Fasting, Feasting: Character Mind Map & Summary
The key characters of Anita Desai's Fasting, Feasting (1999), grouped into branches, with the key episodes, a quick summary and the exam facts that come up again and again in UGC NET.
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The Character Mind Map
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Uma & Arun
Uma, a plain, unmarried daughter, is trapped serving her parents in India; her brother Arun, the family's hope, studies in America and finds himself lonely in a different kind of hunger.
Ending: Uma remains at home; Arun gives a gift to Mrs Patton👑 The Indian Family
Part OneUmaThe elder daughter
Role: Clumsy and short-sighted; her marriages fail and her dowry is lost. Dr Dutt offers her a job, but her parents refuse.
Outcome: Remains at homeMamaPapaThe parents
Role: So united they are like one person; strict and controlling.
ArunaThe younger sister
Role: Pretty; marries well in Bombay.
Mira-masiA religious widow
Role: Visits; takes Uma on pilgrimages.
AnamikaUma's cousin
Role: Brilliant, wins an Oxford scholarship but is married off.
Outcome: Burnt to death by her in-laws🏠 The American Family
Part TwoArunThe son
Role: Studies in Massachusetts; lives with the Pattons in summer.
Mr PattonThe father
Role: Grills meat; cannot understand Arun's vegetarianism.
Mrs PattonThe mother
Role: Shops endlessly; tries to be kind.
MelanieTheir daughter
Role: Suffers from bulimia.
RodTheir son
Role: Obsessed with jogging and fitness.
Memory Hook
One simple pattern to remember the whole work.
Key Episodes
The turning points examiners love to ask about.
Quick Summary
The story, stage by stage.
Part 1India
- Uma's life in her parents' house.
- Arun's privileged childhood.
Part 1 (cont.)Women
- Aruna's marriage; Anamika's fate.
- Uma's lost chances.
Part 2America
- Arun in Massachusetts.
- The Pattons' strange home.
Part 2 (cont.)Hunger
- Melanie's illness.
- Arun's gift of a shawl to Mrs Patton.
Must-Know Exam Facts
Quick points for UGC NET, SET and PGT.
Booker
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize (1999).
Structure
Two parts: India (Uma) and America (Arun).
Theme
Family control, gender, food and hunger.
Contrast
Fasting (India) vs feasting (America).
Technique
Irony and close attention to small details.
Indian Literature
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