goes to bed but wakes up abruptly in
the middle of the night and finds Jayanto sitting on his bed, looking
perplexed. Upon asking the reason, Jayanto says that something
had walked over his chest when he was asleep. Shankar assures
that it could have been his dream but Jayanto shows him his
pillow. Faint marks were there pointing to the fact that an animal
had walked over it. Shankar does a thorough search of the place
but doesn’t find any small animal like mice or rats. Shankar feels
that his friend is just exaggerating but tells him soothing words
nevertheless. After this they both go to sleep.
The following day, during their visit to an old fort on the hills,
Jayanto remains quite lost in thoughts. After returning, Shankar
queries about it persistently. Jayanto says that Fritz, the doll, had
come back alive and it was the doll last night who had walked over
his chest leaving his footprints. Shankar, now annoyed with
Jayanto’s irrational fears, suggests to dig up the doll’s grave and
see for himself that the doll isn’t back.
Jayanto agrees; together they have the gardener dig the place
where Fritz had been buried. To their horror, they find a pure
white 12-inch skeleton, exactly the same size as Fritz. They both
are confused and scared to see this.
Naturally, weird thoughts and assumptions pop into their mind.
The story ends here on a cliffhanger.
3 character sketch jayanto
Jayanto is the protagonist of the story 'Fritz', who is the
childhood friend of the narrator - Shankar and worked in the
editorial division of a newspaper . Jayanto was the only child of
his parents. He was so loved and pampered that his parents
gave him every thing he wanted . Jayanto was a sensitive soul.
He was deeply attached to his doll Fritz. He could not protect
his doll from being destroyed by a couple of stray dogs, this
fact, made him sad even after thirty one years. He was very
much attached with his doll so he burried Fritz as if a real
human being had died
shankar
Shankar is a school teacher and the narrator of the story. The
way he narrates the account of his visit aong with his friend, to
Bundi, a small Rajasthan town, reveals his sense of keen
observation and human interest. Shankaris quiet gentle and
genial. His intimacy with his friend Jayanto, reveals that he is a
good friend. Even though he is not very fond of visiting the
place suggested by his friend, he agrees to accompany him
readily. Shankar is shown to be very strong-headed and
confident. He makes quick judgments and is a logical thinker.
He is very brave too. Jayanto however is the opposite of Shanka
Who is a protogonist in story? why was jayanto so absent
minded during the trip to bundi ?
Answer:
Jayanto, who works in the editorial section of a newspaper,
is the protagonist of the short story “Fritz” by Satyajit Ray.
He is depicted here as a sensitive man who cares a lot about
his past memories
Jayanto had lived in Bundi in his childhood days. During this
period, he had developed an enduring relationship with the
doll named Fritz. The two bonded very well, and Jayanto
treated Fritz like a real human being in flesh and blood and
an endearing charm. The relationship ended tragically when
Fritz was brutally shredded by a pack of stray dogs. Fritz was
buried, but his memory clung to Jayanto’s heart. The visit to
Bundi rekindled these memories leaving Jayanto engulfed
with memories of Fritz. This was the reason why Jayanto
looked so absent-minded.
