Write the different ways of living in village and in city by Grandson and Grandmother.

Question

From 'The Portrait of a Lady' ( by Khushwant Singh).

Answer 1

First , anyone who has read this short story knows that the author Khyshwant Singh is the grandson in the story. I don't know the significance , meaning , or importance of this , but , I found it very interesting and wanted to point out that Singh refers to himself as author as opposed to grandson throughout the story.

Now , the story begins by letting us know that the grandson's parents have moved to the city leaving the grandmother to care for her grandson. The grandmother is very religious and spends a lot of time praying and reading scripture. She also takes great pleasure in taking care of her grandson. Everyday she feeds him and gets him ready for school. She also takes pleasure in helping him with his religious studies .She also walks him to school and then spends her days praying in the building attached to the school until the day is over. On their way home , they always feed the stray dogs in the street. And remember , after moving to the city it is clear that she finds peace and solace by feeding the sparrows. Now , is a good time to point out that a great part of the grandmother's self worth stems from her ability to care for others. When the author's parents are settled in the city the grandson and grandmother leave the village and head for the city where they share a room together and the author enrolls in an English school. Even though they are sharing a room , they begin to grow apart. The grandmother does not believe in the teachings of her grandsons new school , and is no longer taking him to school or able to help him with his studies. Not being able to help or care for her grandson the way she used to causes her extreme loneliness and a feeling of uselessness. Then the author enrolls in a university and gets a room of his own and now spending even less time with her grandson and what she considers no reason left for living. After the author spends 5 years abroad and returns , the grandmother dies very shortly after. I believe that her world was so small , only consisting of her religious practice and her relationship with her grandson. Once she realizes that her relationship with the author will never be the same , I think she dies of loneliness and a broken heart.

G. Giantonio