Education in Indian society

Expectations of boys to succeed – Arun – foreign university seen as more prestigious Role of education secondary in life for Indian girls – Uma – taken out of school to nurse her brother Girls who do become educated: -Anamika – not allowed to take up scholarship to Oxford, but it is used to help her get a husband

He was the son surely an object of pride. Surely? Then, seeing this puny creature who appeared to take forever to raise his head, or get to his knees, finally stand upon his legs, a kind of secret doubt would enter their eyes, even panic. The repetition of the adverb ‘ surely’ along with the question, emphasises the doubt in the parents’ minds Mamapapa’s expectations for Arun Desai’s use of the definite article ‘the’ reveals how important sons are in the Indian culture. By using the adjective secret, Desai gives us an insight into the Indian culture where emotions and feelings are kept behind closed doors Desai’s use of the noun ‘creature’ helps us to see how detached mamapapa are from their son. The adjective ‘puny’ suggests that weakness is something that is seen as inferior in this society Mamapapa are depicted as stereotypical Indian parents This quote is a depressing exposure of how Arun is judged even at such a young age and seen to be lacking in his parents’ eyes

Who could pierce through the dreary outer world to an inner world, tantalising in its colour and romance. If only it could replace this, Uma thought, hungrily. This quote reveals the depressingly lonely life that Una leads. So lonely that the stories told to her by Mira Masi are a souce of excitement for her Desai’s use of the adverb: ‘hungrily’ to show that Uma’s life is so empty of excitement. She longs for adventure. The adverb also acts as a metaphor of her life being unfulfilled and relates to the title of: ‘Fasting, Feasting’. She is hungry to learn, to experience life..to have education like Arun. Irony – Uma is hungry for education, whereas Arun does not want it. For Uma, education is a means of escape but for Arun is is a prison The adjective: ‘dreary’ contrasts with the ‘colour’ – showing the two different worlds: Uma’s real life contains no colour at all.

Uma contrasted to Arun Her education is not taken seriously She is extremely lonely after leaving the Catholic school as it gave her a purpose, friends and a spiritual belief She pines for her old school and almost idolizes Mother Agnes. Uma needs this school. As the only boy in the family, Arun has been pushed into succeeding academically. He is so overwhelmed with the pressure that education has become a drugery for him. This constant study and pressure has consumed his whole personality rendering him a social misfit who is unable to deal with the world around him.