Essay on "Rohinton Mistry's Such a Long Journey"

Essay 5 pages (1749 words) Sources: 1 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Journey by Rohinton Mistry. Specifically it will analyze the symbolic significance of Sohrab and Tehmul in the book. How does Rohinton Mistry use son and surrogate-son to comment upon Gustad and Dilnavaz? "Such a Long Journey" is the story of Gustad Noble and his family - wife Dilnavaz, sons Sohrab and Darius, and daughter Roshan. The family is relatively successful for 1971 Indian standards, but after hearing from an old friend, Major Bilimoria, their lives begin to spiral downhill. Bilimoria involved Gustad in a money-laundering scheme, which threatens the entire family. His daughter becomes gravely ill, his oldest son decides he does not want to attend the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and Gustad disowns him as a result. Several of Gustad's friends die in the book, leading to Gustad's examination of his own life and the lives of his family.

It is quite clear Gustad is a family man who loves his family and would do anything for them. In the past, he risked his life and was injured saving his son from a car accident, so it is clear he is a good father and husband. He wants more for his children, as most parents do, which is why he is so adamant about Sohrab attending IIT. The author shows this by the tension at the dinner table when Sohrab tells his father he does not want to attend the Institute. Mistry writes, "Yes, we will eat,' said Gustad, 'but,' to Sohrab, 'what is the matter suddenly?' 'It's not suddenly. I'm sick and tired of IIT, IIT, IIT all the time. I'm not interested in it. I'm not a jolly good fellow about it, and I'm not going there'" (Mistry 48). Gustad is so incensed he disowns his son, and Sohrab moves out.

He does return periodically while his father is working at his bank job to see his mother, but his father refuses to accept or acknowledge him for the greater part of the book. He says, "All I wanted was for him to have a chance at a good career. The chance wrenched away from me. Now what is left? What is left in life?' [...] Circles, U-turns, reverse circles, till he was dizzy with thought, exhausted from anxiety, and close to being broken by despair. But at six o'clock he was saved by his anger" (Mistry 178-179). Thus, the author shows that Gustad's interest in not just in his son's future, but his own. He believes the Institute would lead to a successful career for his son, and a better life, but he also has a personal interest in his son's career, and that shows that Gustad can be selfish and self-serving when it comes to his son's career. He is not as worried about his son's happiness as he could be, and he can be stubborn, something this illustrates as well.

To Gustad, the Institute is almost a holy place, and he cannot imagine his son turning down the opportunity to attend. The author continues, "And the Indian Institute of Technology became the promised land. [...] it was the home of the Holy Grail. And all things would be given and all things would be possible and all things would come to pass for he who journeyed there and emerged with the sacred chalice" (Mistry 67). This helps show the relationship between the two men, and the relationship between Gustad and his wife. Gustad has the power, but Dilnavaz has the understanding and the will to bring the two back together, and she is the magnetizing force in the family, very determined to stop the family's downward spiral at whatever cost.

The couple's relationship is stormy at best. They often argue, Dilnavaz steps in to take the beating with the belt meant for Sohrab, and Gustad allows this, indicating her position in the family. She is somewhat of a second-class citizen, who works hard throughout the novel, and receives little help from her sons or her husband, another indication of her place in the family. She is superstitious and believes potions and spells can help the family's troubles, and she has become bitter from the lack of help and support from the rest of the family. Yet, they are devoted to each other, and the author shows this with small details, such as the daily notes that they leave each other, always signing them with love and affection. The author writes, "The daily notes did not say much: 'My dearest, Busy day today, meeting with manager. Will tell you later. Love & xxx'" (Mistry 70). The author shows that even though they do have their differences, they both love their children, and they still have affection for each other.

Tehmul, the babbling lunatic that lives in the compound, adores Gustad and Gustad is the only one who can understand what he says. He is a sad, pathetic character with a good heart who is obsessed with sex and catching rats for the bounty they bring him. He is both funny and naive, and his death at the end of the book is the bond that brings father and son back together. Gustad is also one of the few people in the book that can tolerate Tehmul, which is another reason the "boy man" looks at Tehmul like a father. The author writes, "What is all this, Tehmul?' said Gustad reproachfully. 'What have you done here?' GustadGustadGustadverysorryGustad pleaseGustad.' He stooped to pick up his empty cigarette tin. 'Somuchmoneyallgonegonegone. Moneyforrubbingfastfastfastfast. Nicenicefeelingallgone.' He looked forlornly inside the tin" (Mistry 204). Tehmul serves as some comic relief in the novel, but he also is the one who brings Gustad to tears at the end of the novel, and who helps Gustad get in touch with his emotions about his family, his son, and himself. He serves almost as a teacher in that regard and he helps Gustad lose some of his stubborn opposition to his son's plans to attend a university and get a degree in the arts. He also brings out the soft side of Gustad, something necessary for him to cry, when Gustad realizes the pain Tehmul must feel as a man, with the sexual urges of a man, confined in his childlike mind and body. He is kind to Tehmul, allowing him to keep the wedding doll, because he realizes Tehmul is harmless and sad, a kindness that helps him loosen his stubbornness and accept his own son's abilities and needs.

Sohrab, the real son, is the source of conflict in the novel. He tears the family apart, and refuses to act like a child and do his father's bidding. He wants to be recognized as an adult in charge of his own future. He serves as a wedge between father and mother, because his mother supports him, but wants him to make up with his father, while his father refuses to acknowledge his existence. He helps develop the characters of both his parents, illustrating his mother's dependence on superstition and alchemy, and his father's dependence on the memories of his childhood that form his ideas about his current life and the futures of his children.

Both of these young men are central to the story, because they elicit reactions from both father and mother, and these reactions lead to a deeper understanding of the characters. For example, in reaction to her daughter's illness and her son's absence Dilnavaz begins to create elaborate potions designed to cure her daughter's illness and bring her son back home. This illustrates her superstitious nature, showing she is far less spiritual than her husband, who begins every morning with his prayers. She represents the "old" India, not ready to move on to the 20th century, while Gustad represents the emerging "new" India, marching ahead toward modernism and industry. Gustad understands technology will be the future of India, which is why he wants his son to be an engineer. The two characters represent a changing India, one hanging on to the old ways while another embraces the new, and the two male characters help create situations that make this very clear.

In addition, the two males help illustrate how important families are to Indians. Dilnavaz will stop at nothing to help her family survive, she is very determined that her potions will work and her children will thrive. Sohrab is very much like his father, equally stubborn and determined, which is one of the reasons they have a conflict, they are both too stubborn and proud to back down. When Gustad finally embraces his son, there is hope for the future, and for their future relationship. Sohrab represents what the parents represent, too. He is the future of India, while Tehmul represents the past. His life is over, but his blood brings father and son back together, illustrating that the old India may be gone, but the blood of those who are gone still inspires and lives on in those people who will help lead India into the… READ MORE

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