Your response should include 3-5 complete sentences in paragraph form. Use text evidence.
In the story "A Devoted Son" by Anita Desai, Rakesh, the son, touches his father Varma's feet. What is the significance of this, and how does it change as the story progresses?
1 answer
In "A Devoted Son," Rakesh touching his father's feet is a sign of respect and devotion. This gesture signifies the traditional Indian custom of showing reverence to elders, particularly parents. However, as the story progresses and Rakesh becomes more focused on his father's health and medical treatments, his attitude changes. He begins to view his father more as a patient than a parent, and his actions become more driven by the desire to keep his father alive rather than showing genuine love and respect. In this way, Rakesh's initial gesture of touching his father's feet loses its original significance as his priorities shift towards his father's physical well-being rather than emotional connection.