Thematic study of the novel 'Gun Island' by Amitav Ghosh
Name - Himanshi Parmar
Semester - 4 (Four)
Roll Number - 8
Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com
Enrollment number - 4069206420210025
Paper number - 207
Paper name - Contemporary Literatures in English
Subject Code - 22414
What is the theme?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, Theme is the subject of a talk, a piece of writing or a work of art.
Another definition given by Merriam Webster dictionary, Theme is a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation. Or a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern.
Theme refers to the central idea or underlying message that runs throughout a work of art, literature, film, or any other form of creative expression. It is the fundamental concept or motif that the author or creator is trying to convey through their work.
In literature, for example, the theme is the universal idea or concept that the author wants to communicate to the reader through their story. It is often expressed indirectly through the characters, setting, plot, and other literary elements. Some common themes in literature include love, betrayal, redemption, loss, and the human condition.
The theme of a work is not the same as the plot or storyline. While the plot is the sequence of events that make up the narrative, the theme is the underlying meaning or message behind those events. Themes can be implicit or explicit, meaning they may be stated outright or inferred through the work. Some themes may be universal, while others may be specific to a particular culture or time period. They can also evolve and change over time as societal norms and values shift.
About 'Gun Island'
Gun Island is a novel by Amitav Ghosh that was published in 2019. The novel is set across various locations around the world, including Kolkata, Venice, Los Angeles, and the Sundarbans delta in Bangladesh. The novel is a combination of historical and contemporary fiction that explores the themes of migration, climate change, mythology, and human connection.
The protagonist of the novel is Deen, a rare book dealer from Kolkata, who travels to the Sundarbans delta to investigate the story of the Gun Merchant, a mythological figure who is said to have traded guns for slaves. Deen meets Piya, an American marine biologist of Bangladeshi descent, who is researching the effects of climate change on the delta's ecosystem. Together they embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind the myth of the Gun Merchant.
The novel explores the impact of climate change on the Sundarbans delta, which is sinking due to rising sea levels. The characters witness the devastating effects of cyclones and flooding on the region and the people who live there. Through Deen and Piya's journey, the novel also delves into the history of the delta and the impact of colonialism and slavery on the region.
As the story progresses, Deen becomes obsessed with the idea that the myth of the Gun Merchant might be true. He travels to Venice, where he meets Cinta, a woman who claims to be able to communicate with spirits. Cinta tells Deen a story about a group of refugees who fled Bangladesh during the 1971 war and settled in Los Angeles. Deen believes that this story might hold the key to the truth about the Gun Merchant.
Gun Island is a novel that explores the complex connections between people, cultures, and the environment. It shows how myths and legends can shape our understanding of the world and our place in it. The novel also highlights the urgent need to address the issue of climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities around the world. Overall, Gun Island is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that offers a rich and multifaceted exploration of some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Themes in Gun IsIsland
1] Climate Change
Gun Island is a novel written by Amitav Ghosh as an answer to the questions raised in his previous book, The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable. The Great Derangement is divided into three sections: stories, history, and politics. In the first section, Ghosh discusses how climate change seems unreal and uses examples from Gun Island to show how the novel includes unreal and uncanny elements like the character Cinta talking to her deceased daughter. He also introduces the story of Manasa Devi and the spirit of the gun merchant as examples of the fantastical elements in the novel.
The second section of The Great Derangement discusses the role of colonialism in the climate crisis. Ghosh argues that the colonial idea of development is partly responsible for the damage done to the environment. In Gun Island, the effects of climate change on the Sundarbans delta are shown through the eyes of Deen, who witnesses the changes happening in his homeland. Ghosh uses Deen's character to illustrate how colonialism and capitalism have had a lasting impact on the environment.
The third section of The Great Derangement focuses on politics and Ghosh's belief that capitalism is responsible for the damage being done to the climate. This is echoed in the themes of Gun Island, where Ghosh uses the character of Cinta to illustrate the negative impact of capitalism on the environment. The examples of the films Sherni and Don't Look Up also show how politics and corporate interests can prevent effective action on climate change. Overall, Gun Island can be seen as a response to the issues raised in The Great Derangement, providing a powerful commentary on the impact of climate change and the urgent need for action. Here are some corpuses that indicate the situation of climate change in the novel.
1. Flood
2. Storm
3. Cyclone Aila and Bhola
4. Calamities
5. Drought
6. Reforestation
7. Famine
8. Plague
9. Smoke
10. Tornado
11. Greenhouse
12. Calamities
13. Weather alert
14. Wildfires
15. Tsunami
16. Apocalypse
17. Volcano/Volcanics
18. Temperatures
19. Seismic
20. Earthquake
21. Air quality
22. Global warming
23. Hail storm
24. Coal
25. Tufaan
26. Winds
2] Etymological Mystery
Amitav Ghosh often employs the technique of etymology in his writing to sustain mystery and suspense by giving uncommon or obscure meanings to common words, creating a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.
