The
Lost Child
By
Mulk Raj Anand
Q:
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag
behind?
The
child sees several things which fascinates him on his way to the fair. He observes
toy shops, a flowering mustard field, dragonflies, little insects and worms,
and doves that flutter about. He is captivated by the natural beauty and the
vibrant surroundings, which make him constantly stop and lag behind. His curiosity
and amazement about everything he sees cause him to fall behind his parents.
Q:
In the fair, he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without
waiting for an answer?
The
child is attracted to many things in the fair. He desires toys, burfi, garlands
of Gul mohar, rainbow-coloured balloons, and he wants to ride on a roundabout.
However, each time he asks for something, he moves on without waiting for an
answer because he knows that his parents would either refuse by saying he is
too old to play with such things or that he should not be greedy. His experience
and previous refusals condition him to not wait for their response.
Q:
When does he realize that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and
insecurity been described?
The
child realizes that he has lost his way when he turns to seek his parents’
approval to ride the round about and finds them nowhere in sight. His anxiety
and insecurity are vividly described through his frantic search for them. He cries
out for his mother and father, his throat becoming choked with sobs, and he runs
about in all directions, filled with a deep sense of fear and helplessness. The
vibrant fair that once seemed so alluring now feels overwhelming and hostile to
him.
The
child loses interest in the things he had wanted earlier because his primary
concern becomes finding his parents. The toys, sweets, garlands, and other
attractions that once fascinated him no longer hold any appeal. His longing for
his parents and the security they provide overshadows all other desires. His heart
is consumed with the fear of being alone and lost, making the attractions of
the fair meaningless.
Q:
What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
The
story ends ambiguously, leaving it open to interpretation. However, it suggests
that the child does not immediately find his parents. A kind-hearted man finds
him and tries to comfort him by offering him the same things he desired earlier
at the fair, but the child continues to cry for his parents. The narrative focuses
on the child’s emotional state rather than providing a concrete resolution. This
ending emphasizes the child’s profound sense of loss and his deep emotional connection
with his parents.
The
lack of a definite conclusion serves to highlight the theme of childhood
innocence and dependence, as well as the overwhelming fear and anxiety that a
child experiences when separated from their parents.
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