Friday, July 23, 2010

Unseen Commentary - The In-Between world of Vikram Lall

As time passes our experiences turn into our memories, "memory makes monkeys of our enemies" however they also give our friends "a tint of rose, or it saves them in amber." This main idea is explored in M G Vassanji's The In-between World of Vikram Lall when the protagonist Rabba and his younger sister Deepa are attacked by six Muslim youths , however they are also saved by Mr Bapu (also Muslim). This experience is a result of racial tension between the Kenyans and Muslims- a theme the writer has also been weaved into the passage.

We are first exposed to the racial tension in this passage through the use of diction and syntax. The Mosque is said to be "towering in all its grandeur." Making it evident that Muslim is the religion which tower over others. The symbol of the towering mosque is not enough for the Muslims to signify their superiority, they find the need to ambush Rabba and Deepa, two Kenyans one of which"was dating one of their girls." Rappa could feel "a tremor in [his] sister's arm." The use of simple sentences create suspense meaning they both already knew they were unwelcome in such a Muslim dominated society. The attack was by "six youths, howling like wild dogs, gesturing like demons" surrounding them. The use of diction of the words "demon" and the number "six" link together to create a religious undertone to the passage. The attack was also planned out to be inescapable for Rabba and Deepa, making it unfair and un-honorable. All this makes it all the more evident that in a heavily religious area, lives are run by the strict religious rules and fear rather than faith, love and fairness which religion is seen to be about.

However in a turn of events Rappa and Deepa are rescued by Mr Bapu who is also Muslim himself. His selfless act of kindness proves that even amongst this dense racial tension there are still good people who are willing to live together peacefully, putting aside all religious differences. When "what awaited was only the kill" Mr Bapu sends the attackers away "scamper[ing] away into the dark like cockroaches" in his "white Mercedes." The "white Mercedes" becomes a symbol of hope and the savior Mr Rapu is. Mr Bapu plays the roll of the knight in shining armor fighting in the war between racial differences.

Although the attack barely lasted maybe two or three minutes and nobody was hurt it has become deeply engraved into the memories of Rappa and Deepa, and their “contempt for those nocturnal attackers has not waned a bit.” It shows “how memory makes monkeys out of our enemies.” Over time it becomes clear how pathetic the attackers are using the simile comparing them to cockroaches.

They never saw Mr Bapu again yet he also became deeply engraved into the memories of Rappa and Deepa as well. Mr Bapu is an example of how memory “gives [our friends] a tint of rose, or it saves them in amber.” “Mr Bapu cut for Deepa a red rose.” The rose becomes a symbol of the beauty of their friendship and how over time Mr Bapu’s generosity becomes preserved in amber.

When experiencing the attack Rappa found it frightening and “Deepa was close to hysteria” yet after the attack Rappa realizes how pathetic the cause was as it would only further damage the relationships between religions. Yet as time passes Mr Bapu’s kindness is still as respectable as the day it happened. All this pieces together to express the strength of kindness, over time our enemies become laughable yet our friends become more respectable.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Unfamiliar Commentary

In the second paragraph of this passage the writer explores a contradicting concept of childhood in Venice using satire. At first the writer states that Venice "is not altogether an easy city for children to live in." Yet in the next sentence the writer informs the reader about the absence of "dangerous traffic" and "unspeakable rascals." This clever use of satire purposely diminishes this assumption that just because there is no "dangerous traffic" or "unspeakable rascals" Venice "is an easy city for children to live in." It begins to question our perspective of a healthy childhood.
In Venice children are raised in an inescapable 'childproof' urban city, there are no gardens in the city creating an image of imprisonment of the Venetian youth, caged by "subtleties and qualifications" which robs them of a childhood. The writer gives a negative response to this lifestyle. Children who "have somewhere green to play" are said to be "lucky" to be able to experience such a luxury. The writer uses diction to continue this link of the children to prisoners who attend school in "tall, dark, overheated buildings, heavily decorated with pot plants." These pot plants become a symbol of the Venetianese children in the city. They are so full of life they are meant to outside with the freedom to experience and learn naturally. However, they have been caged up and placed inside what is mistaken to be better and safer, but by doing so they have sacrificed the children's childhood.