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Characterization can be defined as the way in which a writer creates characters in a narrative so as to attract or repel our sympathy.
In the novel Clear Light of Day, Desai structures her text so that the reader is aware of the characters' personalities, by describing their reactions to circumstances during the progression of the plot; by drawing attention to their choice of words when in dialogue and also, the tone each character uses during dialogue. She also pays a great deal of time describing the characters' actions. All of these factors help determine a persons' character. Therefore, by presenting all of this information to her readers, Desai allows them to broaden their understanding on the roles of her characters and decide whether they like or dislike them.
An example of the effectiveness of Characterization:
From the characterization presented in Clear Light of Day, it is evident that Tara is weak in character. She has little self esteem despite her appealing appearance and is easily lead and controlled because of this. Whereas Bim-la is an aggressive pessimist who does not easily submit and is bitter due to the many sacrifices she has been forced to make in her lifetime.
Raja is the optimist in the family. He is very passionate about his interests and strives to accomplish his goals. However, he does so selfishly and is partly responsible for Bim-la's unhappiness.
In closing, Desai presents her characters as subjects to be studied and observed, and because of this, her readers can analyze them accurately.
A theme is the central idea or ideas, image, or motif,repeated or developed throughout a work. A work of literature may have more than one theme. There are many themes in the novel Clear Light of Day. Some of the themes were: politics and of women’s situation in India are the main themes utilized in the book, Clear Light of Day. The novel deals with the political situation in India before, during, and after Independence in 1947, and how the partition in turn affected both India as a country, and individuals on a personal level. Through the characters in the novel we are given an insight into how everyday Indians dealt with the crisis, and how their lives have been in the aftermath of the partition. Desai’s focus is mainly on the women of the Das family, and through the various female characters we get to see the different choices they have in life.
The theme of politics may be seen throughout the book as the setting for the story takes place at the time when British India became independent and was divided into Pakistan and India. This division had a great impact on the characters of the novel and also influences major life decisions made by these characters. For example, as there was a war between Pakistan and India, the Muslim and Hindu, the Hyder Ali family was forced to move from Old Delhi to Hyderabad. This resulted in Raja moving to be with this family in Hyderabad. This action started the distance both physically and emotionally between Raja and his closest sister Bim.
The theme of women’s situation in India is also very prevalent in this novel as it is based upon the experiences of two sisters, Bimla and Tara. For example, Tara is portrayed as the traditional Indian woman who doesn’t go to college but gets married as a teen, being loyal to her husband and having children. On the other hand, Bimla was completely independent and went against the traditional way of life for an Indian woman. She went to college and pledged never to get married.
Literature Group Work
Define with examples from the novel Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai:
The unabridged novel entitled Clear Light of Day, by Anita Desai, is a work of fiction that vividly incorporates various narrative techniques which seek to enhance the totality of the story. These are pertinent attributes that are vital in any good work of literature and they assist in increasing the reader’s comprehension. Narrative techniques encompass all literary elements which refer to specific aspects of literature that can be easily analyzed and identified. These facets of literature are used to express an idea more effectively and are also used to convey a particular meaning. In essence, the manipulation of these techniques brings more colour and life to writing and has the capability of conveying a particular meaning more powerfully and effectively than writing without them. Any work of literature would be incomplete and egregiously lacking, sans the assistance of narrative techniques which go hand in hand with literature. These vital aspects of literature can also instill a sense of emotional intensity on the part of the reader if used correctly.
In the novel Clear Light of Day, Anita Desai flawlessly uses narrative techniques which act as the life force which makes the story come alive in the reader’s mind. Consequently, the story, though fictitious, becomes very believable as a result of the reader being able to picture it in his/her head. The basic elements of narrative techniques include themes, conflicts and settings. The predominant themes in Clear Light of Day are religious war, literal and figurative death and also relationship. Conflict, though more complex, ties in very well with these themes. It is the actual problems or struggles on which the Indian tale was based. The setting refers to the time and place in which a narrative was laid which was in Old Delhi in the Gandhi era. These basic elements are the foundation blocks upon which other techniques are laid and they help the readers to fully grasp the different concepts and ideologies that follow. Other techniques include: point-of-view, characterization, climax, motif, figures of speech, imagery, metaphor, simile and tone. All of these examples can be identified within the novel and each technique has its own significant role to play. For example, figures of speech are literary devices used to suggest ideas, pictures or moods. In the case of a simile, comparisons can be made to increase one’s understanding.
