A Devoted son by Anita Desai , Short summary and analysis

 A Devoted son by Anita Desai

ABOUT WRITER 

The story, ‘A Devoted Son’ was written by Anita Desai, an Indian Novelist and writer. After completing her B.A. from a university in Delhi she began to publish her stories and novels. She received ‘Sahitya Academy Award’ for her story, ‘fire on mountain’, her novel, ‘in custody’ was adapted on a movie.

* ‘A Devoted Son’ is a realistic story set in a middle class Indian Family which shows how parents cherish their ambition towards their children and how a son should fulfill his duty towards his parents.

CHARACTERS 

1) Rakesh: 

* Son of Mr. Verma who is a well behaved son. A brilliant student who becomes a doctor and gets opportunity to practice in USA. He remains devoted and does everything he can do for his father.

 * Rakesh is the dutiful son of Varma and his wife. Though his parents are illiterate, they invest much in him and his education so he can become a doctor. 

* Rakesh becomes a success and even earns a scholarship to study in the United States. Returning home, he becomes a respected, gifted doctor and director at a local hospital, and he eventually opens his own clinic. 

* Rakesh becomes rich and important but remains an ideal son known for his good nature. He is respectful in every way to his parents. Yet when Varma reaches the end of his working days and falls ill, Rakesh’s care for his father takes a new tone. 

* Rakesh maintains his physical gestures of respect and reads the newspaper to him every morning, but he starts to control Varma’s food intake. Rakesh does not allow him to eat any fried or sweet foods and gives him numerous vitamins, tonics, and medicines. 

* Varma finds this treatment disrespectful, becomes seriously ill, and wants to die. Rakesh dismisses his father’s opinions on this matter, caring for him as he believes he should. Rakesh respects his father but is oblivious to what the man really wants.

2) Veena: 

* A simple fat Indian woman who is loyal and dutiful. Wife of Rakesh who follows her husband’s order regarding his father’s diet.  She is selected to be his wife by his mother. 

* Veena is the daughter of his mother’s friend from childhood and a native of his mother’s village. Desai describes her as ‘‘a plump and uneducated girl, it was true but so old-fashioned, so placid, so complaisant that she slipped into the household and settled like a charm.’’ 

* While having a family with Rakesh and growing obese, Veena cooks and cares for the family. She specifically helps take care of Varma when he retires and becomes ill, though Varma comes to resent her as well because he sees her as disrespectful. 

* Varma does not like Veena’s smirk when Rakesh puts limits on what he can eat and believes that she taunts him. Desai calls her a ‘‘smiling, hypocritical pudding in a rustling sari’’ at the beginning of the last scene.

3) Mr. Verma: 

An oil (Kerosene) seller at Depo and and father of Rakesh who works hardly for his son’s education. 

 Varma is Rakesh’s father and Veena’s father-inlaw. The son of a vegetable seller in the local marketplace.

* Varma is illiterate and works at a depot for a kerosene dealer for forty years but values education for his children. He and his wife make sacrifices so their son Rakesh can receive an education. 

* They are proud when Rakesh is a first division student at medical school and goes to the United States to continue his education. In the beginning, Varma is just as pleased when Rakesh continues to show his respect to himself and his mother. After Varma’s wife dies and Varma retires from his position, he ‘‘very quickly went to pieces.’’

 * Varma begins to spend all his days in bed, complaining of illness. He would also lie in bed, seemingly dead, with everyone gathered around, then bolt up and spit out the betel juice. After he does this act during a party at the house, the rest of the family, save Rakesh, no longer pay attention to what Varma does in bed. 

* While Rakesh continues to care for him and treat him with respect, Varma soon begins to resent his son as Rakesh imposes dietary restrictions one day when Varma really becomes sick. 

* Varma is denied all the foods he likes and soon feels Rakesh is not feeding him enough. Varma sees Rakesh as disrespectful and believes that Veena is smirking at him as well.

