I want to explore the concept of "acting" in the novel, stemming from the interesting scene where Salim finds out Metty has a whole family he didn't know about. Salim begins acting out the part of the hurt, offended master, Metty that of a childish slave. Salim reflects, "I was acting. But there are times when we act out what we really feel, times when we cannot cope with certain emotions, and it is easier to act" (p. 106). In this scene and others, acting is not simply lying or pretending. It is a way to tell the truth in an indirect manner, and also a way to avoid confronting harsh truths.
Another interesting passage is when Salim travels to London. He describes "acting up" the part of the "primitive" who needs to be led by Kareisha, his affectionate and knowing wife (231). But he actually is awed by the strange city and is in danger of getting lost if he strays too far from Kareisha's apartment. And always after acting out his part he has to go back to his hotel to face his solitude. This is another instance where acting becomes a peculiar mix of lying and truth-telling.
Other instances of acting include Ferdinand's adoption of different characters as he grows up and searches for identity, Raymond's dramatic speeches which hide insecurity about his position in the country, and the way Mahesh and Shoba pretend that everything is normal no matter what is happening in the town.
No comments:
Post a Comment