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The Shadow Lines

by Amitav Ghosh

The Shadow Lines Themes

History
The novel's central theme is history. The narrator is constantly exploring the way in which his life, and the lives of the
people he loves, are swept up in the larger events of world history. In particular, he looks at how moments of political
violence have a profound impact on individuals, but are often forgotten by the larger world. In the second half of the
book, after it has become clear that Tridib died after an encounter with a violent mob, the narrator tries to understand
the circumstances that led to this terrible event. Years later, while discussing the riots during this period with a
colleague, he pores over old newspaper articles in search of the event that set off this particular chain of events. He
discovers that tensions over a stolen religious artifact in the city of Khulna boiled over into Dhaka. The speaker then
reflects on the remarkable fact that this one event so significantly shaped
Top 20 Biggest history,
Flexes given
in One how far apart those two cities
Piece
are. He says something similar about Lionel Tresawsen's death, as he died during the Blitz, but was not directly
involved in any kind of conflict. This theme also ties in with the narrator's earlier conversation with his cousin, when
she tells him that European cities are the center of history. He fully rejects this idea, pointing out later that all
historical events have complex and unpredictable echoes throughout the world.

Love
Another major theme in the novel is love. The narrator describes multiple romantic relationships and the effects that
they have on the people involved. In the first half, he depicts his unrequited feelings for his cousin Ila. He is hurt by
the distance she often places between them and later feels jealous of her relationship with Nick Price. When he
inadvertently reveals his feelings to her, she shows pity for him, but still ends up spending the night with Nick. In a
similar manner, Ila is infatuated with Nick from a young age, even though he does not treat her kindly. They both
show a propensity for dishonesty, constantly trying to make their lives appear more impressive and intriguing. This
reaches a climax when she discovers he is cheating on her with multiple women. However, she chooses to stay with
him and later tells the narrator that it was all a misunderstanding, suggesting that she would rather live in the fantasy

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of happy life than start over. Finally, the narrator writes about the unfulfilled love between Tridib and May Price. They
exchange letters and gradually develop feelings for one another. Of all the relationships in the book, this one appears
to be the most honest. Tridib ultimately sacrifices himself in an effort to save her from the mob, something May is
shown to be haunted by. The novel portrays love as complicated and volatile, compelling characters to protect people
regardless of whether or not they should.

Memory
Memory is another major theme in the novel. The novel follows a very nonlinear structure. The narrator seems to
remember events as they come to him, loosely connecting scenes that sometimes seem to share only a tangential
connection. However, without making it explicit, the narrator eventually makes these separate events cohere. A good
example of this occurs towards the middle of the novel, when the narrator recalls one of Ila's visits to Calcutta
alongside one of the last conversations he had with his grandmother on her deathbed. He remembers how his
grandmother was furiously angry that Ila chose to live in London. She claims she abandoned their homeland and
ignored the sacrifices made by the people who made it possible to live there. She grows increasingly agitated and
accuses the narrator of protecting her constantly. The narrator then pivots and describes an instance when Ila wanted
to go to a club and Robi refused to let her dance. She ends up screaming at both Robi and the narrator, saying that
the lack of freedom she experiences in India is what makes her want to live abroad. Finally, the narrator reveals that
this is the story he tells his grandmother, as an explanation. This moment reveals how these memories are linked
while also showing the similarity in the opposing views of his grandmother and Ila. In this way, the narrator manages
to capture how memory really functions, highlighting how his mind associates seemingly unrelated events across
time.

Class
Another significant thematic thread in the book is class. The narrator frequently makes note of class differences
between characters while showing how that influences their relationships. He observes that Ila is from a wealthier
family than he is and as a result treats traveling much more casually than he does. She also pursues a relationship
with Nick in part because she sees him as being capable of providing a luxurious life, even if he is not reliable or
honest. In a similar fashion, his grandmother often speaks dismissively of servants or people in a lower class than her.
She has little interest or sympathy in their lives or problems. This is notable in the scene in which the wife of one of
her relatives is struggling financially and she shows noTop 20 Biggest
compassion, Flexesonly
focusing in One Piece
on the possibility of extracting her
uncle from Dhaka. The element of class is pervasive throughout the book and has a lingering effect on many
moments like this. The narrator shows how characters display a blind faith in wealth, even when it does not protect
them from harm or causes them to act hypocritically.

