Chapter 4- The garden is described as having a tranquil atmosphere, filled with rich words and white flowers. The narrator feels a sense of alienation from the comfortable figures in the garden, but is drawn to their discussions on passion and tragedy. The narrator is confined to a room she hates, filled with objects of value that her husband dismisses as meaningless. The narrator reminisces about her father and his love for Urdu poetry, which she associates with a sense of longing and admiration. The narrator desires to join her husband and his friends in the garden, but fears angering him and jeopardizing their unity. The narrator realizes her love for Gautama is not only for him, but for the life and experiences he represents. The narrator contemplates her own mortality and feels a sense of annihilation. The narrator attempts to join her husband and his friends but is rejected, leading to feelings of rejection and despair. The narrator questions whether she deserves to be treated this way and reflects on the limited understanding and love she receives from Gautama.
The narrator reflects on the limitations of physical intimacy and the desire for deeper connection through thought and communication. The narrator examines her own physical appearance and realizes that it may not be attractive to someone like Gautama. The narrator experiences a newfound feeling of hatred towards her own face and explores the concept of murder. The narrator seeks solace in the fragrance of jasmine buds but ultimately destroys them out of frustration. The narrator finds temporary calmness in observing the night sky and the stillness of nature. The narrator contemplates her sanity and questions the validity of a horoscope and predictions made by an albino. The narrator acknowledges her own sanity and recalls past events with clarity. The narrator ponders the lack of a bond or love between herself and Gautama. The narrator finds solace in the teachings of the Gita and the soothing sounds of a sitar playing nearby.
The narrator is deeply affected by the music being played and feels a strong connection to it. Gautama enters the scene and brings a sense of attraction and longing. The narrator expresses her desire to be with Gautama and accuses him of not wanting her. Gautama quotes a passage from the Gita, which surprises the narrator as she had forgotten her previous interest in it. The narrator feels a sense of emptiness and bitterness towards Gautama, believing that he does not understand or value love. The narrator confronts Gautama about her feelings for him, but he dismisses her and claims to be perturbed. The narrator becomes upset and accuses Gautama of being a traitor, leading to a heated argument. Gautama criticizes the way the narrator was raised and urges her to understand the realities of life. Gautama emphasizes the importance of finding true values and living a meaningful life. The conversation shifts to the concept of vocation and the necessity of performing actions without attachment to their outcomes. Gautama believes that only those who can live and work in this manner are capable of finding peace and serenity. The narrator sarcastically compares Gautama’s family to be hard-working and wonders if she is capable of the same.
The narrator and Gautama have a conversation about detachment and finding peace in different ways. The narrator expresses her contentment with her current life and her ability to find happiness in simple things. Gautama acknowledges that the narrator is less of an egoist than him and suggests that detachment could bring greater peace of mind. The narrator questions Gautama about love and attachment, and Gautama warns against mistaking attachment for love. Gautama discusses the tragedy of love and the impossibility of maintaining its initial intensity. The narrator expresses her fear of change and loss, while Gautama suggests a different perspective on life as a constant cycle. The narrator finds comfort and security in Gautama’s words, feeling a sense of peace and envisioning a lovely future.
The speaker is engaged in a conversation with Gautama. Gautama explains the concept of reincarnation and the interconnectedness of actions and their consequences across different lifetimes. The speaker expresses fear and disbelief at the idea of having to pay for past actions in the current life. Gautama tries to provide an explanation for suffering and injustice, emphasizing the limitations of human perception. The speaker becomes increasingly distressed and seeks reassurance from Gautama. Gautama becomes frustrated with the speaker’s reaction and dismisses her concerns. The speaker experiences physical symptoms of distress and decides to leave the conversation. Gautama notices the speaker’s physical condition and questions if she has a fever. The speaker reassures Gautama and leaves to go inside.
Chapter 5- Gautama wakes up and asks Maya what she is dreaming about. Maya feels hot and thirsty, and contemplates the reality of death. Gautama offers her cold water and tries to soothe her. Maya is afraid to sleep and asks Gautama to watch over her. Maya reflects on the dangers of various creatures, such as rats, lizards, and snakes. Maya complains about the heat and waits for a letter from her father. Maya receives a letter from someone in New York, which excites her.
