Character Analysis of Raja in “Clear Light of Day”

Author: Maisha Rahman

In Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai, Raja is the most significant character. He is the elder brother of the Das family, supposed to be responsible, sincere, and admirable.

Instead, he is portrayed as an individual and non-emotional being. However, he is determined, intelligent, and intelligent enough to justify himself positively and negatively.

Analyzing Raja’s Character From A Positive Perspective

Looking at the bright side, Raja is the most modern boy. He is capable of moving forward in his life, as he has a passion for reading poetry and Urdu language, which is the reason for the attachment of Hyder Ali Sahib.

Being a follower of the Hindu religion, he accepts Muslim culture that is the evidence of marrying Benazir, Hyder Ali’s daughter. Despite knowing the political conflict between Hindu and Muslim, he never wants the division but expects to bond two races.

Raja is more favorable than his other siblings, like Bim and Baba. He is more attached to Bim. Both are literary personalities like reading poetry but are not similar in their own life.

Raja, the eldest person in the Das family, wants to move forward and realizes his existence in this universe. He has an absolute right to think of his own. He is seen as a strong, capable, relentless individual and does not fail to display his true self.

In the future, Raja will be the most successful businessman and family man, a father of three children.

Analyzing Raja’s Character From A Negative Perspective

From a negative perspective, Raja, a progressive boy, is not like his other siblings. He is entirely different from them. Despite his strong attachment with Bim, he has left her in the Das house alone.

Raja is supposed to extend his hand to Bim instead of moving forward to his life and becoming a more modern man. His progressive attitude towards Bim appears to the readers as strange and selfish.

Raja has forgotten what Bim is for him. Under the firm attachment with Hyder Ali and his gatherings, he can not recall the blissful moments in Das house; Bim’s care during his sickness. His progressiveness becomes a priority despite knowing the fact.

How come an elder brother can leave his beloved ones under unavoidable circumstances? That is a firm fact. Being an absolute man, he has every right to think of his own, and it is the only reason for a person’s selfishness and over ambitions. Raja is an example of it.

EndNote

Raja’s character is split into two natural aspects of a human being: positive and negative. In other words, he is loving and progressive at the same time.

Raja is self-reliant and cares less about his close ones when it comes to thinking about moving forward in life.

One cannot hate such a character as Raja outright, however, his characteristics surely raise some questions about his focus and integrity in those attached closely to him.

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