Clear Light of Day: Bim and Tara relationship

 Clear Light of Day

Q. Bim and Tara relationship in Anita Desai's novel, Clear Light of Day

Answer: Anita Desai's novel "Clear Light of Day" reflects the complexity and changing form of family relationships very deeply. In particular, this novel says a lot about the relationship between two sisters - Bimala (Bim) and Tara. They are both sisters but are completely different from each other in nature and thinking.

The relationship of these two includes both love and jealousy. Sometimes there is sympathy and sometimes bitterness. Both know each other very well-so much that they also know what they have to say to hurt each other. This relationship has been shown in literature for a long time - such as in plays of Sophocles, Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams and Brian Friel.

Bim is the eldest daughter of the house. She spent her entire life in the care of her family. She is a teacher of history and believes in freedom and self -reliance. In childhood, she had to take up a lot of responsibilities. When everyone left, she still served her ailing brother and aunt (aunt Meera). She was very angry with her brother Raja, but in the end she forgives him and adopts family peace.

On the other hand, Tara is the second smallest child in the house. She is beautiful and humble, but looks less confident and less intelligent than Bim. She did not like studies as a child and did not take higher education. Her dream was that she became a mother only - for which the housemates used to laugh at her. She married Bakul and went abroad, although she met the family. She avoids confrontation and in most cases appears weak than Bakul and Bim.

One morning of 1980, Tara roams in her old Delhi house and gets lost in old memories. Her sister Bim lives and teaches the same. The two together remember the old things and drink tea. Tara is soft and emotional, while Bim is calm, practical and slightly rigid.

In childhood, Bim and Raja move forward, while Tara remains timid and worried. She is deeply afraid of some incidents - like killing a dog or removing a teacher. Bim's success and courage thrives in Tara's mind.

Tara goes away from Bim twice in childhood - once after the bees attack and once when Bim forced Tara to smoke cigarettes by wearing boys' pants. After that incident, Bim also cut Tara's hair.

Over time, Tara got away from Bim and came close to the two sisters of the Misra family - Jaya and Sarla - because the atmosphere of their home was light and lively. She used to take her to a club and party. In a wedding, Bim says that she will not talk about marriage to girls without education. It is here that Tara meets Bakul, which affects him, but Bim finds him arrogant and monotonous.

Tara wants to forgive her brother Raja and sister Bim, but cannot believe. She is worried about Bim's economic situation and she wonders how she is handling everything alone. Bim gets under stress and one day she gets a letter from the father's company, which further increases her anger. She blames Raja and does not ask for help despite Tara and Bakul's saying.

Bim's character emerges the most in the entire novel. She plays the role of a heroine. Bim is introverted and Anita Desai depicts her mental state deeply. For this, she uses techniques like "Flow of Consciousness" i.e. "stream of consciousness".

In this way, this novel reflects the journey of love, stress, distance and forgiveness between two sisters. This tells us that relationships in the family are complicated, but over time they can be improved with the sense of understanding, tolerance and forgiveness.

Clear Light of Day: Short Answer Type Questions

1. How was Bim's nature?

Answer: Bim was a woman of serious, self -reliant and responsible nature. She takes care of her family and is a teacher of history. She served her ailing brother and aunt and never married. She does not run away from struggles, but faces them.

2. What was Tara afraid of childhood?

Answer: Tara was afraid of violent or uncomfortable events in childhood, such as shooting a dog or removing the teacher from school. She was very sensitive and felt emotionally insecure.

3. Why did there be estrangement between Bim and Tara?

Answer: In childhood, Bim forces Tara, such as forcing her cigarette smoking and cutting her hair, hurts Tara. In addition, the difference between the nature and lifestyle of both also brings distance in their relationship.

4. Whom does Tara marry and where does she go?

Answer: Tara marries a diplomat named Bakul and goes abroad. She wanted a calm life and wanted to stay away from struggles, so she left her childhood house and sister behind.

5. Why did Bim complain to Raja?

Answer: Bim had a complaint to Raja as he turned his back on the family and his responsibilities. He does not help Bim's difficulties and a financial letter makes it clearer that he has made a distance.

6. What special writing style has Anita Desai adopted in the novel?

Answer: Anita Desai has used the writing style "Stream of Consciousness” in this novel, through which she has presented the psychological experiences and internal conflicts of the characters very effectively.

7. With whom does Tara get more mixed and why?

Answer: Tara gets more mixed with the sisters of the Misra family, Jaya and Sarla, because the atmosphere of their home was more vibrant and happy. She experiences belonging and freedom there, which she does not find in her house.

8. What is the time and place of the novel?

Answer: The novel was written in the period from the 1940s to the 1980s and was mainly written by making a house in Old Delhi. This place was associated with the memories and emotions of the characters of the novel.

9: Who are the main characters of the novel "Clear Light of Day"?

