The Homecoming is a short story by Rabindranath Tagore. The story is told from the perspective of a fourteen-year-old adolescent boy, describing the hardships he faces. The themes of strife and love in Phatik’s life are at the center of this tale. Minor themes also include a teenage boy’s feelings of isolation and responsibility.
The Homecoming | Summary
Phatik, a naughty and fun-loving fourteen-year-old boy, has developed a reputation for it. His younger brother Makhan sat on the log in front of him when he was with other village lads to agitate him. Phatik warns that if he doesn’t go, he would shove him to the ground. However, this threat is ignored. Phatik pushes the log off while swallowing his fright because he couldn’t lose face in front of the other boys. Makhan beats Phatik out of hatred despite being hurt. When Makhan gets home, he instantly tells his mother the lies. His mother shares his convictions. Before a stranger who turns out to be the mother’s brother comes, Phatik punches his sibling out of rage. His mother gives her consent for his uncle, Bishmaber, to bring Phatik to Calcutta with him so that he can receive an education. His mother was only too willing to concur. His mother was troubled by his presence since she constantly feared that he might end up endangering Makhan. She becomes upset, though, because Phatik is just as eager to escape. Calcutta wasn’t any better, though. He wasn’t loved by his aunt. He was considered a bother by others. He was unhappy. He yearned to return home. Phatik had a terrible time in school as well. He was unable to fit in or win over the teachers. He finally finds the confidence, out of desperation, to ask his uncle when he could return home. The only response from his uncle was that he could come back during the holidays. He misplaces his book one day, and as a result, his aunt and fellow students scold him and correct him. The following day when he gets home, Phatik attempts to get away. He is however caught in a downpour and has a serious malarial cold. Unable to locate him, his uncle reported him to the police. He receives more criticism once the cops track him down and bring him home. He sobs, unable to take it any longer.
Phatik begs his mother not to beat him in a fever-induced hallucination, even as he longs to go back home. Tagore sharply criticizes society’s treatment of teens when he notes that not a single person made an effort to comprehend the emotional pain he was experiencing. Even if his mother seemed to regret her choices after the novel, it is too late to undo the suffering her son had to go through. Phatik’s mother forbids him from entering his early teens. Perhaps for this reason, she is happy to have Bishambar take him to Calcutta. It is clear to the reader that Phatik’s mother is powerless to control him. She is to blame for something, not Phatik.
The conclusion of the story is especially intriguing because it makes it plain to the reader that Phatik is insane as a result of his disease. He thinks that the holidays (October) have arrived when he sees his mother. However, everyone in the room is aware that Phatik is dying and is in critical condition. What was once a healthy youngster has in such a short time turned into a weak wreck. It’s possible that Tagore was implying that Phatik shouldn’t have been removed from his familiar village setting. Some kids will be successful in the city or at school. That kind of character was not Phatik. Despite being a lover of nature, he passed away in Calcutta’s walls. Bishambar cannot be held responsible for what occurred, though. He was merely attempting to assist Phatik. The two mothers that appear in the story cannot be claimed to be the same. Both Phatik’s mother, who was impatient and eager to get rid of Phatik, and Bishambar’s wife, who thought Phatik was just a clumsy small child. whom she truly wanted nothing to do with.
The Homecoming | Analysis
Phatik Chakravorti is battling to find a place where he feels loved, and the title of Rabindranath Tagore’s short story “The Homecoming” fits this struggle. Throughout the narrative, Phatik moves around, and escaping results in his demise. Phatik has a visit from his mother just before he passes away, who shows him a rare act of affection. Phatik suggests that this maternal love stands in for the ideal of a home he longs for. The story of Phatik involves multiple crossroads that involve returning home, both figuratively and literally, making the title apt.
The narrative illustrates the dynamics of power, deception, and action results. It alludes to a more thorough investigation of character development and the effects of other people’s behaviors. The predicament in which Phatik, the cheeky and unruly youngster, suffers from misunderstanding and false accusations is ironic. The irony is that Makhan is the stereotypical well-behaved and quiet youngster, whereas Phatik is wrongfully accused of beating him even though he routinely gets into mischief through no fault of his own.
