Question on Aunt Mira.
Aunt Mira plays a crucial role in the children's upbringing. Yet as the children grow older, all but Bim leave her and don't return until her death. Describe the importance of Aunt Mira's presence as the children were growing up. What did she provide for them? What did they, in turn, provide for her? How did this contribute to her downfall?What are your thoughts on this questions.
posted by Mrs. N. Buffonge.
In the novel, "Clear Light of Day", it was as if the children's parents were there, but yet still they weren't there, because of the parental support that Bim, Tara, Raja and Baba were lacking. The father and mother would leave early for the night club, where they play games with their friend and would return home late when the children were already asleep. There was hardly any time for the children to socialize with their father and mother, to be helped with their home work or to satisfy their inquisitive minds.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when Aunt Mira came on board all of this changed. The children now had someone to love cloth and feed them, the way that they deserved to be. Aunt Mira gave the children the foundation that they needed to set them on their paths for the future. She loved them as if they were her own and provided them with the love that their parents withheld. Reading stories to them and making sure that they were well taken care of. This was what the children needed and Aunt Mira was there every step of the way to provide for their every need.
In return, the children provided Aunt Mira with a home that she could call her own. They welcomed her with open arm, with appreciation for everything that she provided them with. They viewed Aunt Mira as a mother figure and enjoyed every moment in her company. Tara was seen as the one who was closest to Aunt Mira, she treasured Aunt Mira's presence the most, because of the comfort that Aunt Mira provided her with. Tara experienced the love that her mother once showed towards her before Baba’s birth. This was what made her attach to Aunt Mira more than the other three children.
As the children grew older; this close bond that had been established between them and Aunt Mira soon began to fade. Aunt Mira and the children had built such a close relationship (especially Tara) and now that they were grown it was time for them to leave “the nest” and make a living of their own and they were ready to take that step. Tara had met Bakul, a handsome young man that she eventually got married to and started a family and Raja made no hesitation to pack his bags and hit the road. He had no intentions to life in Old Delhi for the rest of his life. He wanted to explore the outside world, and so he did. However, Aunt Mira was not ready for this change; she had grown so close to the children that she could not imagine herself without them.
Aunt Mira had been through a lot. Her husband died, she had been mistreated by his family who blamed her for his death and now, she had finally found a place where she could call home. She had found a place where she could love and be loved in return by those around. That place was with Bim, Raja, Tara and Baba. This affected Aunt Mira and the final outcome of her life. She had been through so much in her life time and now that she had found a place where she was really wanted, she was about to lose that as well. To Aunt Mira, she had nothing else to live for without the children in her life. Tara was no longer there to cuddle next to her and she no longer had to look out for Raja. Bim and Baba were the only ones left in the house. Bim was left with the responsibility of taking care of Aunt Mira, in addition to Baba. This downpour soon led Aunt Mira to alcoholism.
All her life, Aunt Mira had been taking in the challenges and distress that she was faced with. She had now reached a point where she could not take it anymore, she had to find something to ease the pain and her choice was alcohol. She had lost everything else in her life and losing the comfort and companionship of the children, just pushed her over the edge. Aunt Mira was just one of those persons that didn’t function well under high pressure situations. It was these background circumstances that drove her to the alcohol addiction. Her main intention was to end her life, some way and somehow. Aunt Mira chose alcohol because it not only eased the pain but it also gave a gradual effect which eventually, after continual use, led to her death. It was either alcohol or drowning herself in the well. Either which way Aunt Mira just wanted to end it and alcohol was her way of doing so.
Within the novel “Clear light of Day” Aunt Mira plays a crucial part in the children up bring since Bim, Baba, Tara and Raja’s parents was never really around when they were alive, since they was always off playing games at a club. Therefore the children didn’t often see or speak with their parents, so aunt Mira acted as a substitute of their parents. Someone the children could look to for moral support and guidance. Aunt Mira also provided love and a stable home for the children. More over, the children also gave Aunt Mira a sense of hope and belonging since she was on a verge of becoming suicidal after her husband died and being mistreated by her dead husband family. Tara especially added meaning to Aunt Mira life since they had a very special relationship, different from any bond that Aunt Mira shared with any of the other children.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when Tara and Raja came back to the house and announced that they were leaving to start their own life Aunt Mira saw it as them leaving her and felt betrayed which resulted in Aunt Mira abusing alcohol, becoming more stressed and eventually her fetal downfall.
I love what Latoya said and can only agree fully because it flows quite well with exactly what is in the novel. The only thing That Aunt Misra did not provide was the money to buy the children food and clothing and all the basic necessaties needed in the rearing of a child or children.
ReplyDeleteShe was there for them emotionally, she was there for them in a Physical state and because of this she became a "Surrogate Mother", since there own mother had no time in perfecting their development. I was reading some excerpts from the book and was able to understand why Tara and Aunt Misra Shared a bond unlike that of the other Children.
