Symbolism In Clear Light Of Day

1528 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Symbolism in the literary criticism

According to Wikipedia, an epigraph is a phrase, quotation or poem that is found at the beginning of a document. In other words, “An epigraph is a literary device in the form of a poem, quotation or sentence usually placed at the beginning of a document or a simple piece having a few sentences but which belongs to another writer” (“Epigraph”, n.d.). It serves as a preface, as a summary, as a counter-example. And use of such quotation at the beginning hint at its theme. In the similar way, Anita Desai, Indian novelist, has made use of two epigraphs in her novel ‘Clear Light of Day’ (1980) from Emily Dickinson and T. S. Eliot. With the use of her excellent nature imagery and symbols in the novel, her epigraph in the starting gives the reader an insight to the theme the novel is preoccupied with.
Anita Desai’s Clear Light of Day was set in India’s Old Delhi. The novel weaves the history of partition of India with an upper middle class Hindu family- the Das family. It focuses on their struggles and fragmentation. Also, it portrays the shifting and changing relationships of the Das siblings (Kinna, 2011). The central figure of the family is Bimla Das (Bim) who is an independent woman. Bim’s memories of childhood dominate her sterile existence and thus, replay her memories in the decaying family mansion in Old Delhi. The whole novel circulates around the theme of memory and the passage of time; vividly symbolized by the two epigraphs in the opening of the novel. The sisters in the novel try to reconcile their childhood dreams with their adult lives and resolve the lingering guilt of past family conflicts. Thus, this essay attempts to show the significance and the implication of the epigraphs by Desai in the novel.
As seen in the novel, ...

... middle of paper ...

...filled at the end for they reunite. Dark with time becomes rich and brighter with time itself, “Although it was shadowy and dark, Bim could see as well as by the clear light of day that she felt only love and yearning for them all” (Desai, 2001). Finally, Bim is able to look beyond the shadowy darkness and screaming silence in her surroundings and accepts that she feels nothing but love for her family regardless of all the battles they went through. Memory and the passage of time act like a treasurer which give Das siblings an assistance to a bright life filled with love, understanding, forgiveness and above all, the importance of familial relationship in all times to come. “Bim, who has struggled with anger and bitterness, now realizes that she has to make peace with herself and the ghosts from her past in order to live a full and meaningful life” (Sannrud, 2008).

Show More
Related

  • Symbolism In Gattaca

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    Set in the “not-too-distant future,” GATTACA, directed by Andrew Niccol, shows us a society where DNA determines your status. The film explores the significant idea of discrimination which is shown through Vincent’s character. The director’s use of techniques helped influence my understanding of the consequences of discrimination within society. Society discriminates against “in-valids” because they believe invalids aren’t as good as valids.

    Read More

  • Epigraph In The Book: Into The Wild By Jon Krakauer

    1085 Words  | 3 Pages

    The epigraph is a small phrase or quotation at the opening of a chapter or document. The function of epigraph is to direct the thinking process of the reader in accordance with the intentions of the author. Generally, epigraphs summarise the content that follows it. Use of epigraph is a very interesting way to steer the reader’s line of thoughts and they can “really brush up a story very well” (“Epigraph”). Although the epigraphs are used at the start of the context, they serve the purpose of take-away or the lesson learned from that particular chapter. It makes it easy to get the gist of the content and also to remember the flow of the narrative.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In The Sunset Limited By Cormac Mccarthy

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Cormac McCarthy's 2006 play, The Sunset Limited, McCarthy gives the reader very vague information about the setting and surroundings of the conversation that is occurring throughout the entire work. In the opening stage directions, an essential prop to the play is the "door [is] fitted with a bizarre collection of locks and bars" (3). The image of the locks is referenced a multitude of times within the duration of the play, as the two men, Black and White, sit at a table and debate the ways of the world. This conversation stems from Black saving White from committing suicide the previous morning and ineffectively tries to keep White from leaving to end his life. Throughout The Sunset Limited, the locks and bars of the door represent the overarching

