Justify the title in custody by anita desai
Answers
Explanation:
In the Novel “In Custody” Anita Desai depicts the life of Devan, a lecturer in Hindi. Illusion refers to the workings of imaginations but in different theoretical models it has more force. In psychoanalysis fantasies are often compensatory of wish-fulfillment that allows the dreamer to cope with disappointment and the dreamer may even convince him or herself that the fantasy is real. Illusion is described as hallucination or imagination.It is an actual desire, fear or obsession which finds expression in various ways. The novel “In Custody” reflects Devan’s love for Urdu poetry and his fantasy on the great hero Nur leads him to sadness, hopelessness and often helplessness. He imagines that Nur himself resembles his poetry and he exists on this higher plane because his poetry lifts Devan to such heights. His endeavour to write a biographical retrospect about Nur is challenged by unfavourable circumstances and persons. Devan with his hope and tenaciousness elevate the despondency of Nur. Devan who idealizes Urdu poetry and the poet encounters his hero encircled misery and confusion. Devan wishes to become an Urdu poet from his childhood but could not do so because of his worldly responsibilities and eventually become a lecturer. Devan’s dream clashes with the realism of Nur the Urdu poet. The paper entitled Anita Desai’s “In Custody”: A clash between reality and illusion brings out the struggle of Devan being trapped in fantasy and realism.
Key words: Fantasy, Realism, Illusion, dream and Imagination
Fiction, being the most significant and powerful foam of literary expression today has acquired a prestigious position in the Indo-English literature. It is commonly agreed that the novel is the readiest and most acceptable way of embodying experiences and ideas in the context of our time. Thus Indian writing in English has found a voice in the fabric of post colonial literature. Fiction by women writers add grandeur in the plethora of Indian writing by reshaping and moulding their experiences with their unique sensibility. Indian women writers provide insights, a wealth of understanding, a reservoir of meanings and a basis of discussion in their work.
Anita Desai is a modern Indo-English writer, not only in Indian but also in the world of fiction writing. She emerged on the literary horizon after Independence, focusing on the contemporary issues. Desai has ordered a new dimension to the contemporary Indian English fiction. She has secured a unique and significant place due to her innovative thematic concerns and these in her fiction with feminine sensibility. Her preoccupation is explored of deep psychic of her character. She has shown her craftsmanship in her novels like Cry, the Peacock (1963), Voices in the City (1965), Fire on the Mountain (1977), In Custody (1964), Feasting (1998), and The ZigZag way (2004).