The narrator recalls her brother Arjuna and his mysterious and unpredictable behavior. Arjuna preferred riding a bicycle over a car, despite having enough money for a car, because it was cheaper and more convenient. Arjuna’s departures and arrivals were swift and silent, making it easy for the family to forget about him when he was gone. Arjuna often disappeared for days at a time, and his father would become increasingly quiet and possibly angry. Arjuna would not provide exact accounts of where he had been, causing tension between him and his father. The narrator remembers Arjuna as a free-spirited and adventurous person, contrasting her own more reserved nature. The narrator recalls flying kites with Arjuna and their different approaches to the activity. The narrator questions why it was so easy to forget about Arjuna.
The narrator reads the excerpts from a letter written by Arjuna’s brother to Maya. The letter reveals the strained relationship between Arjuna and their father, as well as Arjuna’s decision to leave their privileged life behind and work in a canning factory. Arjuna expresses his belief that a life lived solely for one’s own pleasure is meaningless and finds meaning in hard work. Their father disapproves of Arjuna’s choices and questions his association with people from lower social classes. The letter also touches upon their father’s lavish lifestyle, appreciation of art, and the beauty of their garden. Arjuna’s brother reflects on their childhood and their attempts to persuade Maya to run away. The letter ends with Arjuna’s plans to return one day and his belief that having roots is essential for personal growth.
The narrator’s father had a collection of books that were well-maintained and cherished, unlike the narrator’s own cheap paperbacks. The father spent a lot of time reading late into the night, shutting himself away from the family. The father is now working with cans of food and seems to have reached out to the narrator. The narrator’s father did not write a letter, as he was busy socializing and enjoying life. The narrator’s long-lost brother, Arjuna, has written a letter stating that he is working in a canning factory in New York and fighting for the rights of African Americans. The narrator’s father disowned Arjuna. Gautama, the narrator’s husband, finds the letter amusing and mocks the narrator’s family. The narrator becomes angry and feels that Gautama does not understand the significance of the letter. The narrator feels a sense of unnaturalness and insanity, questioning whether it is herself or the world around her that is insane. Gautama tries to comfort the narrator, suggesting that her father-obsession and complex upbringing contribute to her current state. Gautama believes that the narrator’s passion will self-destruct due to setbacks and lack of trust.
The narrator is in a state of distress and breaks a mirror, causing a chaotic scene with perfume bottles and distorted reflections. The narrator’s father and a peacock are mentioned, but their actions and words seem distorted and nonsensical. The narrator experiences fever and hallucinations, with references to a rat and its young. The fever eventually subsides, and the narrator finds herself on a rooftop, eating watermelon and observing a dusty, oppressive summer. The narrator’s companion, Gautama, asks about a letter and a horoscope, but the narrator avoids giving a clear answer. The sound of drums becomes a recurring theme, with the narrator experiencing intense headaches and a sense of foreboding. The narrator fears that Gautama discovering the truth would put her in danger. The narrator expresses a desire for a holiday but feels trapped in a desert without any real escape.The narrator is having a conversation with Gautama, who speaks in a disconnected voice from behind a book. The narrator feels disconnected from Gautama’s world and describes living on a different level filled with tension and excitement. The narrator mentions her father and experiences a mix of bitterness and yearning. The narrator tries to find her father but receives a message from Arjuna saying that he is still searching. An astrologer approaches the narrator, but the lamp begins to flicker and fade, creating a sense of darkness and impending danger. The narrator feels desperate and defenseless, unable to find anyone to help her. The narrator receives a letter, mentioning the unbearable heat and the sender’s plan to sail to Europe for a long holiday. The narrator expresses concern about her health and senses that something has gone wrong but keeps it a secret due to the perceived danger.
