Hanuman House (Symbol)
Hanuman House is a symbol of dependence, servitude, and humiliation for Mohun Biswas. His in-laws, a wealthy family in Trinidad, have an unkindly way of disposing of their daughters and yet making sure that they were assured with their servitude: marrying them to high-caste, unemployed men. The men would be guaranteed a job within the family business; they wouldn't be paid, but they would receive accommodation and food, and they still would be considered in debt to the family for providing them the means for a livelihood. Mohun realizes this and begins to hate the sight of the house since it represents a life of servitude.
Yellow Typewriter (Symbol)
Even though he is a man with little prospects and education, Mohun wants to make it big in the world. He changes several jobs before finally realizing what he wants to do. And, even though he has the realization that he wants to write, he is unable to achieve this due to lack of resources. His stories would start with a man of thirty-three, a father of four children, and Meeta, a young, untouched, barren heroine. Although these stories begin with joy, they would leave Mohun depressed. He later paints his typewriter yellow while painting other furniture in the house. The typewriter remains idle for a long time between these stories, symbolizing Mohun's need to write being subordinated by his need to run the house.
Hat Stand (Symbol)
Mohun's family doesn't own or wear any hats, but they keep a hat stand simply to show that they could afford to have hats. The hat stand is simply a symbol for the family's—and many other immigrate Indian families'—social status.
Houses (Motif)
A house is perhaps the most important motif in the story. Throughout his life, Mohun lives in lots of places, some grand and some merely a room with leaking roofs. His yearning to have a house of his own is a symbol of his need to make a mark in the world. He came to the world unplanned and created a lot of trouble for everyone—even before he actually did anything, merely by being born on an unlucky hour. His life is considered unnecessary and a burden on his parents. He wishes to die in a place he can call of his own, where he wouldn't have to sacrifice his privacy or existential comfort for someone else.
Japanese Tea Set (Symbol)
Shama is presented with a Japanese tea set as a parting gift as she leaves Hanuman House to live with Mohun. To her, this is a dear gift—but in reality, the tea set is simply a piece left unsold for too long in the family shop. This symbolizes the dearth of feeling the family has for Shama: she is a daughter, but her existence is not something that they celebrate. They simply play their part as a family to her in as cheap a way as they can.
