Question

Long answer on story fritz

Answer 1

Throughout the story he recalls incidents of his time in Bundi telling Shankar not only about the deodar tree but about Fritz as well. For Jayanto the time he spent in Bundi when he was a child is mostly a happy and innocent time. Apart from when Fritz was torn apart by two dogs. It is also noticeable that Jayanto is afraid while in his in Bundi. He believes that while he was sleeping Fritz had come into his room and walked across the bed. Though Jayanto believes this the reality is it did not and could not have happened. If anything Jayanto most likely feel asleep thinking about Fritz and then dreamt of Fritz. Such is his renewed attachment to Fritz. This may be important as Ray may be highlighting to the reader the fact that Jayanto has never really let go of Fritz. There is also a sense that though Jayanto was a happy child his transition to teenager and subsequently to man has not been smooth. Throughout the story Jayanto is uncomfortable.

It is also noticeable that Jayanto spends some of his time in the story worrying. Something that is noticeable when he at first thinks that the deodar tree is gone. The tree itself is no more than a marker for Jayanto. Letting him know where Fritz is buried. The important thing is that Jayanto thinks he might have lost Fritz forever. Which would again suggest that Jayanto despite the passing of time has difficulty letting Fritz go. Also the fact that Jayanto agrees to have Fritz dug up further suggests that Jayanto has not let Fritz go. It is also noticeable that despite the continued vacancy that Jayanto has during parts of the story and the fact that he wakes Shankar up in the middle of the night. Shankar does not lose patience with his friend. He is there for him throughout the story. Which highlights how much of a good friend Shankar is to Jayanto. Even if the friendship appears to be one sided due to Jayanto’s preoccupation with the past.