Commentary Case

The short extract from the novel Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard covers the development of the story of a community and family in disbelief of the actions of one of their own. The extract expounds on a community thriving on gossip coupled with queer actions of one of their own. Sampath is introduced later as the protagonist of the story as he is the man who climbed a guava tree and caused his family to follow him there to get him to climb down the tree. The narrator uses appropriate techniques and literary devices in order to portray the main idea of the story. However ironical, the story employs the idea that the main issue would not be Sampath's actions but his family's as we come to see that he had reason to run away. In this essay I will explore the various techniques such as tone and pace together with literary devices used by the narrator in developing the main idea of the extract.

The narrator uses tone and an extended metaphor in developing the idea that the community's thrive in drama and gossip would be a cause of concern for those who wouldn't be interested to do so. 'The town made most of the drama.' this opening statement introduces the reader to the fact the community was ever engulfed in drama and passing on the gossip of the day. Initially this would seem as a simple and honest description of the residents of the area; however, the narrator later on expresses the extent to which the residents have been taken over by this habitual chattering. '.. An old orchard that had once borne enough fruit for it to be shipped to and sold in New Delhi. But it had been abandoned for many years now, the fruit acquiring the tang of wilderness, the branches growing into each other.' This statement encompasses appropriate diction proving that the newly found characteristic of gossip riddling in the community had taken the forefront of the community overhauling their past economic activities that defined their society and economy. The use of the phrases 'tang of wilderness' and 'branches growing into each other' could portray the society as it is at the moment, having acquired unproductiveness as they only focused on drama and having grown too much into each other's lives by always talking about each other. The narrator clearly shows the irony of the extract as the main issue is now proven to be the community's own and not Sampath's actions.

The extract develops at a quite definitive pace and this goes to prove the point of the extract that the society was quite fast at passing on information regardless of the distance between the source and the listener. Also it contributes to the development of the idea that Sampath's family's reactions were a cause of concern. No sooner had the watchman sold out Sampath's actions to his sister than the family got up in arms to go get him from his destination. Firstly, Sampath was at the edge of his hometown however in an afternoon's worth of time, it was already known back in his native place of his actions. This proves the fact that in deed the society thrived on drama as someone always had a story to tell. Despite this, the pace at which the story develops could make one question the family of Sampath as they immediately regrouped to go get their family member. At first this would seem only as an honest cause of concern for their family member until one realizes that it was more of a worry of what people would say of the family name and not only of Sampath. 'We must just get him down without delay' said Mr Chawla. This statement doesn't comprehend affection rather it does disgust and worry. The family seems more concerned by the effect of Sampath's actions on them rather than on him.

The visual imagery portrayed by the narrator during Sampath's encounter with his family solidifies the fact that he had reason to run away in order to gain a semblance of peace. 'Sampath looked sturdily into the leafy world about him, trying to steady his wildly flattering heart. He concentrated on the way the breeze ran over the foliage, like a hand runs over an animal's dark fur to expose its silvery