Answer: The main characters of this novel are Bimala (Bim) and Tara, who are two sisters. Bim is an elder sister, severe, self -sufficient and responsible, while Tara is a younger sister, soft, emotional and depends on others.

10: What is the difference between the nature of Bim and Tara?

Answer: Bim is of self -reliant, strong and responsible nature, while Tara is an emotional, sensitive and a girl who depends on others. While Bim takes care of the family, Tara goes abroad after marriage and avoids conflicts.

11: Why does Tara get away from Bim?

Answer: In childhood, Tara was tormented with some incidents such as bee attack, forcefully smoking cigarettes, and hair cutting offers by Bim. In addition, Tara saw more belonging and happiness among the sisters of the Misra family.

12: What kind of responsibilities were there in Bim's life?

Answer: Bim took care of her ailing brother and aunt Meera. She runs a house as the biggest member of the family and works as a teacher of a history. She alone took up all the family responsibilities.

13: What was Tara's biggest wish?

Answer: Tara's dream was that she became a mother, but family members used to make fun of her thinking. She had distanced herself from studies and soon went abroad after marrying Bakul.

14: What was the dispute between Raja and Bim?

Answer: Bim was angry with her brother Raja because Raja left the family and Bim and went away from his responsibilities. Due to a financial letter, Bim realized that Raja had ignored her.

15: Which writing technique has Anita Desai adopted in this novel?

Answer: Anita Desai has used the "Flow of Consciousness" (stream of consciousness) technology in this novel, which presents the mental and emotional state inside the characters very deeply.

16: What is the main theme of the novel?

Answer: The main theme of this novel is the complexity of family relationships, love and duality among sisters, and forgiveness and self-acceptance. This shows that relationships can be understood and improved over time.

Clear Light of Day: Long answer type questions

1. Describe the nature of Bim and the role of life.

Answer: Bim (Bimala) is the main character of the novel "Clear Light of Day". She is the eldest daughter of the house and is depicted as a self -sufficient, serious and responsible woman. He gets the responsibility of the family from childhood. When her siblings and other people leave the house, she serves her sick brother (Raja) and aunt (Meera).

Bim is a teacher of history and believes in freedom and self -esteem. She never married and dedicated her life to the family. She hurts her emotional injury to her brother Raja, but at the end of the novel she forgives her. Bim's character is internally very strong and Anita Desai has presented the feelings inside her mind very beautifully. She is the central character of the novel.

2. Highlight Tara's personality and the priorities of her life.

Answer: Tara is the second main character of the novel, who is Bim's younger sister. Tara has been an emotional, soft and timid nature since childhood. She did not like studies and ran away from school. She had only one dream - becoming a pleasant married life and mother.

Her family did not understand this nature of Tara and they made fun of her. Tara married Bakul, who was a diplomat, and went abroad with him. She was a girl to escape from struggles and preferred to avoid everything. Tara sometimes regrets her decisions, but she knows how to compromise in her life.

Unlike Bim, Tara's life depends on others, especially on Bakul. She compromises in relationships and eventually tries to forgive her sister and brother, which shows sensitivity and maturity in her character.

3. Analyze the complexity of Bim and Tara's relationship.

Answer: Bim and Tara, despite being both sisters, have a very different nature of each other. Bim's personality in childhood was strong and leadership, while Tara was a timid and silent. For this reason, Tara used to be influenced by Bim as well as jealous of her.

Many childhood incidents such as forced to smoke cigarettes, bee attack, and hair cutting, hurt Tara deeply. At the same time, when Tara starts getting more friendly with the sisters of the Misra family, then it is pricking Bim.

Over time, the direction of both life changes - Tara goes abroad after getting married and Bim stays in Delhi. When Tara returns after years, tension and distance between the two are clear.

However, in the end, the two sisters begin to understand their vision and forgive their brother Raja and move towards peace in relationships. Thus, this relationship becomes an example of love, jealousy, wrangling and ultimately forgiveness.

4. Discuss the causes of tension in the relationship between Raja and Bim in the novel.

Answer: Raja is the brother of Bim and Tara. In childhood, all three live in the same house and Raja's inclination is more towards Urdu language and culture. As Raja grows up, he makes the path of his life different and goes to Hyderabad.

Raja takes the responsibility of his father's company but ignores Bim financially. Through a letter, when Bim comes to know that Raja has excluded her from her property, she is very hurt.

Bim feels that Raja has left the family not only physically but also emotionally. This is why she is unable to forgive him and is very angry.

However, at the end of the novel, Bim's heart changes and she forgives Raja. This forgiveness is the emotional turn of this novel and reflects the depth of family relationships.

5. Explain the features of the writing style of the novel adopted by Anita Desai.

Answer: Anita Desai's novel "Clear Light of Day" is based on family relationships, female-mind sensations and social environment of India. The greatest feature of this novel is its psychological depth and the ‘Stream of Consciousness’ style of writing, in which the internal feelings and ideas of the characters are presented in the form of flowing form.

