Signs (Symbol)
Signs are a recurring symbol throughout the book. Raman is very particular about how he approaches his work and has many strong opinions about how his signs should look. He meticulously selects paint and sign material and considers the style that best suits the type of business he is working for. The well-crafted appearance of his signs symbolizes his dedication to his trade.
Raman's Books (Symbol)
Raman reads a number of western authors, including Dickens, Plato and Gibbon. He spends a lot of his day reading in his room and feels a strong attachment to his books as they remind of his time at school. The books symbolize his connection to Western culture and partially explain why he has more modern ideas than people like his aunt or the villagers.
House Key (Symbol)
At the end of the novel, Raman throws away the key he was going to give to Daisy. The key symbolized the future he assumed they would share. By throwing it in the fountain, he shows that he has given up on that possibility and that his home is now, both literally and figuratively, no longer open to her.
Overpopulation (Motif)
Overpopulation is also a recurring motif in the novel. Daisy observes that the rapid growth of families in villages has put a significant strain on the resources of the country. In her view, people are having more children than they can afford or properly care for. Narayan shows how this issue has reached the point of contention because of its impact on the wellbeing of individual families and local food and water supplies.
Daisy's Name (Symbol)
Raman’s aunt remarks that Daisy’s name indicates her lack of faith in traditional values, as it is a Christian name. Daisy later reveals she turned her back on Hinduism after her family nearly forced her into an unhappy marriage. It is unclear whether or not this is her given name and it appears likely that she changed it herself, though it is not addressed explicitly in the text. In this way, her name is a symbol of her rebellion against Hindu norms.
