Write a character sketch of Prabhat from the story 'A strand of cotton'
Answers
Answer:
The aim of the paper is to interpret the story, „A Strand Cotton‟ by Suneet Chopra in light of postmodernism. The idea is to exploit the observations of Lyotard, Heywood and Carter to interpret the story. Heywood observes that postmodernism came into existence with industrialisation, market-oriented capitalist economies, new social classes, democracy, and the Enlightenment values, like reason and progress. In Carter‟s observation, postmodernism undermines the dominant and central arguments of Western thought, such as language, identity, origin, voice, and mind. In addition, it prefers to use the mechanisms of dispersal, uncertainty, disagreement and westernisation. Lyotard further adds that “Post-Modernism favours seeing the world in more rhetorical terms as a field of contending smaller narratives, where people strive to make their point of view and their interests paramount by making their narratives more convincing”. In my opinion Prabhat‟s rhetorical arguments, questions and answers have strength against the announcement of the established systems of behaviour. He carries on, “You say the Devi will kill me if I break this thread? I have heard this from childhood. See then if she does.” He pulls the string off and breaks it. He rolls up the thread and throws it to an untouchable woman sitting by the wall. “Go and sew your clothes with it, sister. It‟s more useful that way,” he adds defiantly. He feels a new power arise in him. For him, the thread is like a snake, that has died for him and become irrelevant. This is like a rebirth for Prabhat and he is now a casteless being, typically postmodern.
Answer:
CHARACTER SKETCH OF PRABHAT
The story "A strand of Cotton" is written by Suneet Chopra where he talks the postmodernism. Prabhat is a woke man. He follows his own beliefs and does not pay heed to any superstition. He is also a courageous man who takes a stand when needed. He may not wear a cape or save people in danger but the author describes him to be an independent individual. He is not afraid of taking the right path no matter what. Even though he grew up in an orthodox town but he knows what to believe and what not to. The rite de passage he went through in the story is commendable and proved that the man was way ahead of his time.