31 pages • 1 hour read
Rabindranath TagoreKabuliwala
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1892A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Foreshadowing
Tagore employs the device of foreshadowing in “The Cabuliwallah” through a shared joke between Mini and Rahmun. Rahmun asks Mini, "when are you going to the father-in-law's?” (7). As explained in the story, going to one’s “father-in-law’s” has a double meaning for the Cabuliwallah, who uses the term as a euphemism for jail. This seemingly innocuous exchange between Rahmun and Mini foreshadows a significant event in the story's climax and resolution.
First, Rahmun goes to prison over the incident of stabbing a man. Several years later, after Rahmun's imprisonment ends, he visits Mini just as she is about to depart for her father-in-law’s house, per the local tradition. This turn of events mirrors the playful banter from earlier in the story and Mini's leaving for her father-in-law's house becomes a pivotal aspect of the story's resolution.
Tagore's use of foreshadowing in this instance connects the beginning and end of the story, which also creates a sense of narrative symmetry. It underscores the theme of The Passage of Time, as the playful promise made by Rahmun in the past comes to fruition in the present.
Irony
The use of irony in the story revolves around the character of Rahmun, the Cabuliwallah. The irony lies in the contrast between the initial impression the characters have of Rahmun and the unexpected turn of events that ultimately lands him in jail.
When Rahmun first arrives in Calcutta, he appears as a kind and gentle man. His interactions with Mini, the little girl, are marked by warmth and generosity. He wins over Mini's affection and trust, and even her father sees him as a harmless fruit-seller. This initial portrayal creates an expectation of Rahmun as a benevolent character.
However, the story takes an ironic turn when Rahmun is arrested for stabbing a man during a dispute over unpaid dues. This unexpected act of violence shatters the initial perception of Rahmun as a gentle and harmless individual. The irony lies in the fact that the very man who seemed so kind and loving ends up committing a serious crime, which results in his imprisonment.
This irony serves as a commentary on the unpredictability of human behavior and the dangers of making judgments based solely on appearances. It underscores the idea that people are complex, and their actions can defy initial expectations.
Flash Forward
Tagore uses "flash forward" to skip over a significant portion of time in the narrative. This technique allows the story to focus on key moments while bypassing less relevant or less dramatic periods in the characters' lives. The flash forward occurs after Rahmun, the Cabuliwallah, is arrested and imprisoned. At this point, Mini is just a young girl, and her interaction with Rahmun is abruptly interrupted.
The narrative then leaps forward, omitting the details of the years in between. When the story picks up again, Mini is on the verge of getting married, and Rahmun is released from prison. He visits Mini’s place in the hope of meeting her and visualizes her running to him as she used to. This narrative jump underscores The Passage of Time which governs the changes that have occurred in the characters' lives and the impact of Rahmun's imprisonment on his relationship with Mini.
Allegory
In Tagore’s short story, an allegorical element is embodied through the character of Rahmun. His character represents the figure of the outsider or the foreigner. The suspicions and misunderstandings that surround him symbolize the biases and prejudices that can exist within society towards those who are perceived as different or foreign.
Another allegorical aspect lies in the character of Mini's mother, who is wary of Rahmun. Her wariness serves as an allegory for ingrained discrimination and stereotyping, which reflects how societal prejudices can be passed down through generations. She wonders, for example, whether “there was slavery in Cabul” (9), representing her preconceived notions toward the people of his background.
On the other hand, Mini's quick acceptance of Rahmun is an allegory for childhood innocence and the capacity of children to see beyond differences and form connections with others.
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By Rabindranath Tagore
