Anita Desai emphasizes the heat and its effects on living things throughout the story. How does the author use literary devices to make the extreme heat seem like an actual character in the text? How does the oppressive heat work to convey the story’s themes?

Although several characters are featured in the story, the author chooses to focus the most attention on Ravi’s thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. How does Ravi’s perspective shape the story?

What techniques does Desai use to reveal Ravi’s character? How does his character change over the course of the story?