“Their voices rang out from the dark trees like an arrangement of bells, calling and echoing to each others’ calls, mocking and enticing each other into ever higher and shriller calls.”
In conclusion, all of the techniques aforementioned must come together to form a comprehensive work of literary which the reader can analyze, understand and ultimately enjoy.
Point-of-View
The point-of-view employed in the novel is third person omniscient. This point-of-view allows the narrator to know all of the pertinent facts regarding the characters, their thoughts and the story. In this novel, the narrator continuously changes the aspects from which the story is told. The story is sometimes told to reveal Tara's thoughts and other times to reveal Bim's thoughts. This literary trait interchanges with the majority of the main characters in the novel. An example of this can be identified in chapter two of the novel,
"…that made Tara look at him in admiration and made Bim look away ... edged the ill-kept lawn."
In this section of the novel, the reader can clearly see how the author interchanges between the thoughts of both characters. The author describes the thoughts of both women and the way in which they are feeling at that point in time. This proves to the reader that the use of a third person omniscient perspective is applied. The author does not have any limitations concerning knowledge but knows everything about every character and knows what is happening throughout the novel. Additionally, the reader can also see that the author uses a third person omniscient perspective by the pronouns that she employs in her writing. She consistently uses the pronouns "he/she" or the name of the character when referring to them. Despite relaying the thoughts of a certain character the story is never told from the perspective of the character himself. Therefore, the pronoun "I" is never used. However, the narrator knows everything about each character and writes from their perspective in the third person. Another example of this is revealed in chapter one,
"Bim laughed, helping herself to some of the betel leaves in the silver box at his side."
This point-of-view helps the readers to fully grasp the concept of the characters, their attitudes, motives and the entire novel in general by describing the emotions and sentiments of these characters, their thoughts and motives and how they react to things.
Characterization
In any narrative, characterization is employed to bring dimension to characters’ existence. It is the process wherein fictional characters are given human traits so as to add substance to a story. When characters’ personalities are intricately woven in a narrative, the reader is able to effortlessly comprehend the purpose behind respective character’s deeds. In Clear Light of Day, each character’s personality and traits are evident not just from stated qualities, but also from their actions and dialogues. In other words, Desai may not always directly state each character’s attributes but the reader is able to infer from speeches and actions, what kind of person each character is.
A prime example of the aforesaid is Tara. The reader makes a fair assumption if he presumes that Tara is submissive and frequently berated by persons who have domineering personalities, as is demonstrated throughout her childhood and even in her adult years. In her childhood, Tara’s character is a gullible and weak one and this is made palpable on a number of occasions. Two manifestations of Tara’s aforementioned traits during her childhood are revealed when she flees to her Aunt Mira, crying, after her older siblings mock her for wanting to be a mother when she grew older and when Bimla, her older sister, cunningly coerces Tara to allow her to cut her hair.
Furthermore, Tara’s submissiveness and tendency to yield to dominance are demonstrated even in her adult years. Tara is constantly subjected by her husband Bakul. She waits on him hand and foot and does whatever she can to please him. Moreover, Tara even suppresses some aspects of her personality to fit into the mould of “Bakul’s model wife”.
Anita Desai skillfully and intricately creates each character, vividly describing their trials and feats and in so doing, brings a sense of reality and depth to the story. She effectively paints such a lucid portrait of the characters’ personalities that the reader sometimes forgets that the narrative is fictitious.
Setting
To begin with, ‘setting’ refers to the time and place in which a narrative is laid. Therefore in the novel, Clear Light of Day, the setting is centered in Old Delhi, India, during a period of religious war between the Muslims and the Hindus. This occurred during the struggle for independence in India and continued after the untimely assassination of the country’s preeminent leader, Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. Old Delhi is the original home of Tara, who is one of the main characters in the novel. She returns home from her numerous travels and is rather surprised that her home remains depressingly immutable after the long period of her absence. Her home is the central focus of the setting in Clear Light of Day, in that it is the place where her many reflections of the Das Family’s past and present lives manifest itself.
For instance, the rose walk, in which she converses with her sister, reminds her of her past and of the fact that her sister Bim is loosing “touch” with the outside world. Additionally, although everything seems to be losing its lustful penchant, the rose walk remains relatively the same. Bim’s surroundings figuratively die, unchanged, as indicated earlier but it was within her power to prevent it from doing so. However, she does not change
anything and the monotony and tedium of the story’s setting is a theme in itself that remains consistent throughout the novel. As they are firmly ensconced within their surroundings, Bim and Tara inevitably relive memories of the past which are both positive and negative. It can be recognized that the setting of the story is significant and it helps to bring out reflections of the past which provide substantial evidence of the characters’ personalities and conspicuous frailties.