When Phatik’s mother shares her worries about his behavior and her worry that he could somehow hurt Makhan, there is foreshadowing. This foreshadows the subsequent events that lead to Phatik’s departure for Calcutta, highlighting the tense dynamic between the two brothers and the miscommunication on the mother’s end. Phatik is skilfully portrayed by the author as a rebellious and troublemaking boy, in contrast to Makhan, who is shown to be submissive and composed. The contrast between Phatik and Makhan’s characters is made clear by the descriptions of Phatik’s rash deeds and Makhan’s meekness.
The conversation between the characters displays their feelings, disagreements, and connections. For instance, the tension and family strife in the scene are expressed by Phatik’s furious denial, his mother’s accusations, Makhan’s meek affirmation, and Phatik’s last explosion. The introduction of Bishamber marks a metaphorical turning point in the narrative. He offers to take Phatik away and give him schooling in Calcutta, posing as a potential solution to the family’s issues. The character’s presence denotes the possibility for improvement, optimism, and a chance for Phatik to find salvation. The battle between Phatik and Makhan, the psychological conflict between Phatik and his mother, and the conflict between Phatik and social expectations are only a few of the conflicts that are shown throughout the novel. The tension created by these tensions propels the tale onward.
The story’s central themes are the brothers’ divergent personalities and the lack of understanding between their parents and siblings. The issues that occur in sibling relationships are highlighted by the poor connection between Phatik and Makhan and the choice to send Phatik away as a result. To convey Phatik’s yearning for his village and his sense of suffocation in his aunt’s home, the author uses powerful images. Through sensory descriptions, Phatik’s want to return home, the contrast between the boundless countryside and the constrained cityscape, and his memories of the meadow and riverbanks are all represented. Phatik’s devotion to his mother is described by the author using a simile –
“like the lowing of a calf in the twilight.”
This analogy stirs up a powerful, basic sense of attachment and longing. Through Phatik’s emotional challenges and hardships, the narrative elicits sorrow. The reader can relate to Phatik’s feelings of isolation, desire for home, academic challenges, and family’s lack of interest in and scorn for him. As a result, the reader feels a connection to the character.
The misplaced textbook takes on a metaphorical meaning as a depiction of Phatik’s solitude and failure. His misery is made worse by its loss, and he becomes more and more desperate. The statement of Phatik’s awful headache and shivering foreshadows his impending fever and his escape from his aunt’s home as well as his declining health. Ironically, Phatik wanted to go home and leave his aunt’s house, but he was forced to return. The predicament draws attention to the contrast between Phatik’s yearning for home and his hopeless fate. The author emphasizes Phatik’s physical discomfort, his academic difficulties, and his need for affection and attention as a socially uncomfortable and misunderstood young man. The reader feels more pity for him because of his alienation and the taunting of his cousins and aunt. This story heavily emphasizes the themes of yearning for home, a sense of belonging, and the challenges of adjusting to new environments. The issue of dislocation and the craving for familiarity is highlighted by Phatik’s attachment to his mother, yearning for his village, and his desperate attempts to get back home. The way the author depicts Phatik’s inner struggle, longing for his home, and declining health engenders empathy and wanting to know how the story will end.
Phatik’s muttering about his mother hitting him and his need for her to be there represent his sincere need for love, acceptance, and reunification within his family. His need for his mother is an expression of his desire for emotional connection and conflict resolution. Foreshadowing Phatik’s worsening state and the seriousness of his illness is the description of his dismay as he turns his face to the wall and his following sigh. The mother’s emotional reaction as well as the conversation between Bishamber and Phatik heighten the scene’s emotional effect. Phatik’s muttering and hesitant reaction to his mother’s tears reveal his dwindling awareness and the touching moment they had. Phatik’s slim, scorching hands, his agitated motions, and his gradual head turn paint a vivid and moving picture of his mental and emotional state. The emotional culmination of the narrative, when Phatik’s mother finally shows up and professes her love for him, profoundly affects the reader. This causes me to feel sad, sympathetic, and cathartic. This portion emphasizes the topic of reconciliation, forgiveness, and the desire for love and acceptance.
Phatik’s final acknowledgment of his mother’s presence and his mention of the approaching holidays signify a moment of closure and the satisfaction of his intense emotional need. The story’s emotional climax and resolution are described by the author. The reader is moved by the ending, which tackles themes of love, forgiveness, and the yearning for a sense of belonging through symbols, dialogue, and imagery.