The title of the novel is 'Gun Island'. But the novel has nothing to do with Guns or Bonduk. Also the story is not about any particular Island. Here Gun Island has a different meaning. In the novel the word 'Gun' stands for 'Venice'. Here are some original lines that stands for the statement.
'And through Arabic the name of Venice has travelled far afield, to Persia and parts of India, where to this day guns are known as Bundook - Which is, Of course, none other than 'Venice' or 'Venetian'.
Similarly the word 'Gun Merchant' of course has a different meaning. 'Gun Merchant' or 'Bonduki Sadagar' in the novel means 'A merchant who visited Venice'.
Was it possible that I had completely misunderstood the name ‘Bonduki Sadagar’? Could it be that its meaning was not ‘The Gun Merchant’, as I had thought, but rather, ‘The Merchant who went to Venice’?
There are many other works that have different meanings in the novel, different than its actual meaning. People often think that the word 'Ghetto' is related to Jews somehow. But in the novel 'Gun Island' the word Ghetto has nothing to do with Jews but the word in Venetian dialect for foundry. That is stated in 'Island within an Island'. So the word 'Ghetto' here stands for 'Island within an Island'.
'The old ghetto is an island within an island, as you can see.’
The island that was allotted to the Jews, she said, had previously been a foundry where armaments, including bullets, were cast. The word for foundry in the old Venetian dialect was getto and this had become the name of the city’s Jewish settlement. Not only would this settlement become a great centre of Jewish learning, it would also lead to the coining of certain words, of which ghetto was only one.
The word 'Bhoot' actually means 'Ghost'. But in 'Gun Island' Amitav Ghosh uses the word in a different meaning. In the novel 'Bhoot' means 'Past state of being'. It also stands for memory.
‘All I can tell you is that the Bangla word “bhoot” or “bhuta” comes from a basic but very complicated Sanskrit root, “bhu”, meaning “to be”, or “to manifest”. So in that sense “bhuta” simply means “a being” or “an existing presence”.'
‘Because “bhuta” also refers to the past, in the sense of “a past state of being”. Like when we say “bhuta-kala” or “times past”.’
The word possession also comes with different meanings in novels. There is a line in the novel that indicates the meaning of possession, ‘Possession is when someone is taken over by a demon.’ but in actual possession is just a metaphor for greed. Here is the line from the original text of Gun Island.
‘It’s nothing. Just a metaphor for greed. An imaginary thing.’
In a chapter titled as 'Warning' cinta said that the word 'Possession' is not demonic or negative. But the real meaning of the word is 'Awakening'. The person who claims that he/she is possessed is awakening to a new life, new personality, new understanding and vision.
Some names of places are also symbolically used by Amitav Ghosh. Such as
1) The Land of palm sugar candy stands for Egypt,
2) Land of Kerchieves (Rumali Desh) is Turkey,
3) The Island of chains (Shilok dwip) is Sicily.
3] Historification of Myth, Mythification of History
In "Gun Island," Amitav Ghosh uses myth and history to add depth and context to the themes of the novel, including climate change and migration. By incorporating elements of Bengali folklore and historical events, Ghosh creates a complex narrative that connects the past and present and highlights the interconnectedness of various cultural, social, and environmental issues. The use of myth, in particular, serves to emphasize the cultural roots of these issues and the ways in which they have been present and relevant throughout history. By blending myth, history, and contemporary events, Ghosh creates a vivid and impactful portrayal of the challenges facing the world today and the need for collective action to address them.
There are so many myths and names of places mentioned in the novel that also exist in the real world. Like, Sundarban, Venice, Gito, Sicily etc. Three symbols mentioned in the novel also have a significant role in the novel. The symbols shown in the shrine of Manasa Devi. All these three symbols are related to the myth of Ilyas. It looks like this.
The very first symbol looks like a hooked Snake and Gun, but it is the first alphabet in Hebrew language and the span stands for Ilias’s identity in the novel.
The second picture seems like it is of Island within an Island, but it's historical location is ghetto.which has foundry and also residences of Jews.
The third image looks like a spider, but in actuality it must be arms. The image might be foundry also.
As per Ghosh the Myth is history, not an imaginary thing.And the novel might be talking about the 17th century because it has references of plague, fire and ‘Bonduki Sadagar’.that all happened during the 17th century. This is how Ghosh mythicized history in the novel.
