Genre
Anthological novel
Setting and Context
Written in the context of life in India
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative by a mysterious narrator, Subramaniam
Tone and Mood
Ambitious, positive, moving
Protagonist and Antagonist
Shiv Subramaniam is the protagonist.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is when Major Antia amputates his leg without using anesthesia. The pain he goes through is unimaginable.
Climax
The climax in ‘Kama’ is when an investigating officer uncovers the underworld criminal activities in Mumbai and strategizes to end it.
Foreshadowing
The confrontation of the ghost in ‘Dharma’ foreshadowed Major Antia’s painful memories about the loss of his brother.
Understatement
Marriage life is understated. In the story 'Shanti,' the young Shiv falls in love with Shanti, a married woman. Instead of Shanti remaining in her marriage with her initial husband, she falls in love with Shiv, and they get married.
Allusions
The story alludes to the life history of the characters in the text.
Imagery
The painful memories manifested by the ghost in the story 'Dharma' depict sight imagery which aids readers to see the childhood life of Major Antia.
Paradox
There are two main paradoxes in the text. In the story 'Dharma', Major Antia is paradoxically guilt of the death of his brother, and yet it was an accident. Secondly, in the story 'Shanti,' despite knowing that Shanti is a married woman, the narrator falls in love with her.
Parallelism
Antia’s guilt over the death of his brother parallels reality because he completely has nothing to do with his death.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Crime is personified as a human disrupter.
