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. The themes of 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.
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.The themes of 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.