Chapter 6- The narrator observes a chaotic scene at a train station, with crowds waiting for trains to arrive and depart. The cages of laboratory monkeys at the station are described in a disturbing manner, with the animals suffering and in need of food and water. The narrator’s companion, Gautama, seems indifferent to the monkeys’ plight and tries to distract the narrator from her emotions. The narrator becomes upset and runs off to search for her father, hoping he will release the monkeys from their cages. The narrator briefly imagines herself trapped in one of the cages before Gautama frees her. The narrator expresses a desire for a message or guidance from the monkeys as they are taken away on a train. The scene shifts to the narrator’s room, where Gautama’s mother enters and encourages the narrator to get out of bed. Gautama’s sister, Nila, jokes about their mother’s sleeping habits and work schedule. The narrator reflects on the complexity of Gautama’s mother, who embodies both old age and vitality. The narrator wonders if she is one of the people who could benefit from Gautama’s mother’s generosity and strength.
The narrator is hesitant to go shopping with a woman who both irritates and impresses her. The woman convinces the narrator to come shopping with them and leave the house. They go shopping for gifts for the woman’s children and their cousins in Calcutta. They spend money freely on fun and frivolous items, enjoying the festive occasion. The narrator feels tired and wants to go home, but they continue shopping. They argue about how to get home and eventually stand in a queue for a bus. They buy cucumber slices from a cucumber-man and the narrator feels revived. The narrator admires the woman and her mother for their energy and independence. The woman’s divorce is mentioned, causing tension in the family. The narrator begs the woman and her mother to stay longer, but they cannot. The narrator longs for their presence and fears being alone with her husband. The woman cannot stay, but they have enjoyed their time together. The narrator is reluctant to go to bed alone and seeks comfort from the woman and her mother. The woman’s mother remains detached, while the narrator clings to the woman’s presence. The narrator tries to engage everyone in conversation to feel connected and avoid being forgotten.
The narrator is disturbed by the sound of trains passing at night, feeling left behind and alone. The narrator reflects on moments of sanity and clarity in between interactions with guests and being alone. The narrator wonders why she never considered that Gautama’s life might be in danger. The astrologer had mentioned a toll that fate would take after the narrator’s marriage, but never indicated it would be the narrator who would die. The narrator observes Gautama absorbed in his work, seemingly unaffected by the possibility of death. The narrator questions her own face and Gautama’s face, seeing no signs of death or tragedy. The word “murder” torments the narrator, causing her to question her own state of mind. The narrator engages in a conversation with Gautama about death and the afterlife. Gautama expresses confusion about the narrator’s sudden interest in the topic. The narrator visualizes a scene where Gautama tries to understand the source of the narrator’s distress, eventually pinpointing a letter and a horoscope as potential triggers.
The protagonist, Maya, is in a distressed state and is being shaken by someone named Gautama. Maya is afraid of being forced into something and pleads with Gautama not to drive her. Gautama reassures Maya that he is not trying to force her into anything and offers comfort. Maya locks herself in a room when Gautama leaves and hears scratching and screaming outside. Maya reminisces about the past, including memories of her dog, Arjuna, and white oleanders. Maya is tired and depressed, longing for the summer to end and for rain to come. Maya questions Gautama about his lack of attention and expresses fears about death and different religious beliefs. Gautama dismisses Maya’s fears and emphasizes the importance of knowledge and study. Maya desires sleep and seeks comfort from Gautama.
The narrator is disturbed by the cries of peacocks at night, which symbolize love and agony. The narrator’s companion, Gautama, seems disconnected from the world and shows little interest in their conversation. The narrator realizes they have forgotten to respond to a letter from their brother, Arjuna. The narrator longs for the magic and comfort of their father’s words, but finds no solace in them anymore. The narrator struggles with memory and tries to recall the past, but only fragments come to mind. The narrator questions her sanity and contemplates the possibility of madness. The narrator’s life feels chaotic and lacking in order, and she feels tired and worn. The narrator’s garden is neglected and her surroundings feel unfamiliar. The narrator experiences a sense of panic and a desire to escape. The chapter ends with the narrator expressing her feverish state and a feeling of being out of control.
Anita Desai Cry, the Peacock Chapter 7 & Part III Summary
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