The way in which The Home And The World frames its narrative is, in my opinion, one of its most defining aspects. Certainly the love triangle being portrayed would be fascinating in any context, but it's the novel's political aspirations that really elevate it to a new level. By framing the happenings between Nikhil, Bimala, and Sandip with the background of the Swadeshi movement, the story takes on a new identity. It lends importance to the tangled web of emotions and makes it mean more than simply a woman questioning her marriage and role in society. Bimala's struggle is a reflection of Bengal's struggle.
This connection is not hidden behind symbols or complicated language, it's basically laid out for the reader. With Sandip's affirmation that Bimala is just the kind of symbol that the Swadeshi movement needs (need exact quote, couldn't find it) he is not just saying that Bimala and the movement are a good fit for each other--he is saying that they are one in the same. As Bengal is partitioned, Bimala is torn between two men. As the push to remove British goods from Bengal intensifies, Bimala's distance from Nikhil increases. This creates concurrent narratives that both run parallel to each other and occasionally interact in significant ways. A society's struggle for autonomy and a conflicted woman's soul searching share the stage together, with Sandip often playing the role of puppeteer. It turns a love triangle in to something much more significant.
The Home And The World toys with storytelling structure while still maintaining a fairly intimate narrative. Certainly the Bimala/Nikhil/Sandip dynamic is what's at the forefront of the action, but the Swadeshi movement plays an equally important role and its connections to Bimala's own struggle are not to be underestimated.
This connection is not hidden behind symbols or complicated language, it's basically laid out for the reader. With Sandip's affirmation that Bimala is just the kind of symbol that the Swadeshi movement needs (need exact quote, couldn't find it) he is not just saying that Bimala and the movement are a good fit for each other--he is saying that they are one in the same. As Bengal is partitioned, Bimala is torn between two men. As the push to remove British goods from Bengal intensifies, Bimala's distance from Nikhil increases. This creates concurrent narratives that both run parallel to each other and occasionally interact in significant ways. A society's struggle for autonomy and a conflicted woman's soul searching share the stage together, with Sandip often playing the role of puppeteer. It turns a love triangle in to something much more significant.
The Home And The World toys with storytelling structure while still maintaining a fairly intimate narrative. Certainly the Bimala/Nikhil/Sandip dynamic is what's at the forefront of the action, but the Swadeshi movement plays an equally important role and its connections to Bimala's own struggle are not to be underestimated.
I like how you connected the two major story lines that were playing out in the novel. It was interesting to see how the characters acted throughout the Swadeshi movement while at the same time learning about the love triangle. I felt bad for Nikhil because it was obvious he loved her and treated her how I believe a husband should treat a wife. He did not treat her like she was property, as every other man was treating their wives like at this time in this place the novel was set in. But it seemed as though Bimala made her own new life a part from her husband once Sandip showed up. She became interested in him and in the Swadeshi movement. Sandip inspired her. But, I feel bad for Nikhil at the end of the day because he seemed like an honorable man.
ReplyDelete