Roots

  

" Roots" by Ismat Chugtai, as the title suggests, is a story about the roots of a human life. The theme of the story is well explained by narrator's mother's character, who refused to be uprooted to another country. She strongly hold onto her 'roots'. For her, the country is her home. The story shows her love for homeland. A lot of literary usages can be found in the story which improves the reading experience. Some of them are :

: Between these 2 flags flags there was a chasm miles wide- exaggeration to show how distant they were in mind 

: Chasm became filled with venom spewing snakes- metaphor to show the distance between people, and riots 

: One may not care for one's own life but even a lamp whose oil run out shudders before it's final gasp- comparison 

: Amma stayed steadfast in her position like a banyan tree that stands upright type through storms and blizzards - amma is portrayed as someone not flickering from her decision 

: I am like a lamp in its last gasp - simile, poetically explains 'tired' 

Neha Maria Joshy

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