Question

Respond in 3–5 complete sentences. 

In the story “A Devoted Son” by Anita Desai, Rakesh, the son, touches his father Varma’s feet. What is the significance of this, and how does it change as the story progresses?

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

In Indian culture, touching one's elder's feet is a sign of respect, devotion, and obedience. Rakesh's act of touching his father's feet at the beginning of the story shows his reverence and loyalty towards his father. However, as the story progresses and Rakesh becomes obsessed with his father's health, his act of touching his father's feet transforms into a duty rather than a genuine display of respect. This change signifies the deterioration of their relationship and Rakesh's evolving mindset towards his father.