Question "# 3
Baba's character seems to stay the same throughout the story.He is silent and never speaks, yet plays an important role in
the lives of the other characters and in the development
of the novel. Describe this role and what it brings to the novel.
Baba's role in the book is unchanging. in a way he provides, stability and normalcy and yet at the same time he is a hindrance to Bimla. Therefore he can be seen as mentally challenged and cannot take care of himself and so the task falls to Bimla after both Raja and Tara moves away. With Baba to take care of, Bimla does not have the same opportunity to move away. It can be seen that Bimla wants or desires to have a life of her own, getting married and moving away but with Baba that is not possible.
ReplyDeleteThe role Baba plays in the novel, is that Baba acts as a reminder to the other characters and what their childhood was. It is stated in the novel that Baba's primary occupation is playing the gramophone, and constantly playing with the pebbles that he got from Aunt Mira as a child straight into adulthood.
Clydecia Moore,Glori-Ann Ditzen,Kendra Rover, Marlia Laurent and Conica Knight
In agreement with the previous post by class members it can be said that Baba's main role in the play is to act as a constant reminder. Baba's total life entails doing things in a stagnant manner. The way he drinks his tea, the way he plays with pepples that have been worn smooth and become mishapen because of constant use are all characteristic of his personality. The gramophone is not seen till near the end of the second chapter and even though it is basically the first time that we are clear on Baba leaving the confines of his yard..we can still see his character trait is prevalent. He insists on taking the gramophone, and even though it may seem that they are in apparent danger Baba still risks his life in a sense to get the gramophone that he is now so in love with.. Baba's role in the play is to give the readers a clear impression on the idea that things in "OLD DELHI" as the name suggest always remain the same and "NEW DELHI" can be looked at as the futuristic model of Old Delhi.
ReplyDeleteBim cannot change because Baba is the foundation of old and even if she wanted to change--Baba's continued presence would never allow her the opportunity...We see that she so fervently tries to get him to do things that are not inept to his normal activities, and though we are clear on the fact that she knows her effort will and have always prove futile she still tries...
Phylicia Joseph, Niki Andrew, Latianna Robinson and Annesia Evans...
Baba is not the only one who represents change what are the other characters that represent sameness?
ReplyDeleteGood post
Bim also represents sameness. This is shown through the way she dresses and also her way of thinking. Even the way in which she kept the house shows that she is still the same.
ReplyDeleteShemez Browne
I am not able to read that question. The font type is not english but some illegible gibberish.
ReplyDeleteRoland Moore
In addition to Baba, Bim's life also been at a standstill. She uses her devotion to taking care of her family as an excuse for not moving on with her life. It is true that Baba needed attention as he could not take care of himself but that was no legitimate excuse, as Bim could have taken Baba with her if she wanted to moved out of the old house. Bim is just afraid of change and uses her devotion to Baba as an excuse. She is afraid of loosing her childhood memories that still lingers in the old house. Bim's fear of change goes so far as to the point that she refuses to even get in to a serious relationship, since this would mean that she would have to give up her life in Delhi. This is seen in the novel where, Bim continuously pushes the doctor (Dr Biswas) away everytime he tries to get closer to her and convince her to move on with her life.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is not put on display, Tara represents sameness as she parades as a changed woman, inside she is still the same. On her return back to memory lane she relives old passions and hurts and really has not grown at all as she still feels remorse for things past. She is an emotional character; one who sees everything as her fault and never ceases to place the blame on her own person and it is seen that even though she tried to escape from her past it still cathces up to her in her thoughts and emotions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leanne....but i would also like to add that BABA can be looked at as a blockage..Everything he has done in his life has been based in that home. Baba's character screams unchangeable and is placed there to trap Bim, rendering her unable to move on or go anywhere because of her personality. To me it's like a war of personalites, But Baba's own seems to be winning because day after Day Bims life is deemed predictable...after a time She becomes Baba, afraid of change...afraid to step out and see what life has to offer!!!
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Phylicia and I would also like to contest and ask could Baba be blamed for Bim's unchanging ways? And is so can he be seen as being selfish. He had so many opportunities to really make something of himself and he never took them. The last chapter mentions that no one ever knows what Baba thinks. If no one ever knows how are we so sure that all of this is just not an act to settle with his own spoiled selfish ways as he is indeed afraid to confront the outside world.
