Banumathi K's Literature Insights : September 2024

September 28, 2024

Where There's a Will by Mahesh Dattani Summary / Where There's a Will Summary / Where There's a Will

Where There's a Will by Mahesh Dattani 


Where There’s a Will Short Essay 


Introduction:

          Mahesh Dattani is a famous Indian playwright, director, and actor. His first play Where There’s a Will (1988) is a black comedy about control, family issues, and change in a modern household.


Hasmukh and His Family:

          Hasmukh Mehta is a rich businessman who owns the Mehta Group of Companies. He controls his wife Sonal and son Ajit strictly. Though he is married to Sonal, he is unhappy and secretly loves Kiran, a smart marketing executive. Ajit is not happy because his father controls everything, and he wants to be free.


The Will and Kiran’s Power:

          After Hasmukh dies, his soul stays behind to watch his family. The family is shocked by his Will. He leaves everything to Hasmukh Mehta Charitable Trust, making Kiran the sole trustee and director. Kiran must run the company and train Ajit till he turns 45. Only then Ajit will get full rights over the company and the trust will dissolve.


Revelation and Change:

           Kiran finds out Preeti had secretly replaced Hasmukh’s medicine to kill him. Kiran forgives her. Slowly, all family members begin to change and grow. Hasmukh’s ghost sees everything and ends up in Preeti’s womb.


Conclusion:

           The play shows family problems, control, and change. In the end, the family learns lessons, and Kiran helps them become better.

September 22, 2024

The Forty Fortune: A Tale of Iran, Told by Aaron Shepard Summary / The Forty Fortune Essay / The Forty Fortune by Aaron Shepard Summary

 The Forty Fortune: A Tale of Iran

Told by Aaron Shepard 


The Forty Fortune Short Essay 


Introduction:

         The Forty Fortunes is a folk tale about Ahmed, a laborer in the royal city of Isfahan, and his ambitious wife, Jamell. The story shows how surprising things can happen through smart thinking and good luck.


A Modest Life and a New Role:

          Ahmed is happy with his simple job, but Jamell wants a better life. After being insulted at the public bath, she forces Ahmed to become a fortune-teller. Even though Ahmed has no real skills, Ahmed unwillingly agrees. 


Ahmed's Luck and the Robbery:

          Ahmed, by luck, helps a lady to find her lost ring. She gives him a reward, and he becomes famous. Soon after, the King’s palace is robbed by forty thieves. The King calls Ahmed to solve the case. Scared, Ahmed asks for forty days and eats one date each day to count.


The Thieves' Fear and Return:

          The thieves wrongly believe Ahmed’s date-eating is magic. Each night, they send spies. On the fortieth night, all forty thieves come in fear. They admit their crime and return the treasure. Ahmed tricks the King into choosing the treasure instead of the thieves and secretly returns it without telling the truth.


Conclusion:

           Ahmed refuses the royal post but accepts two treasure boxes. Ahmed and Jamell live happily ever after, now wealthy and wiser. The story shows the power of luck and smart thinking.

September 15, 2024

Leisure by W.H. Davies Summary, Leisure by W.H. Davies Essay

 Leisure by W.H. Davies


Leisure by W.H. Davies Short Essay 


Introduction:

           "Leisure" is a poem by Welsh poet W. H. Davies, published in Songs of Joy and Others in 1911. The poem talks about the value of free time and how modern life keeps people away from enjoying nature.


The Rush of Modern Life:

           The poet highlights how today's world is full of stress, responsibilities, and work. People are always in a hurry and rarely take a moment to slow down. This busy lifestyle leaves no room to enjoy the peaceful and simple pleasures of life.


Losing Touch with Nature:

           Davies shows that people no longer notice the beauty of the natural world. They don’t observe animals, trees, or streams. These beautiful things are around us every day, but our minds are too busy to see them.


Nature as a Missed Experience:

         The poet describes nature as a beautiful woman whose joy and charm go unnoticed. He expresses sadness that people are too distracted to enjoy her gentle presence, missing the comfort and refreshment she can bring.


Conclusion:

          The poet reminds us that a life without time to relax and appreciate nature is an unhappy one. We must slow down to reconnect with the beauty around us.

September 13, 2024

Anxiety Monster by Rhona McFerran Summary / Anxiety Monster by Rhona McFerran Essay

 Anxiety Monster by Rhona McFerran 


  Anxiety Monster Short Essay 


Introduction:

          Anxiety Monster is a motivational poem by Rhona McFerran. In this poem, anxiety is compared to a monster. It shows how anxiety feels scary, heavy, and hard to control. The poet encourages people to fight anxiety bravely.


