The Ivory Swing: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Ivory Swing: Analysis of Major Characters" explores a rich tapestry of interpersonal dynamics and cultural contrasts set against the backdrop of India. Central to the narrative are Juliet, a young housewife grappling with her identity amid the pressures of marriage and motherhood, and David, her husband, who is torn between his passion for Indian culture and his emotional conflicts regarding their life together. Juliet's struggles highlight her yearning for freedom, as she reflects on a past filled with excitement in Boston, while David's internal conflicts lead to a pivotal moment involving Yashoda, a passionate widow confined by societal norms.
Yashoda embodies the tension between desire and oppression, utilizing her wealth to defy expectations while ultimately facing tragic consequences. The character of Annie, Juliet's free-spirited sister, serves as a contrast, inspiring Yashoda to seek independence yet stirring envy in Juliet. Other significant figures include Prabhakaran, a young servant whose bond with Juliet reflects innocence lost, and Shivaraman Nair, a wealthy landowner representing the privileges of the upper caste. The narrative further introduces Matthew Thomas, whose interactions with Yashoda and Juliet complicate notions of companionship and cultural intersection. Finally, Prem, a student wrestling with economic disparities, illustrates the broader societal issues at play.
Overall, the characters in "The Ivory Swing" provide a multifaceted examination of personal and cultural identity, revealing the intricate interplay of freedom, societal expectations, and the quest for meaning in a complex world.
The Ivory Swing: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Janette Turner Hospital
First published: 1982
Genre: Novel
Locale: Southern India; Ontario, Canada; and Boston
Plot: Social realism
Time: The 1970's, with flashbacks to the 1960's
Juliet, a housewife and mother. Young, bright, and attractive, she is filled with a zest for life at the same time that she is afraid to embrace it. Torn between the exciting memories of a carefree relationship in Boston with her former lover and the oppressive drudgery of life in India with her husband, Juliet doubts her own identity. She has a spirit of fire and verbally challenges the patriarchy of Trivandrum in Kerala State, but she appears incapable of acting on the values she claims. Even her academic work demonstrates that lack of fulfillment: She has abandoned a doctoral thesis and occasionally alludes to a book that someday she hopes to write.
David, a professor. Restrained but intense, he is introduced as a combination of Auguste Rodin's The Thinker and Saint John in the wilderness. His two main passions are for Juliet, his wife, and for Indian culture, so when she agrees to move to India with him for a year's sabbatical, he is ecstatic. When Yashoda, an Indian widow, approaches him for help, he is shocked by his physical attraction to her. Because he is absorbed in analyzing his own emotions, he fails to respond to her needs and later blames himself for her death.
Yashoda, a rich widow. Passionate and sensual, the young woman yearns for excitement, but the Indian caste system of which she is a member enforces that all widows remain private and withdrawn. In fact, though she resides on her wealthy kinsman's estate, she is sentenced to live alone in a forested area. That isolation, however, only serves to encourage her desire for adventure, because the lack of supervision allows her to violate caste laws: She wears flashy jewelry, entertains visitors, and swims in the nude. She possesses a mysterious beauty that overwhelms every man she meets, but fear of that beauty causes her female relatives to shave her head and the townsmen to murder her.
Annie, a free spirit. Motivated by whim and love affairs, she drops out of law school and travels around Asia. As Juliet's younger sister, Annie admires Juliet's stable marriage and her responsibility to her children; ironically, Juliet envies Annie's freedom and lack of restraint. When Annie arrives in India, her carefree lifestyle enchants Yashoda and encourages the young widow to pursue her own desires.
Prabhakaran (prahb-HAHK-ah-rahn), a peon. Only about twelve years old, he is a full-time laborer and bonded servant of Shivaraman Nair. He loves to fish and to play the flute. After he is hired as Juliet's houseboy, he and she develop a parent-child relationship, and Juliet grieves for him when he is murdered.
Shivaraman Nair (shee-vah-rah-MAHN NAH-eer), a wealthy landowner. As a male member of the upper caste, he enjoys numerous privileges that are denied to the majority of Indians. Because he is David and Juliet's landlord, he comes into frequent contact with them, and all three continually challenge Eastern against Western values.
Matthew Thomas, a Christian Indian. A wealthy, elderly man, he helps Juliet avoid a riot and also cares for her family after they are involved in a bus accident. A lonely widower, he turns to Yashoda for companionship, and they become lovers.
Prem, a student. Disturbed by the poverty among the majority of Indians, including his own large family, he seriously advocates Marxist beliefs. After hearing about Yashoda's death, however, he realizes that rich individuals also suffer injustices. One of Annie's numerous conquests, he is stunned when she leaves him to return to a man in Toronto.