The setting of Clear light of Day is imperative to note because one can visualize and comprehend behavioral patterns, beliefs, cultures, among other things. The consistent pattern of the story in relation to setting renders unto the reader the power to predict plausible future events.
SYMBOLS (Shernel Williams)
Symbols is the significance of something/deep meaning. It can also be defined as a representation of something by signs, movement in art and literature signs to express abstract and mystical ideas
In the novel 'Clear Light of Day' symbolism is the "rose walk" which symbolizes decay, the "well" which symbolizes death and the "gramaphone" for non changing.
The rose walk, when Tara arrived she met Bimla at the rose walk. She remembered the walks she use to take with her mother while she was younger. She compared it to how it was the only thing that has changed, everything was dead and done the deterioration was an indication of the passage of time.
The well,this was located in the garden of the house of the family. It is a symbol of death to the siblings after the family cow died.
The gramophone owned by Baba who is mentally challenged. It signifies non changing for the reason that he had it from since childhood, he chooses to listen to the same genre of music and nothing otherwise. Throughout the book Baba's disablility causes his mentality to remain the same even through out his aging process.
Sickness (Idella Cabral)
Raja got diagnosed with tubercolosis when he was in college. He had been bed ridden and could not do the things in when he used to do for eg. Go and visit the Hyder Alis everyday. Baba was mentally challenged and never lived a normal life. He loved to play with his gramaphone.
Death
Their (Bim,Raja,Tara,Baba) mother died suddenly one night when she did not go to the club which had not happen in twenty years. She
went into acoma, the ambulance came for her and she was taken to the hospitel where she died. Mr.Das died one night when he was coming from the club and his car went into the round about he was flung from the car and he broke his neck. The car was not damaged. Another death was the death of the cow.
Arguments
The sense of conflict was shown in the relationship between Raja and Bimla. They always had confrontations when it came to the war that was going on between the Hindus and the Muslims. Raja wanted desperately to go but Bimla forbided it for she thought it was not his place nor time and didn't want to be left alone.
courtneyabbott
courtneyabbott
A motif can be defined as a recurring theme or dominant idea in a work of literature. A few motifs which are prevalent in "Clear Light of Day" are selfishness, greed and resentment. The main character who portrays a selfish behaviour is Raja. Raja is only concerned about himself and his relationship with the Hyder Alis,this is seen when he is sick and is constantly asking Bim to check next door where the Hyder Ali's lived and to come back and report to him. In addition, Raja's selfish ways reappear after he has recovered from his illness and proceeds to inform Bim that she must start paying him rent, which is ridiculous since Bim was the one who nursed him back to health and stuck with him and listened to his "Hyder Ali obsession". Further more, another character who can be said to have been selfish is Bim, this is due to the attitude she gives off to Tara because she didn't stay at home to help her.
The second motif which is seen in Clear Light of Day is Greed, which is also linked to Raja. Raja's greed began the very day his relationship with Hyder Ali did. The more he was around them was the more he wanted to emulate them, eventually making his family "not good enough" anymore in his eyes. Raja's greed is also the reason for why his family began to fall apart.
Lastly, resentment. This is portrayed by both Tara and Bim. I believe Tara resented Bim for not understanding her and failing to realise that she wanted to stand out and come out of her sister's shaddows. On the contrary, Bim resented Tara for getting married and running off instead of staying with her and helping back at home
Regina Apparicio: Imagery
Imagery is the figurative language that presents pictures in words especially metaphors and similes, used in poetry, plays, and other literary works. Examples of Imagery found in Clear Light of Day are:
" Old Delhi dies, not changes. It only decays" which signifies the unchanging state of Old Delhi while emphasis is placed on the everchanging New Delhi.
The well within the play is associated to death since it was where the cow died due to drowning and it's water is described as dark and stagnant which prohibits Bim and Tara from seeing or determining its contents.
The Das's home is described based on the individual rooms of which it contains since they all seem to have differing personalities and pasts which dictates the attitudes of the characters who reside there.
The rose garden's image changes according to the season and the time in which the story is placed. The rose garden reflect's Tara's life since it changes whenever she does.
"There was something bride-like about her white face" is the image that is portrayed of Cow by the Das's children which reflected how much she was adored and adorned with love.
Characterization can be defined as the way in which a writer creates characters in a narrative so as to attract or repel our sympathy.
