Question

Explain the theme of the Short story the shroud

Answer 1

Explanation:

Theme of Munshi Premchand Shroud

this shows that Premchand want to satire on the society when she was died any one of person did not come forward for her help and now they help them to make her funereal. Munshi Premchand want to say that for the society the customs and tradition was much important rather the persons.

Answer 2

Answer:

In The Shroud by Premchand we have the theme of selfishness, tradition, honour, independence, guilt, self-importance, gender roles and responsibility. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Premchand may be exploring the theme of selfishness. Both Ghisu and Madhav appear to be more concerned about their own well-being than they are of Budhia’s. With neither man being concerned enough to check on Budhia as she lies dying in the hut. What is also interesting about both Ghisu and Madhav is that they feel as though they deserve to be better off than they are. Yet they are not prepared to do the work that is needed to improve their lives. It is as though both men feel they are owed a certain lifestyle by the world. Something that is noticeable by the fact that Ghisu begs for money after Budhia’s death when the reality is there was nothing stopping him from preparing himself financially for Budhia’s death. The work was there for both Ghisu and Madhav but neither man was prepared to do it. Rather both men preferred to live their life as idlers.

The Shroud itself may also be symbolically important as Premchand may be introducing it into the story to highlight to the reader the sense of tradition that exists. However tradition is not followed due to the fact that Ghisu and Madhav decide to get drunk rather than buy the shroud. Not only have they been dishonourable to Budhia while she was alive but both men also dishonour her memory by not buying a shroud for the cremation. It is also possible that Premchand is placing a spotlight on the role women played at the time the story was written.