QUESTION: HOW ARE HER TECHNIQUES; CHAPTER DIVISIONS, FLASHBACK, FLASHFORWARD AND CHARACTERIZATION USED IN THE NOVEL?
CHARACTERIZATION
The characterization in this story is good. Although Sohail and Maya fight the war in their own ways, the real hero of the story is definitely Rehana. Her unconditional love for her children and her bravery allow her children the success they both deserve.
Both Sohail and Maya are passionate about fighting for freedom, but emotionally, sohail is the weaker of the two. This is demonstrated by his unwavering love for not only his mother, but especially by his love for his childhood friend Silvi.
Maya is a less likeable character than Sohail. Her relationship with Rehana is tense and she is seen very much like a repressed teenager. However, as the novel progresses and Maya finds her way, the reader learns that Maya is frustrated that she cannot fight for her country in the same way that her brother does and must find her own way to fight for her country.
However, A Golden Age fails to develop the traumatic years after Rehana’s husband’s death and Anam seems reluctant to allow her main characters to suffer as much as their friends and neighbours.
The novel also refers to Rehana’s suspect status as an outsider. She is a native speakerof Urdu, not Bengali, with roots in India- without explaining how she comes to live in East Pakistan while her family resides in the West.
Anam shallowly painted a gruesome mask for every West Pakistani Rehana comes across, without any explanation or further exploration of the character.
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