About the Lesson
The lesson revolves around a unique encounter between a blind man and a girl during a train journey. Throughout their conversation, the blind man, using his heightened senses, attempts to hide his blindness from the girl, while painting vivid mental images of the world. The story takes an ironic twist when the girl departs, and the man learns from another passenger that she, too, is blind. The narrative highlights themes of perception, the power of imagination, and the connection that transcends physical sight. It also explores the human desire to appear "normal" while facing personal challenges.
Text /Summary/Critical Analysis
Critical Summary of "The Eyes Have It" by Ruskin Bond
"The Eyes Have It" is a poignant short story by Ruskin Bond that explores themes of human perception, isolation, and the ironies of life. The narrator, who is blind, travels by train and engages in a conversation with a girl who boards the train at Rohana. He cleverly conceals his blindness, while the girl, unbeknownst to him, is also blind. This dramatic irony forms the core of the story, emphasizing how sighted individuals often fail to notice the most obvious details, while those without sight are keenly aware of subtler elements.
Plot Overview
The narrator, traveling alone in a train compartment, encounters a young girl who boards the train and is accompanied by her concerned parents. Although blind, the narrator pretends to be sighted and strikes up a conversation with her. As they converse, he attempts to maintain the illusion of being able to see, even describing the beauty of Mussoorie, though based on his memories rather than current observations. The girl mentions she is going to Saharanpur to meet her aunt, and the narrator, intrigued by her, enjoys her company.
Throughout the journey, the narrator tries to guess details about the girl's appearance, speculating about her hair and complimenting her "interesting" face, which leads her to laugh and mention that people often remark on her pretty face. Their conversation is light and friendly, but the narrator feels a sense of loneliness and isolation. As the train nears Saharanpur, the girl bids farewell, leaving behind a lingering scent of her perfume.
After she departs, a new passenger enters the compartment and, during a brief conversation, reveals that the girl was blind, shocking the narrator who had spent the entire journey trying to hide his own blindness. This twist adds to the story's irony and depth.
Themes and Analysis
Irony: The story is rich in irony, particularly the fact that both the narrator and the girl are blind, yet neither realizes it. The narrator's efforts to hide his blindness from the girl are rendered meaningless by the revelation that she is also blind. This irony underscores the gap between perception and reality, and how people can be deceived by their assumptions.
Perception and Awareness: The story explores how blindness affects one's perception of the world. While the narrator cannot see, he is highly attuned to the girl's voice, the sound of her slippers, and even her perfume. The irony is that, despite his lack of sight, he is more perceptive than many sighted individuals. The girl, who is blind, also doesn't realize the narrator is blind, highlighting how perceptions can be deceptive.
Loneliness and Human Connection: The narrator's blindness symbolizes a deeper emotional isolation. Though he enjoys the girl's company and their conversation, there is a sense of fleeting connection. The girl’s departure leaves him with a sense of loneliness, and the brief companionship, though meaningful, does not alleviate his feelings of isolation.
Symbolism of Sight: Sight and blindness are central symbols in the story. The narrator's blindness represents not only physical blindness but also the emotional and psychological barriers that people construct. The story subtly suggests that the inability to see is not just a physical condition but can also represent ignorance or misunderstanding in human relationships.
Conclusion
"The Eyes Have It" is a beautifully crafted story that uses irony, rich symbolism, and the theme of human perception to create a memorable narrative. The twist at the end adds a layer of complexity to the story, leaving readers to reflect on the nature of sight and how much of what we see is shaped by our assumptions and internalized views. Ruskin Bond masterfully portrays the human need for connection, while also illustrating how the most profound truths often lie beyond the reach of our senses.
Delve into Details
A. Answer the following questions.
1. What instructions was the girl given? At which station did she board the train?
The girl was given detailed instructions by her parents on where to keep her things, not to lean out of the windows, and how to avoid speaking to strangers. She boarded the train at Rohana station.
2. What explanation does the narrator give for not being able to see the girl? Yet how did he know what footwear she was wearing?
The narrator explains that he was blind, sensitive only to light and darkness, and hence unable to see the girl. However, he knew she was wearing slippers because of the sound they made as they slapped against her heels.
3. How does the narrator describe October as the best time to visit Mussoorie in spite of his vision impairment?
The narrator draws on his past memories to describe October in Mussoorie. He recalls how the hills are covered with wild dahlias, the sun is pleasant, the nights are perfect for sitting by a log fire with brandy, and the roads are peaceful after most tourists have left.
