Section 4: Pages 116-181
Trains were full of corpses
"When it was discovered that the train had brought a fill load of corpses, a heaving brooding silence descended on the village. People barricaded their doors and many stayed up all night talking in whispers. Everyone felt his neighbor's hand against him, and though of finding friends and allies.They did not notice the clouds blot out the stars nor smell the cool damp breeze. When they woke up in the morning and saw it was raining, their first thoughts were about the train and the burning corpses. The whole village was on the roods looking toward the station" (Singh 117).
In this passage, the author uses strong imagery to depict the emotions following the presence of the train filled with dead bodies. With Singh's strong use of words and descriptions, readers are easily able to depict this scene as a flood of emotions, sorrow, and shock fill the village. "People barricaded their doors" you are able to view people blocking their doors to prevent the movement of anyone moving in and out of a household. "...talking in whispers" readers are almost able to hear the suspenseful whispering noises that fill each household, which everyone trying to figure out what is happening. "...neighbor's hand against him" you can see the amount of comfort being exchanged with each other, providing a sense of hope to one another. In addition, you can also feel the weather that corresponds with this scene - a dark, cool, and damp sky fits perfectly with this heavy, unfortunate mood. Finally, the last sentence foreshadows what is to come next, perhaps another train?
"Nooran went out in the rain. She passed many people in the lanes, going about with gunny bags covering their heads and shoulders. The whole village was awake. In most houses she could see the dim flickers of oil lamps. Some were packing; others were helping them to pack. Most just talked with their friends. The women sat on the floors hugging each other and crying. It was as if in every home there had been a death" (Singh 129).
In this passage, the author uses the image pattern of "panic" as she describes the women's reactions to the train full of corpses. The whole passage gives off a chaotic and panicking mood. For starters, it is raining. People are running around with plastic bags trying to avoid the rain as much as possible. The whole village was awake worrying about what is to come next. The oil lamps are not steady, but they are flicking on and off continuously, giving off an annoying and inconsistent image in readers' heads. The author then moves on to describe the actual people in the scene and what they are doing at this time. They are crying, frantically helping each other pack, taking, crying and hugging on the floor. The author finally writes what the situation seems to be - death in every household which may be the reason why they are this way.
"Where on earth except in India would a man''s life depend on whether or not his foreskin had been removed? It would be laughable if it were not tragic. He would have to stay in Mano Majra for several days and stay close to Meet Singh for protection - Meet Singh with his unkempt appearance and two trips a day to the field to defecate. The thought was revolting. He would report on his arrest; the party paper would front-page the news with his photograph: ANGLO-AMERICAN CAPITALIST CONSPIRACY TO CREATE CHAOS (lovely alliteration). COMRADE IQBAL IMPRISONED ON BORDER. It would all go to make him a hero" (Singh 164).
In this passage, the author portrays a thought that Iqbal has with himself - a thought that is almost like a dream. This says a lot about the character he is, which is an example of characterization. When Iqbal is finally released out of prison, he makes his way back to Mano Majra, after being warned that it will certainly not be the same. On his way, he has time to ponder about the situation the nation is in and is mortified and disgusted at the same time that something so personal like his ethnicity and his circumcision decision could get him killed. He had a dream and vision of himself escaping to Delhi and everyone know about his heroic imprisonment. He wishes that whether or not a man's foreskin has been removed, they would not judge him. He finds the situation laughable. He dreams that his heroic feat of escaping would be published in the headlines. This shows that Iqbal, in contrast to Jugga, is very concerned for his own fate and hopes to stand up for himself and do what pleases him for his own freedom. Jugga on the other hand, is only concerned on finding Nooran.
In this passage, the author uses strong imagery to depict the emotions following the presence of the train filled with dead bodies. With Singh's strong use of words and descriptions, readers are easily able to depict this scene as a flood of emotions, sorrow, and shock fill the village. "People barricaded their doors" you are able to view people blocking their doors to prevent the movement of anyone moving in and out of a household. "...talking in whispers" readers are almost able to hear the suspenseful whispering noises that fill each household, which everyone trying to figure out what is happening. "...neighbor's hand against him" you can see the amount of comfort being exchanged with each other, providing a sense of hope to one another. In addition, you can also feel the weather that corresponds with this scene - a dark, cool, and damp sky fits perfectly with this heavy, unfortunate mood. Finally, the last sentence foreshadows what is to come next, perhaps another train?
"Nooran went out in the rain. She passed many people in the lanes, going about with gunny bags covering their heads and shoulders. The whole village was awake. In most houses she could see the dim flickers of oil lamps. Some were packing; others were helping them to pack. Most just talked with their friends. The women sat on the floors hugging each other and crying. It was as if in every home there had been a death" (Singh 129).
In this passage, the author uses the image pattern of "panic" as she describes the women's reactions to the train full of corpses. The whole passage gives off a chaotic and panicking mood. For starters, it is raining. People are running around with plastic bags trying to avoid the rain as much as possible. The whole village was awake worrying about what is to come next. The oil lamps are not steady, but they are flicking on and off continuously, giving off an annoying and inconsistent image in readers' heads. The author then moves on to describe the actual people in the scene and what they are doing at this time. They are crying, frantically helping each other pack, taking, crying and hugging on the floor. The author finally writes what the situation seems to be - death in every household which may be the reason why they are this way.
"Where on earth except in India would a man''s life depend on whether or not his foreskin had been removed? It would be laughable if it were not tragic. He would have to stay in Mano Majra for several days and stay close to Meet Singh for protection - Meet Singh with his unkempt appearance and two trips a day to the field to defecate. The thought was revolting. He would report on his arrest; the party paper would front-page the news with his photograph: ANGLO-AMERICAN CAPITALIST CONSPIRACY TO CREATE CHAOS (lovely alliteration). COMRADE IQBAL IMPRISONED ON BORDER. It would all go to make him a hero" (Singh 164).
In this passage, the author portrays a thought that Iqbal has with himself - a thought that is almost like a dream. This says a lot about the character he is, which is an example of characterization. When Iqbal is finally released out of prison, he makes his way back to Mano Majra, after being warned that it will certainly not be the same. On his way, he has time to ponder about the situation the nation is in and is mortified and disgusted at the same time that something so personal like his ethnicity and his circumcision decision could get him killed. He had a dream and vision of himself escaping to Delhi and everyone know about his heroic imprisonment. He wishes that whether or not a man's foreskin has been removed, they would not judge him. He finds the situation laughable. He dreams that his heroic feat of escaping would be published in the headlines. This shows that Iqbal, in contrast to Jugga, is very concerned for his own fate and hopes to stand up for himself and do what pleases him for his own freedom. Jugga on the other hand, is only concerned on finding Nooran.