The present world is facing the problem of human trafficking which was well captured by Amitav Ghosh in the novel.Gun Merchant trapped by pirates and sold in slave markets that indicate human trafficking in present time. Along with that Journey of Tipu and Rafi and the journey of Bilal and Kabir comes as an example of slave trades in present time but in different ways.
In conclusion, We can say that myth is not myth but a history that we are living in 21st century.Concern of myth in novel is historical truth, not universal truth.
4] Migration / Human Trafficking and Refugee Crisis
The theme of migration is a prominent one in Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island. There are three major reasons for people's migration, including
1]War and natural disasters
2]Religious migration
3]Climate refugees
In the novel, two sinking sites are focused on, Sundarban and Venice, which frequently cause migration.here are some of the reasons for migration.
1]Natural Calamities - Lubna Khala
The first reason for migration, natural calamities, is seen through Lubna Khala's experiences. Cyclones and shifting land are common in Sundarban, causing them to move frequently. Additionally, there is a tragic incident where Lubna's brother and niece die due to a snakebite, highlighting the dangers of living in such areas. Lubna expresses her despair, saying,
‘Shob gasé!’ she said. 'Everything’s gone now; the house, the people – the water’s taken it all.'
2] Communal Violence - Bilal and Kabir
The second reason for migration, communal violence, is seen through Bilal and Kabir's experiences. Family issues of Bilal escalate into riots, causing them to be constantly on the run. Bilal explains,
'My uncle and cousins attacked my father and me, so Kabir came to our defence and knocked my uncle down. After that, it was like a riot. Kabir and I managed to get away.but from then on, we had to be constantly on the run.’
3] Poverty - Tipu and Rafi
The third reason for migration, poverty, is highlighted through the stories of Tipu and Rafi. Life in Sundarban is challenging, and they had to leave due to the lack of opportunities. Rafi shares his story, saying,
"We had some clothes, a bit of food, and around 250 US dollars each, that’s all. The dalal put us on a minibus, along with a group of other men. I was carrying only a backpack, and so was Tipu. We had some clothes, a bit of food, and around 250 US dollars each, that’s all."
4]Socio - Economic conditions - Palash
Socio-economic conditions can also be a cause of migration, as seen through Palash's story. Palash migrated to Italy as a student, which set him apart from most Bengali migrants. He came from a wealthy family with a good education and opportunities. Palash reflects on his background, stating,
‘I came to Italy as a student, you see, which sets me apart from most
Bengali migrants. Back in Bangladesh, my circumstances were completely different from theirs. Most of them are from villages and small towns, while my father is a banker, in Dhaka. My older brother is a civil servant, quite high up. I studied at Dhaka University and even have a degree in management. For some years I worked as a manager in a multinational corporation. I used to go to work in a car every day, wearing a suit and tie.’
At last, Gun Island highlights the various reasons for migration through the experiences of its characters. The sinking sites of Sundarban and Venice lead to frequent movement due to natural calamities and climate change. Additionally, communal violence, poverty, and socio-economic conditions can also be reasons for migration. Ghosh provides a vivid portrayal of the challenges faced by migrants, whether it be the danger of living in a sinking site or the difficulty of finding a new home.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island is a richly thematic novel that explores a range of issues such as climate change, migration, historification of myth, mythification of history, and etymological mystery. Through the story of Dinanath and his encounter with a range of characters, the novel shows how climate change is affecting people's lives and causing them to migrate from their homes.
It also highlights how colonialism has contributed to climate change and how capitalism is responsible for the damage we are doing to the environment. Furthermore, the novel explores the complex relationships between history and myth, showing how these two forms of storytelling can influence each other in unexpected ways. Overall, Gun Island is a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel that engages with some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Work Cited -
Amitav Ghosh: Gun Island. Chicago Humanities Festival, 2020,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPsj_lstkBs.
Amitav Ghosh on "Gun Island" | 2019 National Book Festival. PBS Books, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1ThLi0wkMw.
Barad, Dilip. “Gun Island (Sem 4-2022).” YouTube, 19 February 2022,https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSmZQVxjN9_iDDfODO-NC3Le2cOAd9Xnt.
Clark, Alex. “Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh review – climate and culture in crisis.” The Guardian, 5 June 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/05/gun-island-amitav-ghosh-review.
Francis, Ashna. “Gun Island: A Tale of Myth, Migration and Climate Change.” vol. 9, no. 9, September 2021.
Ghosh, Amitav. Amitav Ghosh : Home,https://www.amitavghosh.com/.
Ghosh, Amitav. Gun Island. Penguin Random House India, 2019.
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