Narrator of "The Doors are Always Open"
The gender and age of the Narrator of "The Doors are Always Open" is never revealed, but this is done purposefully to place an emphasis of the emotions of comfort and belonging that they are feeling. The narrator is supposedly poor and lives in a rural farm community, so is able to observe people passing by and tending to their animals. Focusing on the little things that make life beautiful, the narrator uses descriptive adjectives to describe the things around them, such as referring to the sand as "Muslim". This reference details the importance that religion plays in the narrator's life, as well as in the people of the community.
The narrator is most fascinated when they see a goat rounding up her kids. Counting the kids with a friend, the narrator watches the goat try to keep order, and relates the actions of the animal to that of human mothers keeping their toddlers in line. This comparison is used to illustrate the comfort of home that the narrator feels throughout the poem.
The Young Widow
The Young Widow is the main character of Sujata Bhatt's poem "Buffaloes". Referred to only as a young widow, this character feels remorse and experiences a woman versus self struggle. She regrets not following through with the Indian tradition of burning atop her husband's funeral pyre, a cultural action typically reserved for wealthier Indian families. However, she did not do so because of her mother-in-law, who wanted her to raise her sons. Because of this, she feels confined to the Earth, as she was not able to escape it with her husband.
Due to her husband's death, The Young Widow feels that her dreams can no longer come true, but they are still glowing in her mind stronger than ever. She relates her dreams to a buffalo's tail - swishing in the wind by consumed with other things - like consuming food - and built for the main purpose of swishing away flies. As she tends to her three month old son, the Young Widow ponders the meaning of her life.
The Peacock
The Peacock is, as an animal, the main character of the poem "The Peacock". Many of Bhatt's poems reflect on the subtle beauty of nature, and "The Peacock" is no different. The Peacock referenced is elusive and charming, and it is hard to catch a glimpse of it, even when you are paying the utmost attention. The Peacock's call is loud, and his tail feathers stunning.
The narrator of the poem, who is not the main character, reflects on how deep you can go while reading a book, which has seemingly nothing to do with a peacock. However, the narrator mentions that you may be able to catch a glimpse of The Peacock just when you come out of the haze of reading a good book, and ends the poem describing you The Peacock's tail blinks, while its eyes constantly remain open.
