Orientalizing the Orient: A Postcolonial Study of Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Central Department of English
Abstract
This research concentrates on Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance in order to stand
the writer on the position of an Orientalist who follows the very Western notion of calm
and stoic east. The story explores the painful experiences of the characters where they are
exploited socially as well as politically. Inspite of their pain end suffering, adoption and
accommodation, rather than any social protest is their reaction to it. In the beginning the
characters are hopeful for their better future and they struggle hard and this hope is still
with them until the very end of the story even after their failure in every field. One
member of the foursome, best equipped to succeed economically, kills himself whereas
the less fortunates survive with their ability to accept even the great misfortunes as a fine
balance between hope and despair. So, a Western understanding of East as an antithesis
of tragedy seeps into Mistry’s work and this concept gets exposed her