D1: One example in the story is when he says “I”m dying,” // “Let me die, I tell you.” The repetitive use of the words “dying” and “die” emphasises Varma’s intention to succumb to his sickness, as if he is already giving up despite the effort his son has put him in trying to heal him. He shows child-like behaviours in the story when he slowly develops his sickness. 

D2: “The old man sighed and laid down in a corpse position. That worried no one any longer.” The words “corpse position” lets readers infer that Varma tries to scare his family members by acting “dead” so that he will get what he wants. His bratty behaviour exemplifies how his childishness grows more when he is sick, as if perfectly displaying the archetype of the old who regress into their child-like attitude, as they know that the people around them will take care of them. 

D3: “Worried no one any longer” suggests that Varma has done this a number of times to catch people’s attention, though it fooled no one anymore. Usually, children are always trying to catch the attention of the people around them as the archetype of children is that though they show innocence and spontaneous, they are also stubborn and dependent . 

Varma’s characteristics in the story slowly turn from a proud father who is always so jubilant toward his son to an overtly dependent and stubborn man. Desai’s intention in creating this archetype of Varma in the story is trying to let readers be aware of his position in the story, he symbolises the diminishing of one’s dignity in their life. The reason for his stubbornness is due to his humiliation as he had to be aided to do the most simple body functions.

Pg 93 2nd & 3rd para

Pg 96 2nd para

‘ “Ah now we have a chance to be with you at last, now we can begin our party” ‘
- this shows how comfortable Raman and Bina are with the doctors, revealing an alter ego from their normal selves.

-Ravi is playing hide-and-seek with his other siblings 

-Hides in the shed where he was forgotten about during the game

-Embodies the forgotten children in society 

-Doesn’t extend emotional judgement and entanglements to the issue 

-However, there is a lack of empathy 

-There is also a lack of emotion 

-To show Ravi’s experiences

-Won the hide-and-seek game due to being forgotten about

-Ironic as his name is the sanskrit word for the Sun but was overshadowed (forgotten) 

-Taken for granted

-Presence is ignored

-Easily Replaceable

-He then realises that he had been forgotten by the other children ( his own siblings ) 

-Ravi then has an epiphany that he is not cared about and he realises his insignificance 

-His status as the winner of the game was snatched away and replaced by the crushing weight of his insignificance 

-Thus, in a way, Ravi goes through a kind of death in terms of his innocence and his hopes which ends his childhood
-“He could hear them chanting,singing,laughing.”
-“he flung himself at the white pillar and bawled “
-“they all turned to stare at him in amazement.” 
-“They had quite forgotten him”

-That was the point of detachment for Haresh when he detaches himself from reality and society and ditches his responsibilities of a man in the patriarchal society in India.
-Haresh’s last words were “Oh no, no” and he was never once heard again

->  “jovial circles of mahjong” 

-> “club evenings”

->  “to whom the most awful thing was the screw of a golden earring disappearing down the bathroom sink”

Relationship between Ustad and Bhai:

Relationship between friends and Bhai

->“Today?Tonight?No electricity?”he echoed.(Pg 101)

 

-Character regression

->not acting like how a man or a husband should

->a husband would be strong, firm and the breadwinner of the family

->Basu acts very needy and selfish instead 

 

-Exaggeration of diction

->“gasped”, “panted” and “groped” are the verbs that depict weak and struggled movements

->overtly melodramatic actions of Basu

->undermines his own portrayal of masculine dignity

->juxtaposes how a man should be over something as simple as electricity going out for a while

->Basu is more dependent on his wife then he should be through his complaints and needy behaviour 

 

 

 

1)

2)

->  “Bina had spent the evening racing upstairs to the babies’ baths and bed-time”

->  regards taking care of her children as more important than social gatherings in order to look after all her children

->  her life revolves around her family, especially her children

->  “Bina could give in now to her two most urgent needs” that is to “fetch Nono to sit on her lap, to let Nono have a share, too”

-> she interacts more and feels more comfortable with the doctors as compared to her own neighbours who live right next to her

->  “so cool, controlling your children, handling them so wonderfully and with such superb results— my inspiration!”

- She keeps a grip on him, "by holding him by the arm."

- This conveys the protective nature of a mother who is, though forcefully, is constantly leading her child to safety and comfort.

- She pays no mind to Victors silent cries as she prioritises getting the both of them to safety through the crowd.

Ii) Controlling relationship between Victor and mom

Mice are small, timid, insignificant creatures. And he is comparing himself to them, reflecting how he sees himself as afraid and a minor figure compared to everyone else.

Shows how hates where society has placed him, and hates the lack of confidence he has to do anything about it.

Emphasises his lack of self-esteem.