In the novel Clear Light of Day, Desai structures her text so that the reader is aware of the characters' personalities, by describing their reactions to circumstances during the progression of the plot; by drawing attention to their choice of words when in dialogue and also, the tone each character uses during dialogue. She also pays a great deal of time describing the characters' actions. All of these factors help determine a persons' character. Therefore, by presenting all of this information to her readers, Desai allows them to broaden their understanding on the roles of her characters and decide whether they like or dislike them.
An example of the effectiveness of Characterization:
From the characterization presented in Clear Light of Day, it is evident that Tara is weak in character. She has little self esteem despite her appealing appearance and is easily lead and controlled because of this. Whereas Bim-la is an aggressive pessimist who does not easily submit and is bitter due to the many sacrifices she has been forced to make in her lifetime.
Raja is the optimist in the family. He is very passionate about his interests and strives to accomplish his goals. However, he does so selfishly and is partly responsible for Bim-la's unhappiness.
In closing, Desai presents her characters as subjects to be studied and observed, and because of this, her readers can analyze them accurately.
Themes
A theme is the central idea or ideas, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work. A work of literature may have more than one theme.There are many themes in the novel Clear Light of Day. Some of the themes were: politics and of women’s situation in India are the main themes utilized in the book, Clear Light of Day. The novel deals with the political situation in India before, during, and after Independence in 1947, and how the partition in turn affected both India as a country, and individuals on a personal level. Through the characters in the novel we are given an insight into how everyday Indians dealt with the crisis, and how their lives have been in the aftermath of the partition. Desai’s focus is mainly on the women of the Das family, and through the various female characters we get to see the different choices they have in life.
The theme of politics may be seen throughout the book as the setting for the story takes place at the time when British India became independent and was divided into Pakistan and India. This division had a great impact on the characters of the novel and also influences major life decisions made by these characters. For example, as there was a war between Pakistan and India, the Muslim and Hindu, the Hyder Ali family was forced to move from Old Delhi to Hyderabad. This resulted in Raja moving to be with this family in Hyderabad. This action started the distance both physically and emotionally between Raja and his closest sister Bim.
The theme of women’s situation in India is also very prevalent in this novel as it is based upon the experiences of two sisters, Bimla and Tara. For example, Tara is portrayed as the traditional Indian woman who doesn’t go to college but gets married as a teen, being loyal to her husband and having children. On the other hand, Bimla was completely independent and went against the traditional way of life for an Indian woman. She went to college and pledged never to get married.
Literature Group Work
Define with examples from the novel Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai:
1. Narrative Techniques – Sarah-Anne Gresham
2. Point-of-view – Ariel Derrick
3. Characterization – Danielle McCoy
4. Setting – Tanisha Henry
Narrative Techniques
The unabridged novel entitled Clear Light of Day, by Anita Desai, is a work of fiction that vividly incorporates various narrative techniques which seek to enhance the totality of the story. These are pertinent attributes that are vital in any good work of literature and they assist in increasing the reader’s comprehension. Narrative techniques encompass all literary elements which refer to specific aspects of literature that can be easily analyzed and identified. These facets of literature are used to express an idea more effectively and are also used to convey a particular meaning. In essence, the manipulation of these techniques brings more colour and life to writing and has the capability of conveying a particular meaning more powerfully and effectively than writing without them. Any work of literature would be incomplete and egregiously lacking, sans the assistance of narrative techniques which go hand in hand with literature. These vital aspects of literature can also instill a sense of emotional intensity on the part of the reader if used correctly.
In the novel Clear Light of Day, Anita Desai flawlessly uses narrative techniques which act as the life force which makes the story come alive in the reader’s mind. Consequently, the story, though fictitious, becomes very believable as a result of the reader being able to picture it in his/her head. The basic elements of narrative techniques include themes, conflicts and settings. The predominant themes in Clear Light of Day are religious war, literal and figurative death and also relationship. Conflict, though more complex, ties in very well with these themes. It is the actual problems or struggles on which the Indian tale was based. The setting refers to the time and place in which a narrative was laid which was in Old Delhi in the Gandhi era. These basic elements are the foundation blocks upon which other techniques are laid and they help the readers to fully grasp the different concepts and ideologies that follow. Other techniques include: point-of-view, characterization, climax, motif, figures of speech, imagery, metaphor, simile and tone. All of these examples can be identified within the novel and each technique has its own significant role to play. For example, figures of speech are literary devices used to suggest ideas, pictures or moods. In the case of a simile, comparisons can be made to increase one’s understanding.
