Question- Write about the themes of 'Diamond Dust' by Anita Desai.

Answer - 

Husband- wife relationship: At the center of Diamond Dust' and the community depicted in the story are Mr. and Mrs. Das. Everything about the society in which they live links them closely together. They have been married since she was fourteen and he was nineteen. It is not precisely stated how old they are at the time of the story, but because they are grandparents, one can assume they have been married was a love match or arranged for them, but because arranged marriages were common in india, one must at least consider the possibility that they did not choose each other freely. Social roles were also fairly rigid for men and women.

Therefore, 'Diamond Dust' offers a portrait of a very particular kind of marriage. Mrs Das was expected to raise the children and tend to the housekeeping and Mr. Das had the responsibility of working to provide for his family. Mrs. Das continues to care for her husband, as when she greets him at the door with cough syrup and a warm scarf after one of his searches for Diamond. It is unclear, how-ever, whether such caretaking is prompted by affection or a sense of duty. There is no portrayal of affection between Mr and Mrs. Das in their conversations, she complains about Diamond, and he makes excuses for the dog's bad behaviour. It seems entirely possible that Mr. Das seeks out love and companionship from a dog in large part because he and his wife have little to say to each other. Although the Dases' marriage is not the main focus of the story, their relationship offer an interesting detailed backdrop for Mr. Das's actions.

Oppression: As readers make their way through 'Diamond Dust' they likely begin to question why Mr. Das not only puts up with but also defends the life, Mr. Das follows the rules, doing everything that is expected to him getting married, raising children, and working at a government job, but he allows diamond to run wild exasperating Mrs. Das and angering his neighbours. Perhaps the explanation for Mr. Das's indulgence where diamond is concerned lies in the very fact of his otherwise responsible existence. Perhaps Mr. Das, even if not consciously, feels somewhat oppressed by his daily life.

It is understandable that he might feel the oppressive expectations of society. The first time he does something for himself, simply because it is what he wants to do rather than because it is what he is supposed to do, he adopts a dog. His wife is exasperated. She does not understand his affection for the animal, she hates the messses the dog makes and she reacts melodramatically when Mr. Das prepares pet food. Mr. Das's friends and coworkers comment on his behaviour with diamond as if enjoying the company of one's pet is inappropriate for a man of his age and social position.

Diamond's bad behaviour raises eyebrows and eventually ignites tempers, But even before the narrative describes any of Diamond's behaviour more mischievous than chasing chipmunbs in the park-a completely typical canine behaviour the friends and colleagues that Mr. Das meets on their morning walks are "astounded, if not scandalized, to witness" the affection Mr. Das feels for his pet. These supposed friends worry that Mr. Das has taken leave of his senses simply because he runs around like a much younger man playing with diamond in the park.

Mrs. Das's frustration and the friends' disapproval show the social oppression Mr. Das feels: the pressure to fill a certain proscribed role and not stray outside the unwritten rules. There are definite standards of behaviour that everyone is expected to maintain, and by his adoration of diamond, Mr. Das acts against those rules. As Diamond ages and the worst of his bad behaviour begins, the problem increases. Perhaps Mr. Das does not have a terrible life, with a steady job, a comfortable home, and a dutiful wife, but he seems to feel trapped in it nonetheless. Diamond represents an escape from all of that Mr. Das lets the dog behave bodly because he himself never will.

Happiness: Although Mr. Das feels oppressed by some aspects of his life and does not seem fulfilled by his life and his marriage, he finds a measure of happiness through his pet dog, Diamond. The narration describes diamond's puppyhood as "that shining stretch of Mr. Das's life," and when he sees his pet, Mr. Das greets it "with the joyful cry, 'Diamond, my friend!" However, though the dog brings Mr. Das great happiness, it also brings him pain and suffering. Even before the tragic conclusion, Mr. Das becomes distraught when Diamond runs away. Mr. Biswas sees Mr. Das on the telephone at work, apologizing for some mistake or oversight, but afterword, rather than worrying what his boss may be thinking of him, Mr. Das "only held his head". He kept saying 'Diamond is missing, I can't find Diamond." Even the neighbours angered' by Diamond's attacks on their children are moved by the:

"pitiful sight of Mr. Das limping
through the dust in seach of
his diamond, like some forlorn
lover whose beloved his scorned
him and departed with another,
but who has not abandoned his
bitter, desperate hope

The joy diamond brings to Mr. Das is heavily laden with problems, sadness and anxiety but this mixture fits the story as a whole, it being a fusion of comic and tragic, happy and sad, melodramatic and realistic".

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