The writer has raised a female character through Bim, who raises all the responsibilities of her life alone, but she also breaks from within. At the same time, characters like Tara show how emotionally weaker people live life through compromise.

Anita Desai's writing is sensitive, depth and feminine. She focuses on the world inside the characters more than external events. This is the reason that this novel holds a special place in modern Indian English literature.

6. In “Clear Light of Day” who takes an interest in Beam (Bim)?

Answer:Dr. Biswas is a local doctor who is once a romantic interest in Beam (Bim). He wanted to marry her, but Bim does not respond to his feelings. She is a woman with independent thoughts, self -sufficient and largely entangled in family responsibilities.

Bim chooses a kind of self -reliance and freedom in her life, and despite Dr. Biswas's interest, she does not marry. It also shows that Bim's character in the novel is different from traditional female roles.

7. In “Clear Light of Day” why does Beam eventually forgive Raja?

Answer:The central theme of the novel is that time changes everything, and gives an opportunity to heal old wounds. Bim, who was initially very angry with Raja - because he showed disinterest towards the family and especially towards her (Bim) finally, begins to understand that anger and complaints fade over time.

When Beam (Bim) finds that Raja has now become sick and weak, she first treats him like a human, not only as a convict brother. This feeling awakens compassion and sympathy in her.

The novel depicts the family scatter and re -involvement. Bim gradually realizes that the role of the family is central in life and being angry and indifference to the family members only brings loneliness and sorrow.

Time and conversation spent with Tara (her sister) leads to introspection in Bim. Tara's calm and reconciliation approach also inspires Bim to leave her past and move forward.

Finally, Bim forgives Raja because she understands that love, relationship and forgiveness in life are more valuable than anger and separation.

8. In “Clear Light of Day” who brings about the eventual reconciliation between Beam and Tara

Answer:In Anita Desai's novel "Clear Light of Day", a third character between Bim and Tara does not directly reconcile, but it is reconciliation through time, memory, and internal self-reflection.

Still, some important elements and characters play indirectly in this reconciliation:

(i). Bakul (Tara's husband) -

Bakul may be a confident and busy diplomat, but when Tara returns to her maiden, he gives her freedom to make a complete decision. His behavior gives Tara an opportunity to join her past and interact with Beam (Bim). In this way Bakul indirectly plays a role at the beginning of the process of reconciliation.

(ii). The environment and memories of the old house -

The old house, its walls, garden, kitchen, and the silence there - all this reminds both Tara and Bim of their shared past. These memories add them and give rise to the spirit of leaving the old differences behind.

(iii). The news of Raja's letter and the disease -

When the Beam (Bim) learns about Raja's illness and reads his old letter again, she breaks emotionally and starts thinking how many things have changed over time. This also softens the heart of Beam.

(iv). Tara's tolerance and understanding -

Tara's calm and humble nature, her understanding and trying to explain Beam repeatedly-it affects Beam from within. With Tara's affection and patience, Beam eventually opens emotionally.

However, the real reason for reconciliation between Bim and Tara is their personal development, introspection, and changing understanding towards the family. No particular person makes reconciliation, but Tara's love and dedication plays the most important role in this process.

9. In “Clear Light Of Day” how does Tara's personality contrast with Beams

Answer: In Anita Desai's novel "Clear Light of Day", Tara and Beam (Bimala)-The personalities of the two sisters are quite different from each other, and this variation deeply exposes the novel's central themes-such as family, time, memory, and forgiveness.

Tara's personality:

Tara has imaginative and romantic nature since childhood. She wants a world that is beautiful, calm and comfortable. Tara always wishes to run away from her old home and family problems. She quickly marries and goes abroad with her diplomatic husband Bakul. Tara's nature is sociable and solved. She does not hesitate to bend to save relationships. She operates with emotions and is deeply connected to her family's past.

The personality of Beam (Bimala):

Beam is a responsible, practical and self -sufficient woman. She took over the responsibility of the house after her parents died. Anger and resentment have been filled in Beam - especially towards Raja and Tara, whom she considers to leave. She does not want to depend on anyone. That is why she never married and remained adamant on her principles. Beam is very pained inside herself, but do not let it come out. She believes in showing herself strong.

Bim and Tara - main difference:

Tara	Beam
Emotional and fortunate	Practical and rational
Runs finds rescue	Facing problems
In favor of reconciliation and apology	Grievous
Away from family past	Stay in the past

Tara and Beam grew up in the same house, but their life and way of thinking are completely different. While Tara got rid of the past and chose forgiveness, the beam kept holding the past - but in the end, Beam also changes and comes on the path of forgiveness due to the effect of Tara's behavior and time.

*****

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