Devdas by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee - Essay Example

Character Analysis: Devdas Background of the Character The character of Devdas is the most important character of the novel by the same name, written by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. The novel revolves around three protagonist characters. Devdas among them is the most pivotal, son of wealthy Bengali Brahmin Landlord family. Parvati childhood friend of Devdas, daughter of a Bengali family that belongs to the merchant class and Chandramukhi a courtesan, to which Devdas get introduces by the virtue of his flamboyant friend Chunnilal. The story evolves when after thirteen year Devdas returns to Calcutta after completing his studies. It is here when Parvati’s family proposes marriage between the two, which was out rightly rejected by Devdas’s family due to the lower social status of her family (Guha, 2002). The offended family of Parvati arranged her marriage; meanwhile Devdas put a half hearted attempt to convince his parents. In the midst of all this Parvati got married. It is now when Devdas realized impact of Parvati in her life but could not do anything to stop her and indulge himself into alcohol, leaves his family house and start living in the city with his school fellow Chunnilal, a wealthy, irresponsible and cosmopolitan character. It is he that introduces Devdas to Chandramukhi a courtesan. Whereas Parvati on the other hand was successfully role the role of step-mother, she had won the confidence of her step children and new family. In the end Devdas health deteriorates due to heavy drinking and he start questioning him that Parvati or Chandramukhi whom of the two he actually loved. Sensing the approach of his death he plans to meet Parvati for one last time, but it did not happen and he died at her door step (Sharma, 2008). Analysis of the Character The Character of Devdas is of complex nature, there are various swings in the character from time to time. There is strange kind of inner weakness in the character, which feels satisfied or fulfilled upon creating a same situation for someone close to him. Devdas’s character is politically degenerated that is why he could not adjust himself in the rural suburbs of Calcutta where there is social presence of its family. This leads to the social and emotional impotency of the character and this weakness is exposed when Devdas failed to convince her parents for his marriage with Parvati but afterwards when she got married Devdas suddenly realizes that how meaningful her importance was in his life. This passive sense of possessiveness could not be of any good. The aristocratic background of his family made it impossible for him to relate himself to anyone of lower social status, yet he elopes with Parvati kept her involved and in the end could not make a stand to have her. But upon her loss he draw himself at the house of a courtesan and destroyed the social, political and cultural status of his family, these extreme variations of attitudes reflect the weakness of his character. This mood swings turned out him into a tragic hero who could not have anything while he had everything, he sacrificed the love of his life for the honor and integrity of his family, but later on destroyed it completely (Sharma, 2008). There was a time when Devdas was head strong and arrogant and could not stand the slightest of offence, later he left nothing to insult himself. Various interrelated factors contributed to it that will be discussed below: a) Phycological Condition of Devdas The character of Devdas had sort of a troublesome childhood; he was undisciplined, careless, arrogant, free willed and discontent. There were primarily two reasons in the development of these characteristics, first and foremost is the abusive behavior of his father who kept of forcing him to do the things that are exactly the opposite of his nature and when he fails to comply with given instruction, he treated harshly. And the second one is linked to the first reason that is the development of lowliness in the character of Devdas; he kept on urging himself to rebel against his father, whenever he could. In this loneliness Parvati was the only childhood friend he had, and this friend also came to halt when he was sent to boarding for thirteen years by his father. These factors badly affected the mental growth of the character and it somehow always relate the events of his present with the past, could not let go the thought of his father being a brutal and harsh father, treating himself as a victim. This emotional and social disgrace led Devdas to develop a weak, passive and rebellious character. This turned out to be a chronic illness and Devdas started to destroy the very basis of his existence, something that he later successfully achieved (Arora, 1997). b) Demographic Factors The demographic factors of the character were completely suitable and sufficient for his brought up. He born into a family of well connected, rich, educated and politically proactive family, he was the son of a barrister; his father was nominated by in the council of advisor by the viceroy and money was never an issue. He too was well educated (a barrister himself), of good health and in his early twenties. Devdas had all the possible opportunities and facilities that there were available. There was no deficiency in his standard of living and social status. The career which he opted, or his father forced him to adopt had a promising future. While on the other hand, Parvati the other main character of the novel/movie had nothing parallel to that of Devdas. Her father was a nobody, her mother was dancing girl. They belong from a family of lower social status. Yet Devdas put everything he had, everything his ancestors earned on stake just rectify his mistake and complete his vow (Noorani, 2012). c) Interrelation of Specific Characters with One and Other The whole plot of the novel/movie based on the relationship of two major characters i.e, Devdas and Parvati. This relationship is the reason of the story to emerge and float. These characters were familiar with each other since their childhood and had some sort of emotional bond with each other. That is why during the thirteen years while Devdas was studying Parvati kept herself for him, she considers him as her soul mate, and Devdas though not at the beginning but later as the plot emerges realized the importance of this relationship. Upon his return he could address to the proposal of their marriage, but later could not forgive himself for this mistake and as a sense of guilt punish himself and people around him, people who matter, people who care about him. Then another important relation was between Devdas and Chandramukhi, this relation came into existence in reaction to Devdas’s failure to marry Parvati when he could. Once she was married, Devdas left his home and start living in this courtesan’s place. To find solace in his life, to replace Parvati’s absence with a courtesan, and gain the attention of those who had led him to make these decisions, this seemed to be strange relationship between the two characters. This relationship later turned out in emotional attachment and Devdas would stay there just forget Parvati or to find her reflection in Chandramukhi (Arora, 1997). Conclusion The character of Devdas considered being a weak and impassionate character, as it had not given importance to those who cared for him and rebelled against everyone. But the persona of the character is so powerful that even after a century it had been personified by various generations of actors and more importantly audiences still link to it and find somewhat a reflection their own in the character. List of References Arora, P. (1997). Devdas: India's emasculated hero, sado-masochism and colonialism. Retrieved from http://english.chass.ncsu.edu/jouvert/v1i1/DEVDAS.HTM. Guha, S. (2002). Devdas (translated). Penguin Books India. Retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/258497.Devdas. (Guha, 2002) Noorani, A. (2012, July 29). The dialogue of Devdas. Dawn News. Retrieved from http://dawn.com/2012/07/29/review-the-dialogue-of-devdas. Sharma, S. (2008, June 7). Multiple takes: Devdas’s journey in Indian cinema-from the silent era of the 1920s to the opulent Hindi blockbuster of 2002. Livemint. Retrieved from http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/fGOxtAa1uI9bQpgfQKKFZJ/Multiple-takes.html. Read More