4. Briefly bring out the flow of conversation the narrator maintains to know more about the girl.
The narrator starts by asking the girl where she is going, and she responds that she is getting off at Saharanpur. He makes casual, charming remarks about aunts being formidable and Mussoorie being beautiful in October. As the conversation progresses, he compliments her face and subtly inquires about her appearance.
5. What question does the narrator ask the fellow passenger about the girl? What has he already imagined about her?
The narrator asks the new passenger if the girl had long or short hair. He had already imagined various possibilities about her hair—whether it was plaited, worn loose, or cut short.
6. What does the new fellow passenger say that surprises the narrator? What is your reaction to this piece of information?
The new passenger reveals that the girl was completely blind, which surprises the narrator. The revelation adds an ironic twist to the story, as both characters were blind, yet neither was aware of the other's condition.
B. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. "They said their goodbyes and the train pulled out of the station. As I was totally blind at the time, my eyes sensitive only to light and darkness, I was unable to tell what the girl looked like; but I knew she wore slippers from the way they slapped against her heels."
a. Who are 'they'? Who has boarded the train?
'They' refers to the girl's parents, who were seeing her off. The girl is the one who boarded the train.
b. How does the speaker know what type of footwear the girl is wearing?
The speaker knew the girl was wearing slippers by the sound they made as they slapped against her heels.
c. What question does the speaker ask her?
The speaker asks her if she is traveling all the way to Dehra.
d. What did the speaker like about her?
The speaker liked the sound of her voice and even the sound of her slippers.
2. "I didn't see you either," I said. "But I heard you come in." I wondered if I would be able to prevent her from discovering that I was blind. Provided I keep to my seat, I thought, it shouldn't be too difficult.
a. Who is being talked about here?
The girl who boarded the train at Rohana is being talked about here.
b. What thought is the speaker troubled with?
The speaker is troubled by the thought of whether he would be able to hide the fact that he was blind from the girl.
c. What information about her travel does the girl give?
The girl informs the speaker that she is getting off at Saharanpur, where her aunt will meet her.
d. What remark does the speaker make on hearing this information?
The speaker remarks that aunts are usually formidable creatures, attempting to keep the conversation light-hearted.
3. "You are a very gallant young man," she said, "but why are you so serious?" I thought, then, I would try to laugh for her, but the thought of laughter only made me feel troubled and lonely. "We'll soon be at your station," I said.
a. Why did the girl think that the speaker was gallant?
The girl thought the speaker was gallant because he complimented her appearance and engaged her in polite, charming conversation.
b. What is her reply to the speaker's remark about reaching her station?
The girl expresses relief that her journey is short, saying she can't bear to sit in a train for more than two or three hours.
c. Why did the speaker want her to stay for the rest of the journey?
The speaker wanted her to stay because he enjoyed listening to her voice and found her presence pleasant.
d. How does the speaker describe the scene at the station as the train drew in?
The speaker describes the shouting of porters and vendors and a high-pitched female voice, which he assumes belongs to the girl's aunt.
4. "The train gathered speed, the wheels took up their song, the carriage groaned and shook. I found the window and sat in front of it, staring into the daylight that was darkness for me. So many things were happening outside the window: it could be a fascinating game, guessing what went on out there."
a. Who entered the compartment? What did he break?
A man entered the compartment, breaking into the speaker's reverie.
b. What did he say to the speaker?
The man remarked that the speaker must be disappointed because he was not as attractive a traveling companion as the girl who had just left.
c. What did the speaker ask the new passenger?
The speaker asked the new passenger whether the girl had long or short hair.
d. What reply did the speaker get? What is your reaction to the answer?
The new passenger replied that he did not remember her hair but noticed her beautiful eyes, adding that she was completely blind. This revelation adds a twist to the story, as both characters were blind but neither was aware of the other's blindness.
C. Think and answer.
1. Justify the title of the story.
The title "The Eyes Have It" is ironic because both the narrator and the girl are blind. The story revolves around their perceptions, where the narrator, though blind, imagines many things about the girl, including her appearance. Despite their physical blindness, their conversation allows them to "see" each other in a more profound, emotional way.
2. The plot of this story is founded on irony. Discuss.
The irony in the story lies in the fact that both the narrator and the girl are blind, yet neither knows this about the other. The narrator's attempts to conceal his blindness are mirrored by the girl's inability to see. The twist comes at the end when the fellow passenger reveals that the girl was blind, leaving the narrator and readers surprised by the coincidence and deepening the irony.