“Their voices rang out from the dark trees like an arrangement of bells, calling and echoing to each others’ calls, mocking and enticing each other into ever higher and shriller calls.”
In conclusion, all of the techniques aforementioned must come together to form a comprehensive work of literary which the reader can analyze, understand and ultimately enjoy.
Point-of-View
The point-of-view employed in the novel is third person omniscient. This point-of-view allows the narrator to know all of the pertinent facts regarding the characters, their thoughts and the story. In this novel, the narrator continuously changes the aspects from which the story is told. The story is sometimes told to reveal Tara's thoughts and other times to reveal Bim's thoughts. This literary trait interchanges with the majority of the main characters in the novel. An example of this can be identified in chapter two of the novel,
"…that made Tara look at him in admiration and made Bim look away ... edged the ill-kept lawn."
In this section of the novel, the reader can clearly see how the author interchanges between the thoughts of both characters. The author describes the thoughts of both women and the way in which they are feeling at that point in time. This proves to the reader that the use of a third person omniscient perspective is applied. The author does not have any limitations concerning knowledge but knows everything about every character and knows what is happening throughout the novel. Additionally, the reader can also see that the author uses a third person omniscient perspective by the pronouns that she employs in her writing. She consistently uses the pronouns "he/she" or the name of the character when referring to them. Despite relaying the thoughts of a certain character the story is never told from the perspective of the character himself. Therefore, the pronoun "I" is never used. However, the narrator knows everything about each character and writes from their perspective in the third person. Another example of this is revealed in chapter one,
"Bim laughed, helping herself to some of the betel leaves in the silver box at his side."
This point-of-view helps the readers to fully grasp the concept of the characters, their attitudes, motives and the entire novel in general by describing the emotions and sentiments of these characters, their thoughts and motives and how they react to things.
Characterization
In any narrative, characterization is employed to bring dimension to characters’ existence. It is the process wherein fictional characters are given human traits so as to add substance to a story. When characters’ personalities are intricately woven in a narrative, the reader is able to effortlessly comprehend the purpose behind respective character’s deeds. In Clear Light of Day, each character’s personality and traits are evident not just from stated qualities, but also from their actions and dialogues. In other words, Desai may not always directly state each character’s attributes but the reader is able to infer from speeches and actions, what kind of person each character is.
A prime example of the aforesaid is Tara. The reader makes a fair assumption if he presumes that Tara is submissive and frequently berated by persons who have domineering personalities, as is demonstrated throughout her childhood and even in her adult years. In her childhood, Tara’s character is a gullible and weak one and this is made palpable on a number of occasions. Two manifestations of Tara’s aforementioned traits during her childhood are revealed when she flees to her Aunt Mira, crying, after her older siblings mock her for wanting to be a mother when she grew older and when Bimla, her older sister, cunningly coerces Tara to allow her to cut her hair.
Furthermore, Tara’s submissiveness and tendency to yield to dominance are demonstrated even in her adult years. Tara is constantly subjected by her husband Bakul. She waits on him hand and foot and does whatever she can to please him. Moreover, Tara even suppresses some aspects of her personality to fit into the mould of “Bakul’s model wife”.
Anita Desai skillfully and intricately creates each character, vividly describing their trials and feats and in so doing, brings a sense of reality and depth to the story. She effectively paints such a lucid portrait of the characters’ personalities that the reader sometimes forgets that the narrative is fictitious.
Setting
To begin with, ‘setting’ refers to the time and place in which a narrative is laid. Therefore in the novel, Clear Light of Day, the setting is centered in Old Delhi, India, during a period of religious war between the Muslims and the Hindus. This occurred during the struggle for independence in India and continued after the untimely assassination of the country’s preeminent leader, Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. Old Delhi is the original home of Tara, who is one of the main characters in the novel. She returns home from her numerous travels and is rather surprised that her home remains depressingly immutable after the long period of her absence. Her home is the central focus of the setting in Clear Light of Day, in that it is the place where her many reflections of the Das Family’s past and present lives manifest itself.
For instance, the rose walk, in which she converses with her sister, reminds her of her past and of the fact that her sister Bim is loosing “touch” with the outside world. Additionally, although everything seems to be losing its lustful penchant, the rose walk remains relatively the same. Bim’s surroundings figuratively die, unchanged, as indicated earlier but it was within her power to prevent it from doing so. However, she does not change
anything and the monotony and tedium of the story’s setting is a theme in itself that remains consistent throughout the novel. As they are firmly ensconced within their surroundings, Bim and Tara inevitably relive memories of the past which are both positive and negative. It can be recognized that the setting of the story is significant and it helps to bring out reflections of the past which provide substantial evidence of the characters’ personalities and conspicuous frailties.
