House for Mr. Biswas by Essay

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In other words, the house becomes more than a physical manifestation of his dream of freedom and fulfillment but is also a symbol that connects his personal striving with the larger issue of the search for freedom from colonial oppression. In this sense the symbol of the house can be also represent a country or a people who wish to no longer be dominated by others or told what to do and how to behave. Finally he purchases a house in Sikkim street. Although the house is very expensive and not very well built it is, finally, a house for Mr. Biswas. The house is also a symbol of personal power and independence and the dream that the main character has of living by his rules and not the rules of others.

From one perspective this novel is comic with regard to the various and often absurd problems and situations that the main character encounters and in the complex situations that he finds himself in. However, there is also an important level of realism in this novel and it expresses a very serious and even a tragic view of life and reality.

From my point-of-view there are two central and interrelated facets to this novel. The first is the search for independence and freedom that characterizes the life and endeavors of the main character. His early life stresses the sense of humiliation and subservience that is continued in his marriage. The need for personal freedom is manifested in the desire for his own house in which he can make the rules.

However, the second facet or theme of this novel is in my opinion even more important. This refers to the sense of perseverance and the determination that the main character embodies.

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He never gives up on his desire for freedom and a house; even though he continually fails in his attempts. On one level there is a certain sad humor in his situation but on the other hand one admires the courage and drive that is evident in this character.

As has been referred to, one can also interpret this novel from a larger social and political perspective. The main character's desire for a house of his own is representative of his search for identity and for a sense of self that is not dominated by others. This can be seen from a less personal perspective in the search of many people for freedom from the grip of colonialism and its legacy in the modern world. In this sense this is a postcolonial novel. Colonialism in Africa and many other parts of the world refers essentially to the domination of others and the forced subjugation of the identity of people and races. The postcolonial world refers to the period after the release from this dominance and to the subsequent attempts to attain some degree of independence and freedom from the rules and norms dictated by others.

In the final analysis this is a novel not only about an individual but is also an exploration of the need for freedom and independence in both the individual and society. In conclusion, I would agree with the following assessment of Mr. Biswas: "Mr. Biswas is ultimately portrayed as a man of quiet dignity, who meets the challenges of his times with grace" (a House for Mr. Biswas)......

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