After Baba was born, Tara lost all the attention she once recieved as being the youngest and simply became the middle child. No longer was she being rocked in the lap of a lovong mother or being patted playfully on the head by an interested father, but was more or less thrown to Aunt Misra, just as Bim and Raja were. Eventually Baba was thrown to her to, but because of his disabilities, some attention was paid to him.
Aunt Misra Provided Love, Discipline, nuturing everything, that their own mother could not give---or better yet did not want to give--Tara began to look at Aunt Misra as a child would look at a mother. She slept with her, ate with her, sought out comfort from her. She paid more attention to her than Bim and Raja did.
All of the Children loved their Aunt Dearly, and i feel that this is the way they repaid her for being there for them. They respected her and obeyed her and looked at her as their mother and I feel that this was her just rewarded for looking after children who had parents, but only in a spiritual sense.
Agree... Agree... Agree. :) great comments....
ReplyDeletePhylicia you took the words right out of my mouth...
The only thing I would contridict with is Latoya's last lines. Although it could be said that the loss of the children led to the state of alcohol abuse that led to Aunt Misra's death, in my opinon she already had a problem. It only starts with one drop in your tea. Soon one drop turns to two and then the tea isn't even necessary. So although the childrens departure could of lend a hand to her outcome the door was already open.
Aunt Misra was finally put in a postion where she was need, loved and accepted. She not only took care of the children but in some respects they took care of her. Just by being there. And of course we know that Tara conributed to this fact the most. She loved her and showed it. Then when she married and moved on we see Bim taking over. Tara dealt with the mental caring and Bim did the physical. Raja however left and didn't pass back. Personally I'm not sure what he contributed to.
In that social circle... with alcohol and absentee parents they function fairly well through their disfunction.
:)
The Comments surrounding this question is great. Lotoya excellent work!!
ReplyDeleteI agree to disagree. Phylicia's phrase:'that their own mother could not give---or better yet did not want to give' sort of puzzled me. Let’s bring to mind that the mother was sick. The mother was unable to provide motherly affection and support to the kids as they grew up due to her sickness which restricted her from doing so. Thus, Aunt Misra became the mother who fathered the kids (the Das father was a disoriented man whose main capability was to argue and go partying with his friends). What I’m trying to say is that I don’t believe that the mother did not want to take care of the kids but rather because of her illness which could partake in the motherly role that she should have in the family. Otherwise I agree completely to what everyone says.
ReplyDeleteAunt Mira plays a crucial role within the novel 'Clear Light of Day' she takes on the role of being a mother to Bim, Raja, Tara and Baba, since their own biological mpther is hardly present in their home. She provides them with the love and care and devotion which they craved from their own mother. She often plays with them, she teaches Baba many new things. like how to play with marbles. She was always their for Tara whenever she needed her, she always comforted her whenever she felt left out by Bim and Raja. She trul loves all of the children.
ReplyDeleteThe children in turn provide Aunt Mira with the same love, and care which she offers to them, it seems as though they are grateful towards her for all that she has done for them and loves her dearly. Un fortunately all of this contributed towards her downfall for she loved the children so much that when they began to leave the home, she took all of this on in a negative way. Especially whe it came to Tara which it might be said was her favorite, she took a turn for the worse and started to put liquor in her tea which eventaully led to her becoming an alcoholic. She was not able to cope with the children leaving, she did not allow herself to be open to the fact that the children would grow older and eventually leave the family home. I truly believe that the children leaving the family home contributed greatly to Aunt Mira turning into an alcoholic, those children to her meant the world they might even be thought of as all she had left, for she was a widow with no children. The children were her only comfort and the fact that they were moving away especially Tara whom she was closest to really took a toll on her and lead to her turning into alcoholic.
Well here is what I think. The children needed parental support and there parents were not there for them but Aunt Mira was. Thus they looked to her to fill the emotional gap in there lives. The neglect of there parents had to be somewhat of a burden to the children. Aunt Mira also struggled emotionally with the death of her husband and the children filled that gap as well. From my perspective all of them faced emotional “entrapment”(remember that question) and what greater way to escape but to do so together. Aunt Mira gave the love and care the children were looking for and in turn they did the same for her. I don’t know but if I was neglected by my parents and my aunt treated me as if I were her own of course I would think of her as my mom rather than my own parents. And that exactly what the children did. But the end was tragic because after the children were satisfied after they were taken care of, and shown love by Aunt Mira they (Tara and Raja) left her. She loved Tara so much and what was her payment? Neglect. She was therefore plunged in the same state where she was in emotional struggle. This had a bad toll on her so she started drinking which along with the emotional baggage caused her eventual death.
ReplyDeleteKeshane