ReplyDeleteOk, this is very interesting. I must say, the arguments that have been put forward by Phylicia and Leanne are commendable, so here's my opinion. Yes, Baba is seen as a load on Bim and keeping her from moving on with her life because of her caring personality, but he is not entirely to be blamed for her life decisions. I mean, can we blame the blind for not being able to see or the lame for not being able to walk? Can we blame them for having to depend upon friends and family to get them through their everyday life, because they can't do any better? No, we can't. We just have to try our best to assist them because they are human beings just like us. Baba needed special attention because of his premature mind and Bim was there for that. However, this doesn't mean that she should allow him to become such a priority that she abandons her own life. Bim could move on with her life if she wants, but she is just too stubborn. Baba is in no way a major blockage to Bim's progress. Yes he seems to be selfish at times by not making an attempt to do things for himself, (besides playing with his stones or listening to his gramophone), like going to the office for example. But, that's just a part of his nature, that's the way he has been brought up. Ever since it has been discovered that he was disabled, everyone has been doing things for him and he has grown so accustom to this attention that he refuses to do anything for himself. It’s as if he can’t control himself. We all have goals and dreams and if we’re really determined, none can stop us from making those dreams come to reality. Bim had things that she dreamed of doing like going back to school and even becoming a nurse, and if she really wanted to, she could have made it happen. My questions to you guys are: do you think that it might have been possible for Bim to move on with her life despite the fact that Baba was her first priority? Could she have taken him with her, if she did decide to move out of Delhi?
ReplyDeleteNO...I like what you're saying so far Latoya, but If Bim decided to think of herself and go on to achieve her goals like you've said then who would look after Baba, since he was already quite dependant on her. Are you suggesting that she just leave him to tend to his own affairs when you've already stated that he has a premature mind and is not capable of doing things for himself. If she was to move with him to New Delhi in search of her dreams do you think he would survive. He loves loud music and he plays with pebbles, do you think his supposed neighbours if he moved to New Delhi would get accustomed to all of that without callng the authorities. I think not. Baba represents sameness and because he has been like that for all his life--there is no mode to change. But lets also look at the people around them, who grew accustomed to this sameness and were not in the least troubled by it. And lets take a figment of the new, which is Tara's husband, who was utterly annoyed by Baba's everyday movements......"come on man"--wield and come again!!LOL
ReplyDeleteI really do not understand the question so can someone please clarify it for me please.
ReplyDeleteMauricia, the discussion is on the unchangeable characters of Bim and Baba and how Bim's life would have been, if Baba wasn't her first Priority. Now back to Phylicia. I see where you're coming from and I am in agreement, but I still think that there is some way that Bim could have followed her dreams without abandoning Baba. As was said before, Baba needed Bim and I’m not saying that she should have moved on with her life and leave Baba to fend for himself. I mean, Bim just out wore the fact that she had Baba to take care of as she justified why she couldn’t change her life. What about going to school part time? She could have done that. There are minor changed that Bim could have made, changes that would not have an effect on Baba’s situation. Ok, so she couldn't move out of Delhi because it might have been difficult for Baba to grow accustom to the new environment and also difficult for their new neighbours to grow accustom to his habitual behavior. Bim could have made at least repaired the house or replant the garden, make changes right there in old Delhi. What about even seeking a companion? After all, in the Indian culture, it was important for the females to get married. There were even arranged marriages. What real reason did Bim have for rejecting Dr. Biswas? How could her involvement with him affect Baba’s situation? This is food for thought.
ReplyDeletewhy does she neglect the house hold duties such as paint ing and gardening? I definitely know that its not for the benefit of Baba, for Baba could have cared less. Common people Bim is the one digging her own grave here. she is the one would maintains the sameness in the story.
ReplyDeleteYes we all know that she stayed to look after her brother Baba, but is he to be blamed for Bims refusal for change?
I think not, Bim wants to sink in to a pit of self pity. She rather spend money on expensive history books rather than repair the house, and she can afford it cause she an Baba receive a steady income from their dad;s insurance company. Bim is the blokage in this story, she is the one that refuses change.