 * Eventually, Varma shares his concerns with his elderly neighbor Bhatia, who agrees that it is wrong for a son to refuse food to his father.

* Such visits are Varma’s only happiness for a time. Soon, Varma really becomes quite ill and finds his diet is even more limited as Rakesh replaces food with vitamins, tonics, and medicines. 

* Varma claims he only wants to be left alone to die, but Rakesh dismisses his desire. Varma snatches a bottle of medicine out of Rakesh’s hand at the end of the story to make his point and groans ‘‘God is calling me—now let me go.’’

4) Bhatia: 

Old neighbor of Rakesh and friend of Verma who participates in Rakesh’s family conversation and activities.

 Bhatia is Varma’s next door neighbor. Although he is old, Bhatia is still somewhat mobile, unlike most of Varma’s other neighbors. Bhatia visits Varma and is sympathetic to his complaints about how Rakesh treats him. Bhatia is horrified that Rakesh refuses his father food, saying it is disrespectful.

5) Rakesh’s children: unnamed pass time and play with Verma.

Theme of the story: 

• Patriotism 

• Loyalty and responsibility 

• Gratitude 

• Family 

• Generation Gap 

• Desire for success

Short summary and analysis 

* Anita Desai's "A Devoted Son" is a story of complicated familial bonds which highlights the change of dynamics in the relationship between the father, Varma and his son, Dr. Rakesh.

*  It is all about the duty and devotion that the son, Rakesh has for his parents. The son is brought up by his father, starts earning his livelihood and then, dutifully looks after his father. However, a crisis develops as his father, whimsical due to age, starts misinterpreting his son's treatment.

* The story revolves around Dr Rakesh. He's from a poor Indian village. Varma, his father, was working in a kerosene depot.

* His father wished for a well-educated son. Rakesh is the first member of his family to attend college. Rakesh completed his medical exams with the highest marks in the country, which is a cause for celebration. Varma informs everyone who would listen about Rakesh's grades and how he can now go to medical school in America. (USA) 

* Some people are frightened that Rakesh would forget his roots. Varma is unconcerned about this and is pleased that everyone knows his son's name. 

* Rakesh spends a significant amount of time in America to complete his degree; he successfully completes the degree and has job offers from major US hospitals. The awards he receives are returned to his family for them to admire and preserve. This allows him to stay in touch with his family. 

* Rakesh adores America, but he adores his family more, and he has always intended to come home. He'll return as soon as he's gained enough experience and money. He intended to work in his hometown. His parents disagree with some of his life choices, such as why he wants to return home and why he marries a local girl with little schooling. 

* Rakesh  believes he should have higher ambitions. Later, he begins working in a city hospital, which differs from the American hospitals he had previously worked in. He wants to work there because he wants to make a difference in his community. He rises quickly through the ranks and eventually becomes director.

* When his mother dies, his father, Varma, is heartbroken. Rakesh no longer has as much time to devote to Varma now that he has his own family. He does not want to lose his father any time soon, so he applies his medical expertise. 

* Day by day, Varma's health begins to shrink but the pills which was  given by Rakesh kept him alive. 

* He forbids Varma from eating sweets to help him with his stomach. 

* Varma tries to get sweets from his grandson, which frustrates Rakesh. Rakesh wants his son to have a positive relationship with Varma, just like Rakesh does. 

* Varma tells Rakesh and his wife that he dislikes them, but he still keeps an eye out for Varma. Rakesh finally lets Varma leave, knowing that he has done everything that he can for Varma.

Moral 

* A Devoted Son’ is a realistic story set in a middle-class Indian family in an Indian village. The story shows how parents cherish their ambition towards their children and how a son should fulfill his duty towards the parents. This story also shows that children and old are similar in personality. Both cries for somethings they want if they don’t find it.

* The story ‘A Devoted Son’ also tells us that children must fulfill the dreams of parents as they sacrifice their life for their children. Parents work hard to fulfill their children’s needs. Last and not least this story shows the relationship between children and parents (Love, affection, respect, caring, etc.).