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Interpret How is Mr. Pirzada's pocket watch different from the watch he

wears on his wrist? What does the pocket watch help Lilia understand about
Mr. Pirzada and his situation?

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Mr. Pirzada's pocket watch is symbolic of his connection to his homeland and the crisis occurring there, signifying his emotional and symbolic ties to the place despite his physical presence elsewhere. It helps Lilia understand the gravity of Mr. Pirzada's preoccupation with his country's fate and how the setting informs the identity and experiences of a character, akin to Saleem's predicament in Salman Rushdie's novel 'Midnight's Children'.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the narrative about Mr. Pirzada, the pocket watch he carries holds a special significance, different from the wristwatch he wears. While a wristwatch typically represents personal timekeeping, the pocket watch is a symbol of Mr. Pirzada's connection to his homeland and the ongoing conflict there. This object is not merely for telling time; it represents the synchronization with the time zone of his home country. Thus, it helps Lilia understand the deep concern Mr. Pirzada has for the events unfolding in his homeland and the collective fate of his family and countrymen, far from the safety of his current residence.

The pocket watch also illustrates a dual existence of Mr. Pirzada, where one timepiece corresponds to his life in the present location, and the other to the life he has left behind, which is still ongoing and significantly affects him. The watch on his wrist allows him to function in his current setting, while the pocket watch keeps him emotionally and symbolically connected to his roots and the crisis occurring there.

The importance of setting in narrative is underscored by Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children, where the protagonist Saleem is bound by the historical and political events of his country. This connection to place and time is vital to the story's meaning, similarly to how Mr. Pirzada's pocket watch signifies the inescapable link to his homeland.

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