Just like love spreads its fragrance, betrayal traps stench. This story begins with the “ climax fairly close” to the events in the past and giving a complete picture of the proceedings creating “ a full picture of the whole tragedy”. Guleri ending her life in the most tragic manner, the birth of a son to Manek’s second wife, Manek refusing to take the baby saying he gets the the smell of kerosene creates a suitable background making the title ‘Stench of Kerosene’ ideal. The strain of dramatic effect running throughtout the story reveals the whole episode in a very eloquent manner.
Repetition of words “take him away, he stinks of kerosene” emphasizes his extreme dejection. The story is not that of Manek’s wife’s tragic end alone but it also touches upon the grief, guilt and sadness of Manek.
Kerosene being inflammable, odourous and dangerous fuel symbolises the intense sorrow and disaster caused to Guleri, as a result of Manek’s family conceptions.
The music of flute associating with joy and stench of kerosene associating with tragic death of Guleri emphasizing the contrasting events in the married life of Manek and Guleri due to the contrasting features of Indian culture and the basic rights of man-woman marriage creating an extremely unpleasant and tragic atmosphere.
DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH THE TITLE CONVEYS THE PLIGHT OF MANEK AND GULERI IN THE STORY
The story 'Stench of Kerosene' by Amrita Pritam is a tragic story of a married couple who are victim of the stringent customs of the Indian society. Amrita starts the story by introducing us to Guleri who is a cheerful girl from a wealthy family married to Manek. As the story unfolds we learn that, not only is Guleri a loving and caring wife, but she performs her duties as a daughter in law as prescribed by the traditions of the Hindu marital doctrine. The author also discusses how Guleri misses her family, as she used to walk with her husband upto the