Baba's Pebbles
Aunt Mira gave him this game of pebbles as a child, and he played with them so often
they have grown smooth with wear. The game becomes one of Baba's two fixations in
life, and he plays the game even into adulthood.
Baba's Gramophone
Baba's primary preoccupation. The loud music serves as a constant reminder of his
presence in the house. Bees
When the children were young, Bim was attacked by a swarm of bees. Tara watched
in horror as this happened, unable to help Bim; the memory stays vividly with her, and
she carries the guilt from it into adulthood.
The Misra Family Home
Serves as a retreat for Tara from her own home as a child. It is also where she initially
meets Bakul. Also, as children, Bim and Tara discuss their future while escaping from
a party for the Misra girls. As adults, Bim, Tara and Bakul visit the family one
evening and speak of their lives. This is also where the novel ends. Tea
A central part of Indian tradition and the center of most meetings throughout the
novel. It is with a drop of liquor in her tea that Aunt Mira begins her alcoholism, over
tea that Bim meets Dr. Biswas's mother, through an ancient box of tea collecting dust on the counter that Tara
worries that her sister is not well.
Baba's Gramophone and Pebbles
They are both recurring themes of the novel, and seem to serve as a reminder of
Baba's presence. His presence itself is silent, but these sounds are associated with him.
The significance of Baba's pebbles can best be described by a quote from the book:
"Everyone in the household knew the sound they made as he scattered them across the
tiles with a little, quiet, unfolding gesture of his hand, then gathered them up again
with that curiously remote and peaceful smile on his thin face. It was the sound of the
house, as much as the contented mutterings of the pigeons on the veranda." (Part 2,
page 62) The pebble game was a gift from Aunt Mira to Baba when he was a young child. It
was with these pebbles that she taught Baba to grab and throw, a major feat for the
child whose development had been so severely stunted. However, instead of
outgrowing the game, Baba continues to play it, even as an adult. He seems to draw
comfort from routine activities, and this is one of his. Baba's primary occupation,
however, is with his gramophone. He finds it in the Hyder Ali's house and
immediately becomes fixated with it. From this day forward, Baba plays the old
records on the gramophone loudly, and the unending flow of music from his room
serves as a constant reminder of his otherwise noiseless presence in the house. One
day, soon after Tara's arrival at the house, the needle on the gramophone wears out
and Baba is forced to put it aside with the other wornâout needles. He is so upsetting
about being unable to change the needle right away that he remains in a state of shock
and sadness for a while. He soon replaces the needle, however, and the same loud
music floods the house anew. The music records that never change, and the recurring
songs, also contribute to the theme of change vs. sameness.
Baba's
Aunt Mira gave him this game of pebbles as a child, and he played with them so often
they have grown smooth with wear. The game becomes one of Baba's two fixations in
life, and he plays the game even into adulthood.
Baba's Gramophone
Baba's primary preoccupation. The loud music serves as a constant reminder of his
presence in the house.
Bees
When the children were young, Bim was attacked by a swarm of bees. Tara watched
in horror as this happened, unable to help Bim; the memory stays vividly with her, and
she carries the guilt from it into adulthood.
The Misra Family Home
Serves as a retreat for Tara from her own home as a child. It is also where she initially
meets Bakul. Also, as children, Bim and Tara discuss their future while escaping from
a party for the Misra girls. As adults, Bim, Tara and Bakul visit the family one
evening and speak of their lives. This is also where the novel ends.
Tea
A central part of Indian tradition and the center of most meetings throughout the
novel. It is with a drop of liquor in her tea that Aunt Mira begins her alcoholism, over
tea that Bim meets Dr. Biswas's mother, through an ancient box of tea collecting dust on the counter that Tara
worries that her sister is not well.
Baba's Gramophone and Pebbles
They are both recurring themes of the novel, and seem to serve as a reminder ofBaba's presence. His presence itself is silent, but these sounds are associated with him.
The significance of Baba's pebbles can best be described by a quote from the book:
"Everyone in the household knew the sound they made as he scattered them across the
tiles with a little, quiet, unfolding gesture of his hand, then gathered them up again
with that curiously remote and peaceful smile on his thin face. It was the sound of the
house, as much as the contented mutterings of the pigeons on the veranda." (Part 2,
page 62) The pebble game was a gift from Aunt Mira to Baba when he was a young child. It
was with these pebbles that she taught Baba to grab and throw, a major feat for the
child whose development had been so severely stunted. However, instead of
outgrowing the game, Baba continues to play it, even as an adult. He seems to draw
comfort from routine activities, and this is one of his. Baba's primary occupation,
however, is with his gramophone. He finds it in the Hyder Ali's house and
immediately becomes fixated with it. From this day forward, Baba plays the old
records on the gramophone loudly, and the unending flow of music from his room
serves as a constant reminder of his otherwise noiseless presence in the house. One
day, soon after Tara's arrival at the house, the needle on the gramophone wears out
and Baba is forced to put it aside with the other wornâout needles. He is so upsetting
about being unable to change the needle right away that he remains in a state of shock
and sadness for a while. He soon replaces the needle, however, and the same loud
music floods the house anew. The music records that never change, and the recurring
songs, also contribute to the theme of change vs. sameness.
Baba's