Anita Desais The Village by the Sea Imagery,...

In the novel The Village By the Sea, the author Anita Desai effectively conveys the protagonists Hari and Lila facing and overcoming change in a traditional culture through the experiences they surpass. The use of various techniques including imagery, juxtaposition and foreshadowing embody the significance to adapting to change, to stay strong and the importance of kindness. This assists in informing the reader of change through the families experiences in the novel. A constant theme displayed through the novel is the importance of kindness and humanity, which is represented through the experiences faced by Hari and Lila. This is shown to be thoroughly important as it essentially leads to survival in some of the situations represented,†¦show more content†¦The protagonist Hari conveys this in the novel by making the most of the situation he is in, such as when he is in Bombay. He takes the opportunity to learn new skills, which he realises at the end can assist him in the future and cope with change as he is now educated and able to pursue further then he has before. â€Å"Saw that it was possible to have a future, that one did not remain where one was stuck always but could move out and away and on† enforces the idea that Hari has unintentionally gained a future, because he has adapted to the situation. Hari also displays maturity and independency when he has to transform his lifestyle in the Sri Krishna Eating House and he descr ibes it as â€Å"the meanest and shabbiest restaurant he had ever seen.† The descriptive language in the imagery â€Å"layers and layers of grime and soot with which the walls were coated. The ceiling was thick with cobwebs that trapped the soot and made a kind of furry blanket over ones head† shows the condition Hari has to adapt to, when he realises he has to become accustomed to this if he wants to progress with his life. As Hari has adapted to the transformation in his lifestyle while in Bombay, the realisation of how his life can be changed when he returns to Thul becomes evident through these experiences. Another aspect of adapting to a changing lifestyle is shown through the