World Literature

” Munshiji spoke the words just to say something, but he feared lest Mansaram might consent to going home.  He was looking for any excuse to put Mansaram in the hospital and he wanted to place full responsibility for it on Mansaram alone.” (pg.104)

In the Second Wife by Premchand, Munshiji married a sixteen-year-old girl, Nirmala, to fulfill the mother role that his previous wife left when she died. Nirmala slowly tries to become a mother figure for Munshiji’s three sons but as she dedicates most of her time to the kids, Munshiji starts to become envious of his children. His eldest son, Mansaram, being the same age as Nirmala immediately became a target for his jealousy. Munshiji being conscious of his old appearance and Nirmala’s disinterest in him develops an inferiority complex. Due to this Munshiji pushes Mansaram out of his house and into a dorm as he suspects a romatic link between him and Nirmala. Mansaram feeling confused and dejected becomes depressed not only because he misses his mother but because he realized that his father no longer cared for him. Thereafter, he stops eating and starts to prepare himself to die because he could not bear thinking that he had disappointed his father and that he was now a burden to his family.

When Mansaram’s physical and emotional health becomes compromised the school calls Munshiji to take his son home. Munshiji seeing his son in such as condition shows faint signs of worry but that worry is less powerful than his suspicion. Instead of taking Mansaram home, where he could get better by being nurtured, Munshiji wishes that his son will refuse to go home. For the first time in ages, Munshiji’s plan goes the way that he wants as Mansaram refuses to go home and opts out for going to a hospital. Instead of fearing that his son’s condition will worsen, Munshiji fears more that Mansaram will go home because most likely Nirmala will be the one taking care of him. This is significant because Munshiji’s jealousy blinds his judgment as a father. That is, he is no longer an honorable man but one who tried to maintain that image as he wished for his own son to take the blame for being sick when Munshiji’s actions are the main reason for the seclusion that caused his son’s illness. The word “alone” is a representation of Mansaram’s mental state as he no longer has anyone that he can rely on. Although, the word can be omitted and the sentence Premchand does not do so. This can be a sign that like the word “alone” itself is an inseparable part of Mansaram’s life which is bound to be spent in solitude due to his father’s selfishness as well as that of other characters.