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Donnie Darko

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    What would you do if a six-foot tall bunny rabbit named Frank came, and said that the world will end in exactly 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. In the movie Donnie Darko directed by Richard Kelly. The main protagonist Donald Darko, also known as Donnie. Is sent on a mental journey through space and time, all while trying to figure out exactly what happens at the end of the countdown. After watching this film for the first time, it left me with many unanswered questions. I felt as though this movie was one that forced you to use your own interpretation, and imagination. It made me think about otherworldly possibilities, ideas, and if the concepts of time travel were actually possible. I turned to the novel How to Read Literature

    Read More

  • Symbols and Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the novel, the reader is presented with various symbols. The symbols are clearly made evident by Holden’s constant repetition of their importance. The symbols are so important and their symbolism is directly related to the major themes of the novel.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In How To Be Drawn By Terrance Hayes

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every poem constructs a perception for every reader and most readers will have a different outcome from one another. In How To Be Drawn by Terrance Hayes, the author adds many hidden messages and symbols in the poems for the readers to uncover, and in many times it tends to be difficult. It takes a lot of examination to reveal what the speaker or author is trying to assert. Hayes’ uses many social and historical references such as racism into his poems to depict the anger within the speaker. One of the many themes that prevail in many of his poems is a sense of being trapped such as the poem, “Like Mercy”. The message that Haye’s is trying to portray in the poem is, of a priest serving God, but not agreeing with God at times causing him to

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Moonlight

    432 Words  | 1 Pages

    Barry Jenkin’s Moonlight is a coming-to-age film that depicts on a young man’s battle with his sexuality ad masculinity. The film takes a journey through various chapters of his life, ranging from his child hood to who he becomes as an adult. Moonlight is a very lucrative film in terms of symbolism and foreshadowing. The film is dripping in ironies and obvious tones related to symbols. There is depth in each character, and within each of their grasp is their identity and how their relationship with the main character shaped him in ways positive and negative.

    Read More

  • Symbolism And Symbolism In 'Currents' By Hannah Vosckuil

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    In her story “Currents” Hannah Vosckuil uses symbolism, and a reverse narrative structure to show the story of how unnamed sympathetic and antagonistic characters react differently to a traumatic event. Symbolism can be found in this story in the way that Gary does not mind sitting in the dark alone at the end of the day as well as how both of his girls are affected by the symbolism of hands. One holding a boy’s hand for the first time and the other becoming sick after seeing the dead boy’s hand fall off the stretcher. The sympathetic and antagonistic manner of these characters is shown when both girls are told by their grandmother that they must return to the water to swim the next day. The grandmother sees this simply as a way of encouraging them and keeping them from becoming afraid of the water. However, the girls see this as a scary proposition because of what had happened, showing the grandmother as an antagonist character to the little girls.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Dadi's Family

    1900 Words  | 4 Pages

    A traditional extended family living in Northern India can become acquainted through the viewing of Dadi’s family. Dadi, meaning grandmother in Hindu, lets us explore her family up close and personal as we follow the trials and tribulations the family encounters through a daily basis. The family deals with the span of three generations and their conflicting interpretations of the ideal family life. Dadi lets us look at the family as a whole, but the film opens our eyes particularly on the women and the problems they face. The film inspects the women’s battle to secure their status in their family through dealing with a patriarchal mentality. The women also are seen attempting to exert their power, and through it all we are familiarized to

    Read More

  • Jon Krakauer’s Use of Rhetorical Devices in Into the Wild

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    Epigrams are phrases in the beginning of a chapter that serve as a preface to larger themes. Krakauer uses this tactic in all of his chapters in order to present an insight of McCandless’ thoughts. An example that he uses is from chapter two, where McCandless carves into a piece of wood at the site where he was found, the words, “Jack London is king” (9). ...