Family
A major, and complicated, theme in the book is family. Throughout the novel, the narrator is focused on the bond
shared by his family. The focus of almost every part of the book is on different members of the family and frequently
centers on the time they spend together. However, the narrator also highlights the tensions inherent to many of these
relationships, with particular focus on his grandmother's harsh perspective of others. His grandmother dislikes Tridib
for his refusal to use his family connections and hates Ila for her decision to Westernize herself. In the second half of
the novel, she expresses an overwhelming desire to bring her family back together by retrieving her uncle
Jethamoshai in Dhaka. This wish ultimately proves to be the family's undoing, as her attempt to do so leads to his
death as well as that of Tridib and their guide. The ultimate tragedy of the book is that the narrator's grandmother

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destroys her family in an effort to reunite it. The narrator seems to question whether family can really draw strength
and support from one another. In the novel's most poignant moment, Ila and the narrator embrace Robi after he
finally speaks about watching his brother's death.

Silence
Silence is another theme in the novel. Near the end of the book, the narrator comments on how both the Indian and
Pakistani governments were very content to let the riots fade into the past and not speak of them again. Similarly, he
describes his own struggle to speak of Tridib's death, as he is unable to find the words that capture the magnitude of
the loss or explain what really happened to him. In both cases, the narrator shows how silence frequently engulfs
terrible historical events, as no description can ever really provide meaningful comfort or appropriate summary. His
account, stories in the newspaper, and speeches made by government officials all fail to give closure.

Nationalism
Nationalism is an important theme throughout the book. The narrator portrays the way in which different characters
have variable relationships with their national identity. Some, like the narrator's grandmother, show a passionate
fervor that borders on zealotry. She shows a complete devotion to her point of view and, by the end of her life, values
her faith in her country above all other relationships. In contrast, Ila fully rejects her upbringing, believing Calcutta to
be outside the sphere of meaningful political events. She says that she lives in England because it allows her to be
free, unlike India. The narrator takes a more neutral point of view and, consequently, seems better able to recognize
how that kind of thinking can lead to justifications of horrible violence. At the end of the novel, when he describes the
riots in Calcutta, Dhaka, and Khulna, he seems to say that everyone engaging in that kind of conflict always believes
that they are fighting for what is morally right.

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The Shadow Lines Questions and
TopAnswers
20 Biggest Flexes in One Piece
The Question and Answer section for The Shadow Lines is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss
the novel.

Why did Tridib drop by the narrator's
house occasionally?
Tridib is the narrator's uncle. He visits the
house occasionally to see his family.
Asked by Devprakash B #1272360
Answered by jill d #170087 2 months ago
5/15/2024 1:00 AM
How did Tridib's and May price's family
connect?
In Part One, the narrator tells the story of
Lionel Tresawsen, Nick and May's
grandfather, who befriended the narrator's
great-grandfather. The families connected
because of their friendship.
Asked by Devprakash B #1272360
Answered by jill d #170087 2 years ago
12/28/2022 11:51 PM
What is Tridib's position in his friend
circle?
Tridib is just that.... a friend. He has no
pretensions, he enjoys conversation and
comaraderie, and people seem to value him
as well.
Asked by Devprakash B #1272360
Answered by jill d #170087 2 years ago
12/28/2022 11:49 PM

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Lesson Plan for The Shadow Lines

About the Author
Study Objectives
Common Core Standards
Introduction to The Shadow Lines
Relationship to Other Books
Bringing in Technology
Notes to the Teacher
Related Links
The Shadow Lines Bibliography

Top 20 Biggest Flexes in One Piece

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