By: Anita Desai
Group: Monique Emmanuel, Ian
A devoted son is about a boy named Rakesh who was able to
go to basic school and medical college. The rest of his family
didn’t have a chance to go to school. His father work in a
vegetable garden ad never even seen the inside of a
classroom. He returned home and they had a big party in his
honor. He then went back to America and study more of his
doctoring skills. He married the girl his parents picked for
him. This is an Indian tradition to marry the woman your
parents pick. He then returned home when his mother died
and his father become sick. He took care of his father by
giving him vitamins even though his father said he wanted to
die. His father eventually killed himself with a pillow.
In your opinion, what obligations
might a parent reasonably expect
from a child? What expectations
would you consider excessive? Express
your thoughts in a short paragraph.
Identify irony in A Devoted Son By
Anita Desai
Rakesh was a static character
Acts
Smart, Determine
Quote: “He went
to the U.S.A where
he pursed his
career in most
prestigious of all
hospitals and won
encomiums from
his American
colleagues which
were relayed to
his admiring and
glowing
family.”(Desai
1342)
Says
Rakesh
Thinks
He thinks knows what's
best for his father
And then he says
he does not want
to live like
this.(Desai 1348)Rakesh and his
family are trying
to take care of his
father but his
father just wants
to die.
Devoted, caring
“No more halwa
for you papa, we
must be sensible at
your age. If you
must have
something sweet,
veena will cook
you a little kheer
that’s light just a
little rice and milk.
But nothing fried,
nothing rich. We
cant have this
happening again
(Desai 1342)-This is
him taking care of
his father because
he is now sick.
• Why do you think Rakesh really went to
school?
• Why must Rakesh marry the woman his
parents picked?
• Why is Rakesh a static person?