The setting of Clear light of Day is imperative to note because one can visualize and comprehend behavioral patterns, beliefs, cultures, among other things. The consistent pattern of the story in relation to setting renders unto the reader the power to predict plausible future events.
SYMBOLS (Shernel Williams)
Symbols is the significance of something/deep meaning. It can also be defined as a representation of something by signs, movement in art and literature signs to express abstract and mystical ideasIn the novel 'Clear Light of Day' symbolism is the "rose walk" which symbolizes decay, the "well" which symbolizes death and the "gramaphone" for non changing.
The rose walk, when Tara arrived she met Bimla at the rose walk. She remembered the walks she use to take with her mother while she was younger. She compared it to how it was the only thing that has changed, everything was dead and done the deterioration was an indication of the passage of time.
The well,this was located in the garden of the house of the family. It is a symbol of death to the siblings after the family cow died.
The gramophone owned by Baba who is mentally challenged. It signifies non changing for the reason that he had it from since childhood, he chooses to listen to the same genre of music and nothing otherwise. Throughout the book Baba's disablility causes his mentality to remain the same even through out his aging process.
Sickness (Idella Cabral)
Raja got diagnosed with tubercolosis when he was in college. He had been bed ridden and could not do the things in when he used to do for eg. Go and visit the Hyder Alis everyday. Baba was mentally challenged and never lived a normal life. He loved to play with his gramaphone.Death
Their (Bim,Raja,Tara,Baba) mother died suddenly one night when she did not go to the club which had not happen in twenty years. Shewent into acoma, the ambulance came for her and she was taken to the hospitel where she died. Mr.Das died one night when he was coming from the club and his car went into the round about he was flung from the car and he broke his neck. The car was not damaged. Another death was the death of the cow.
Arguments
The sense of conflict was shown in the relationship between Raja and Bimla. They always had confrontations when it came to the war that was going on between the Hindus and the Muslims. Raja wanted desperately to go but Bimla forbided it for she thought it was not his place nor time and didn't want to be left alone.A motif can be defined as a recurring theme or dominant idea in a work of literature. A few motifs which are prevalent in "Clear Light of Day" are selfishness, greed and resentment. The main character who portrays a selfish behaviour is Raja. Raja is only concerned about himself and his relationship with the Hyder Alis,this is seen when he is sick and is constantly asking Bim to check next door where the Hyder Ali's lived and to come back and report to him. In addition, Raja's selfish ways reappear after he has recovered from his illness and proceeds to inform Bim that she must start paying him rent, which is ridiculous since Bim was the one who nursed him back to health and stuck with him and listened to his "Hyder Ali obsession". Further more, another character who can be said to have been selfish is Bim, this is due to the attitude she gives off to Tara because she didn't stay at home to help her.
The second motif which is seen in Clear Light of Day is Greed, which is also linked to Raja. Raja's greed began the very day his relationship with Hyder Ali did. The more he was around them was the more he wanted to emulate them, eventually making his family "not good enough" anymore in his eyes. Raja's greed is also the reason for why his family began to fall apart.
Lastly, resentment. This is portrayed by both Tara and Bim. I believe Tara resented Bim for not understanding her and failing to realise that she wanted to stand out and come out of her sister's shaddows. On the contrary, Bim resented Tara for getting married and running off instead of staying with her and helping back at home
Regina Apparicio: Imagery
Imagery is the figurative language that presents pictures in words especially metaphors and similes, used in poetry, plays, and other literary works. Examples of Imagery found in Clear Light of Day are:
" Old Delhi dies, not changes. It only decays" which signifies the unchanging state of Old Delhi while emphasis is placed on the everchanging New Delhi.
The well within the play is associated to death since it was where the cow died due to drowning and it's water is described as dark and stagnant which prohibits Bim and Tara from seeing or determining its contents.
The Das's home is described based on the individual rooms of which it contains since they all seem to have differing personalities and pasts which dictates the attitudes of the characters who reside there.
The rose garden's image changes according to the season and the time in which the story is placed. The rose garden reflect's Tara's life since it changes whenever she does.
"There was something bride-like about her white face" is the image that is portrayed of Cow by the Das's children which reflected how much she was adored and adorned with love.