In the story "A Devoted Son" by Anita Desai, Rakesh, the son, touches his father Varna's feet. What does is mean when he touches his father's feet? How does his father feel when his son touches his feet at the beginning of the story? Why at the end of the story does the father pull his feet away?

Touching of his father's feet symbolized Rakesh's devotion to his father.

Rakesh's father felt proud that his son still had the values of touching his parents feet.

At the end of the story Rakesh's father does not allow Rakesh to touch his feet because he thought that Rakesh is no more devoted to him.

Explanation:

"A Devoted Son" is a short story penned by Anita Desai. The story is about a father and his devotedd son. The story begins with Rakesh touching the feet of hiis father and announcing his result to him. In Indian culture, touching parents feet is a sign of respect and devotion. It is an age old value that is rarely seen these days. It is way of asking blessings from parents just like asking blessing from god. So, when Rakesh touched the feet of his father in the beginning of the story, it represented his devotion and respect towards his father.

Rakesh's father felt very proud and joyful when his son touched his feet. This is revealed when he proudly announced this before his friends and those who came to congratulate him. This news moved women who heard this to emotions and tears because this values are not seen these days. All the guests agreed to this, that sons, nowadays, do not touch their parents feet. So, Rakesh's father felt proud and happy when he touched his feet.

As the story progressed, Rakesh's mother passed away due to bad health. Rakesh's father's health also begin to deteriorate. Rakesh' being a doctor, begin to control the diet of his father, which displeased Rakesh's father. He thought that his son is no longer devoted to him as he does not allow his to eat sweets and oily food. But, Rakesh was a devoted son, he stopped sweets and oily food to help his father to have good health. When at the end, Rakesh bow down to touch his father's feet, he pull his feet away because he thinks that his son is not devoted to him.

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