    Read More

  • Symbols and Symbolism Essay: Color as a Tool in Heart of Darkness

    777 Words  | 2 Pages

    Color is used very effectively as a tool of symbolism in Heart of Darkness. Colors, especially black and white, are used to symbolize evil (black) and good (white). Other colors are also used, although less often than black and white. Throughout the story, people are thought to have white souls or black souls depending on their innate “goodness” or “badness” or the role they are fulfilling at the time. The color of a person’s soul is often contrasted to the color of their skin. A black- souled, white-skinned person is thought to be evil and dishonest. “I met a white man in such an unexpected elegance of getup…” (Conrad p.21). This demonstrates how a white man was not expected to be a good person. Elegance of dress was unexpected because the man was white. In comparison, a white-souled, black-skinned person is thought to be truthful and full of integrity. “An athletic black belonging to some coast tribe and educated by my poor predecessor….thought all the world of himself.” (Conrad p.45). People are described as black with hatred regardless of skin color. This is further evidence of black being used synonymously with evil. Black isn’t just used to describe evil people. “Often far away, I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall…” (Conrad p. 14.) The symbolism of black wool at the door of Darkness is clearly pointing to evil, and further supports black as evil. Heath 2 Colors other than black and white are used to describe moods and attitudes past the basic good and evil. Red signifies industry. “There was a vast amount of red - good to see at any time because one knows that some real work is done in there.” (Conrad p.13). Yellow is seen as a cowardly color. “I was going into the yellow. Dead in the center.” (Conrad p.13). Pale denotes Death. It is also used this way in the Bible, “the Pale horse and his rider Death”, Revelations 6:8. “She came forward, all in black, with a pale head, floating towards me in the dusk. She was in mourning. It was more than a year since his death…” (Conrad p. 72-73). The use of color is effective in the story for a variety of reasons. First, it is easy to understand.

    Read More

  • Symbols in Brave New World

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the dystopian novel, Brave New World, Huxley uses symbols to create meaning and to get his agenda across. The use of sex and reproduction, and Shakespearian writing and religious texts, as symbols in the novel help to push Huxley’s agenda that total government control is devastating, and the inner human drive to be an individual can never be suppressed. Also, the fact that the novel was written in 1931 shows that Huxley was attacking the newly forming Socialist nations.

    Read More

  • Symbolism in the Short Story "Everyday Use"

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alice Walker is a well-known African- American writer known for published fiction, poetry, and biography. She received a number of awards for many of her publications. One of Walker's best short stories titled "Everyday Use," tells the story of a mother and her two daughters' conflicting ideas about their heritage. The mother narrates the story of the visit by her daughter, Dee. She is an educated woman who now lives in the city, visiting from college. She starts a conflict with the other daughter, Maggie over the possession of the heirloom quilts. Maggie still lives the lifestyle of her ancestors; she deserves the right of the quilts. This story explores heritage by using symbolism of the daughters' actions, family items, and tradition.

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Symbolism Analysis

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    Symbols are often employed in order to highlight the theme of a play. Playwright Lorraine Hansberry uses several symbols in her 1959 play, A Raisin in the Sun. Though there are several symbols used throughout the play, Hansberry uses three main symbols to convey her messages. The three main symbols seen in A Raisin in the Sun are the breakfast eggs, the new house and garden, and Mama's plant.

    Read More

  • Family Feud in Anita Desai´s Clear Light of Day

    1325 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel, parental absence escalates sibling conflict, which leads to the characters escapement, ultimately resulting in Bim’s anger. While some readers may think that Clear Light of Day just represents a single family’s struggle, the novel clearly represents India’s struggle as well. India’s independence from Britain consequently leads to the formation of Pakistan and continual religious and political conflict. This novel is an allegory that explains political combat in an accessible way because everyone is part of a family. This novel not only models the reasons for conflict in India but for other nations and even families as well.

    Read More

More about Symbolism In Clear Light Of Day

Open Document