Page 12 - DENG104_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_I

Unit 1: The Post Office by Rabindranath Tagore

time has not yet come. Amal. How curious! Some say the time has not yet come, and some say Notes
the time has gone by! But surely your time will come the moment you strike the gong!”(p. 334).
This exchange is Amal telling the Watchman that his generation has the power and timing to
overthrow the Indians, the just need to strike the metaphorical gong and start the revolution.
The Watchman responds with, “That is not possible; I strike the gong only when it is time.”(p. 334).
This shows that while India may be ready to rid themselves of the British not all the people
are willing. The Headman is the last working class person presented by Tagore. He is the
British controlled Indian. He gains from British control and would be unwilling to be involved
in change. The three “men” symbolize Tagore’s views on the current Indian generation.
The final set of characters is Sudha and a group of Boys. Both are symbols of India’s youth
generation. Sudha symbolizes the young and naïve group. She thinks that Amal should listen
to the doctor, p. 337, by saying that he will be naughty if he doesn’t listen. However in the
end she still has a sense of being willing to listen to Amal’s ideas in the future. The group of
boys is the future of India, they are willing to defy the doctor and encourage Amal to join
them. While Amal does not join them we get the sense that this group will someday rise up
and control India.
Tagore’s use of symbolism is genius. It makes his play seem subtle and inspired. Instead of
writing a blunt scathing criticism of British Colonialism he chooses to write about the effects
of Colonialism on India. He chooses to use symbolism to explain how he sees India in the past,
present and future. His characters are very simple yet they are carefully planned. He set out
with the intention of writing a play about Indian people under British rule, and through his
use of symbolism, he succeeds.

1.6 Characters

Tagore keeps his characters’ list short, and uses a common language style. The characters,
aside from Amal, are each represented and defined by their function.
Amal has an intense curiosity of the outside world and yearns for the type of knowledge that
can’t be learned from a book. Sudha gathers flowers, she is naïve and happy to do work for
her parents.
Madhab Dutta, Amal’s guardian is a man who believes in learning from books and feels
comfortable in his home than outside.
The Healer is the man who diagnoses Amal and will not let him leave the house because he
is sick.
The Curdseller does exactly that, she sells curds, is a peddler and is not learned, but is
experienced in life.
The Watchman is a loyal servant to the king; he is knowledgeable of the government and the
King’s systems.
The Headman is placed in power by the King but is not popular with locals.
Group of Boys who encourage Amal to defy the doctor and leave the house.
The Healer and Amal.
Amal: See that far away hill from our window- I often long to go beyond those hills.
The Healer: You musn’t let him set foot outside, not at all.

The Healer symbolizes the British Empire or British rule. All the characters throughout the
book respect him; some characters encourage Amal to listen to his decisions (symbolizing

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