A Devoted Son Summary

"A Devoted Son" by Anita Desai is a story about complicated family connections that focuses on the shifting dynamics in the relationship between the father, Varma, and his son Dr. Rakesh.

It is about Rakesh's sense of responsibility and devotion to his parents. The son is raised by his father, begins working, and then diligently looks after his father. However, conflicts arise when his father, who has become whimsical with his age, begins misinterpreting his son's treatment.

About the Author

Anita Desai, also known as Anita Mazumdar (born on June 24, 1937), is an Indian author and the Emerita John E. Burchard Humanities Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She began writing in English at the age of seven and published a debut of her writings at the age of nine. As a writer, she has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times. In 1978, she received a Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel writing named Fire on the Mountain from India's National Academy of Letters. The Village by the Sea (1983) made her win the British Guardian Prize.

In 1958, she co-founded the publishing company Writers Workshop with P. Lal. Voices in the City, Fire on the Mountain, and Games at Twilight are all collections of her short stories. She works on the advisory board of Lalit Kala Akademi and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in London.

Characters of the Story

Rakesh

Mr. Verma's well-behaved son. A talented student who became a doctor and got an opportunity for training in the United States.

Veena

A typical fat Indian woman who is loyal and faithful. Wife of Rakesh, who goes on with her husband's instructions regarding his father's diet food.

Mr. Verma

An oil merchant in Depo and the father of Rakesh, who works hard to educate his son.

Bhatia

Rakesh's old neighbor and Verma's friend join in on Rakesh's family activities and conversations.

Rakesh's children

Unnamed children who pass the time and play with Verma.

Summary of A Devoted Son

Anita Desai's short story "A Devoted Son" initially appeared in the 1978 collection with Games at Twilight and Other Stories. The plot revolves around a father-son relationship and explores how time and perspective will change how intentions are interpreted. Varma feels proud since his son, Rakesh, is ranked first in India's academic rankings. Rakesh thanks his parents, particularly his father, for making him succeed. He bows and places his hand on his father's feet. Rakesh's ambition and intelligence led him to the United States to get an outstanding medical education and add honor to his family. However, Rakesh follows his mother's wishes and allows her to plan for his marriage. He then returns from the United States to his native home with his parents and new wife. He works hard in the hospital and continues to build a reputation for himself by making a difference in the lives of those around him. Varma is no longer the focus of the family's attention. As a result, he does things to attract attention. For example, he lays in bed and makes others believe he is dead. Varma pretends to die at his grandson's birthday party, and the family is so disturbed that they send guests away and start to mourn. He then rises from his bed and tells the others that he is alive and well.

When faking his death no longer works, Varma tries new ways to get his place as the center of attention, so Rakesh regulates his father's diet and makes him take vitamins and other medicines as he ages. Rakesh's love for his father and devotion to make him proud is steady. He uses his medical knowledge to help extend his father's life. Varma first compliments what his son does for him. But, later, he sees his son's actions as torture. This is significantly distinct when Rakesh removes his father's favorite foods and treats. Varma believes that his son should give whatever he wants, even if they are unhealthy or could lead to death. Varma even bribes his grandson to buy candy and sneak it into the house. When the bribe is exposed, Rakesh gets upset at his father's actions and points out that Varma is teaching his child to be a liar and a cheat so that Varma can fulfill his sweet tooth. Rakesh appears to irritate everyone, including Varma. Rakesh's accomplishments no longer affect the neighbors, and a few of them, especially Old Bhatia, complain about his activities after Varma comments about how he is being treated. Varma eventually becomes so enraged that he fails to lock himself in his room. Varma refuses to take his medicine by knocking the bottle out of Rakesh's hands. After the glass shatters on the floor, a disturbance breaks out throughout the home, and the story concludes with Varma expressing his desire to die. He throws the pillows away and tells his son to let him go.

Moral of A Devoted Son

A Devoted Son is a narrative of a middle-class Indian family living in an Indian village. The narrative demonstrates how parents value their children's ambition and how a son should fulfill his duties to his parents. This story also demonstrates that youngsters and older people have similar personalities. If they cannot identify what they are seeking, they cry.

The story 'A Devoted Son' also teaches us that children must accomplish their parents' ambitions as they sacrifice their lives for children. Parents work tirelessly to meet their children's requirements. Finally, this narrative depicts the relationship between children and their parents (love, respect, caring, and so on).

A Devoted Son Themes

The main themes of "A Devoted Son" are the evolving connection between parents and their kids, thankfulness, and loyalty.

• Changing Family Relationships

Rakesh's father, Varma, is proud when his son achieves local fame for his brainpower and medical ability. He brags about his son's accomplishments to his neighbors, but his attention is pulled to his son's fast reaction by stooping to touch his father's feet with respect and thanks. Readers will notice that their loving and caring relationship is completely hierarchical, and Varma adores feeling appreciated and honored. It is his way of celebrating and claiming Rakesh's achievement.

Varma struggles to cope as the father and son's relationship changes as they age. Varma, who suffers from ill health and infirmity, dislikes Rakesh's careful attention to his father's health. Rakesh knowledge of medicine is driven by a desire to show his dedication and respect though his father is against his perspective on things. Rakesh's medical education motivates him to provide the best medical care for his father. He disallows everyone from sharing unhealthy meals with his father, such as fried dishes and desserts. He decides how much time his father should spend outside and how he should rest. His father wishes to enjoy the rest of his life. Finally, Rakesh no longer fully acknowledges his father's opinions because he considers his medical knowledge more when deciding on behalf of his father. His father becomes increasingly irritated by the treatment. The dynamics of their connection change dramatically as their duties evolve toward the end of the father's life.

• The Value of Gratitude

Rakesh first expresses gratitude for his father's sacrifices on his behalf and shows evident respect for him at all times. Rakesh probably expects his father to return his gratitude and appreciation when he cares for him during his father's illness. After all, he precisely informs his wife about his father's diet, the position he must rest, and the food he should consume to provide the best possible care. His father expresses no gratitude for his medical skills, becoming increasingly enraged by this treatment. This discussion captures their perceptual differences. Rakesh sees his father treated with tremendous care and laughs that he would think differently about his circumstances. He believes his father owes him more gratitude, whereas his father sees only hardship and believes his son owes him more things to enjoy during his final days.

• Loyalty to Family Expectations

Despite his medical achievement, Rakesh remains committed to his family. Many of his mother's friends believed he would come home from America without an American wife. He agrees to a marriage arrangement with an "uneducated" girl and remains faithful to her. In his father's final days, he provides what he perceives to be the most excellent medical care available and ensures that his wife caters to his father's needs. At the start of the novel, his father is filled with pride since his talented son decides to work locally and continues to see his father. Although his father does not appreciate his son's medical expertise, Rakesh's efforts are motivated by a life-long loyalty and respect for his father.

Conclusion

Finally, who should make choices about the care of older people? Should older people have a voice in their medical treatment? Should they be forced to take medications and control their diets for their health? Should we pay much greater attention to how older people want to spend their dying days eating and doing whatever they want? Which is more important, the number of days or the quality of days? Older people's ability to make even hasty judgments is frequently taken away, with medical specialists like Rakesh making practically every decision on their behalf. In this way, his father expresses the voice of older people everywhere, claiming to be heard to enjoy life rather than live longer. Rakesh's firm dedication to his father is eventually tested, resulting in a sorrowful conclusion that raises concerns about the sacrifices one is ready to make in pursuit of personal and professional desires. "Devoted Son" looks into the difficulties of familial relationships and the moral difficulties that can arise when personal ambitions conflict with familial responsibilities through Desai's exceptional narrative.