Skip to main content

The Kitemaker by Ruskin Bond summary

 In The Kitemaker by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of tradition, mortality, loneliness, happiness, independence, kindness, pride and change. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Bond may be exploring the theme of tradition. Mehmood once made his living form making kites. However as he grew older there were less people looking for kites and the long serving tradition that had made Mehmood a living eventually died out. However it is interesting that Mehmood still perseveres with making kites even if it is only to please his grandson Ali. What is also interesting about the story is the fact that Bond seems to be highlighting the fact that the landscape has changed. This may be important as symbolically Bond may be suggesting that just as the landscape has changed or the city has grown so too has Mehmood. Though in Mehmood’s case he has grown older. A new generation has come to the city and Mehmood does not really know anyone. Where once he had visitors when he was younger. Now Mehmood is left alone. It is as though he is unknown by people apart from his family.

Which may be the point that Bond is attempting to make. He make be suggesting that with old age comes loneliness.  Where previously Mehmood had been popular and known by all. Including the nawab. This is not the case now. It would appear that Mehmood’s days are spent either resting or making kites for Ali. Mehmood’s relationship with Ali is also interesting as he seems to be exceptionally kind to him. Where some might scorn Ali for flying his kite into the banyan tree. Mehmood doesn’t. Instead he gives Ali another kite to play with. It is as though Mehmood has reached a stage where his primary focus is on making Ali happy. It is also clear to the reader that Mehmood is proud of his abilities when it comes to making kites. Even if some of his creations have been a little difficult to fly. However this has never stopped Mehmood from making kites. He has had the ability to adapt when he has encountered difficulties with some of the kites he has made. Which may leave some readers to suggest that Mehmood has also been able to adapt to any changes that have occurred in his life.

Changes like having one son unable to come back home due to the partitioning that occurred between Pakistan and India. Though Mehmood is old he does appear to be relatively independent. There does not seem to be anybody in the story that he is reliant on. If anything Mehmood seems to be his own man. Something that may have come from the fact that he had his own business making kites. If anything the reader also gets a sense that Mehmood is enjoying his retirement. That life is good to him even if at times it can be lonely and he may feel as though he is forgotten about due to the changes that have occurred around him. However Mehmood does seem to accept life on life’s terms particularly when he makes the comparison between the banyan and the mimosa. Symbolically this could be important as Mehmood is comparing himself to the older banyan tree while at the same time realising that just as the mimosa is growing so too is Ali. It is as though there is a cycle in life and Mehmood knows that he himself is at the end of this cycle.

The end of the story is also interesting as when Mehmood dies the reader realises that he has done so peacefully. He has not been a burden on anyone and if anything he has brought joy to people, particularly to Ali. He has lived a full life and seen the city change before his eyes. This could be important as Bond may be suggesting or highlighting the fact that India was beginning to prosper at the time the story was written. Villages became towns and towns became cities. Yet the traditions that Mehmood had carried through from previous generations seemed to have gotten lost as people prospered. Something that leaves the reader wondering as to what price is there to be paid for prosperity. Change can be good but it can also result in the traditions of the past being forgotten about. Something which is very much the case in the story. There is nobody left after Mehmood to make kites for Ali or for anybody else. With Mehmood’s death comes not only the loss of life but the loss of tradition too. Though change is inevitable should it come at the cost of tradition. Should the past be forgotten just as Mehmood is sure to be forgotten.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

You May Also Like

SCHOOLS OF COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Introduction : Ø   Comparative Literature was established in France during the 19 th century as an academic discipline : France   1816 Ø   It reached America only during the 20 th century through the German scholars who migrated to America from Hitler’s Germany The French School : Ø   In the French sense of Comparative Literature, it is the moral responsibility of every French Comparatist to trace and relate the world literary experience to the French literary response because , according to him, the French literature is the backbone of the universal literary system Ø   Therefore, they were interested in analysing the external sources and influence of works. In the French School, Comparative Literature becomes an ancillary discipline in the field of French literary history Ø   The French school   was too narrow and relied too heavily on factual evidence Ø   It argued that Comparative literature ought to involve the study of two el...
Post a Comment
Read more

THEMATOLOGY IN COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Introduction v   Thematology or study of themes is a new area in the field of comparative literature. It was introduced by the famous American comparatist, Harry Levin. It was he who coined the term ‘Thematics’ or ‘Thematology’ v   Thematology is a comparative study of literary works as they relate to other literary works as far as the themes are concerned Themes and Motifs Thematology involves the study of ‘themes’ and ‘motifs’ . Both are basically different but modern literary critics use them as interchangeable terms. A motif is a recurring element in a work of art. It may be an incident or a device or a formula. For example, folklores have a common motif of a ugly woman becoming a charming princess. Another common motif is bemoaning of the bygone past in lyrics. The ‘theme’ is a recurrent element but it is related to the subject-matter to both form and content Motif vs Theme The theme is the central idea or message where as the motif constitutes the unit from...
1 comment
Read more

NATIONAL, COMPARATIVE AND WORLD LITERATURE

  “Literature in English” is a common one that encompasses all literature written in English, regardless of the citizenship of the author Classification is essential to distinguish Comparative Literature from National Literature, General Literature, and World Literature   National Literature Two contradictory explanations…. 1. National literature  is produced by the people of a state, in the language of that people. For example, the Tamil literature, written in Tamil and by a Tamilian is accepted as National Literature. This is a narrow sense which excludes Tamil literature produced in countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other countries National literature is the literature produced by citizens of a particular nation. It's one way of grouping literature (e.g., American literature, British literature, French literature, and Indian English literature) 2. Many comparitists accept all writings produced by those people who share the same culture and language t...
Post a Comment
Read more