Anxiety: The Monster Within

           Anxiety enters into the speaker’s life like a monster under the bed, feeding on her fears. When she tries to remove it, it makes her doubt herself. It’s like an unwanted guest—cruel, shameful, and upsetting. Though the speaker doesn't hate it, she finds it very painful. It steals her joy and makes her feel low. Anxiety troubles everyone deeply and leaves a heavy effect.


Living with Constant Fear

          Anxiety doesn’t go away easily. It stays day and night, bothering the speaker. It makes her feel weak, yet she chooses to stay strong. She is ready to fight it using her knowledge and ideas from Sigmund Freud.


Facing and Fighting Anxiety

          The speaker watches anxiety and studies it. Though it may hide or run, she knows it will return again. Still, she stays strong and determined to defeat it fully.


Conclusion:

          The poem ends with the speaker bravely facing anxiety. Though it may come back, she is ready to fight it again and again with courage and hope.

September 08, 2024

In a Grove by Akutagawa Ryunosuke Essay / In a Grove by Akutagawa Ryunosuke Summary

 In a Grove by Akutagawa Ryunosuke 


In a Grove by Akutagawa Ryunosuke 

short essay


Introduction:

          In a Grove is a short story written by Japanese author Akutagawa Ryunosuke in 1922. It tells the mysterious story of a samurai named Kanazawa no Takehiro who was found dead in a bamboo grove. The truth behind his death remains unclear, as each person gives a different version of what happened.


Testimonies of Witnesses:

          A woodcutter finds Takehiro’s body with a sword wound and no weapon nearby. A Buddhist priest says he saw Takehiro and his wife Masago happy and normal the day before. A policeman arrests Tajomaru, a well-known thief, who had the couple’s belongings and is suspected of previous crimes.


Tajomaru and Masago’s Confessions:

          Tajomaru confesses to tying up Takehiro, raping Masago, and killing Takehiro in a duel to win her. Masago, however, claims she killed her husband herself out of shame, and then tried to kill herself but failed.


Testimony of the Dead Samurai:

          Speaking through a medium, Takehiro says Masago asked Tajomaru to kill him. When Tajomaru refused, she ran. Takehiro then killed himself using her knife.


Conclusion:

          The story ends without a clear answer. Each version tells a different story, leaving the reader unsure of the truth behind Takehiro’s death.

September 07, 2024

The Gift of Magi by O. Henry Essay / The Gift of Magi by O. Henry Summary

 The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry


The Gift of the Magi Short Essay 


Introduction:

          The Gift of the Magi is a heartwarming short story by O. Henry, set during Christmas. It highlights themes of love, sacrifice, and the true spirit of giving.


The Couple and Their Struggles:

          Della and Jim Young are a poor but loving couple living in New York. Despite their financial hardship, both wish to gift each other something special. Della has only $1.87 saved up, while Jim earns just $20 a week.


Della and Jim’s Sacrifices:

          To buy Jim a gift, Della sells her beautiful long hair for $20. She uses the money to buy a fine platinum chain for Jim’s beloved pocket watch. Meanwhile, Jim sells his watch to buy elegant combs for Della’s hair—something she had always admired.


The Twist and Message:

          When they exchange gifts, they realize their sacrifices made the gifts useless—but this twist reveals their deep love. Each gave up their most prized possession for the other’s happiness.


Conclusion:

O. Henry compares the couple to the Magi—the wise men who gave gifts to Jesus. Through this touching story, he reminds us that true wisdom and love are found in selfless giving, not in material value.

September 05, 2024

Listening by Robin Sharma Essay, Listening by Robin Sharma Summary

 Listening by Robin Sharma 

Listening By Robin Sharma Short Essay 


Introduction:

          "Listening" is taken from Robin Sharma’s speeches. He believes that active listening is very important for good communication and strong leadership. Listening is a skill we must develop to build better relationships, understand others, lead with care, and grow in life and work.


The Importance of Listening:

          Robin Sharma says that listening helps people feel respected and valued. In companies, people often leave when no one listens to their ideas. Good listening helps teams work better, improves performance, and creates a positive environment. 


What is Active Listening:

          Active listening means giving full attention to the speaker. It also means understanding their feelings, not just their words. We should avoid interrupting, not think about our reply while they speak, and stay away from distractions. Listening with empathy builds trust and better understanding.


The Power of Listening:

          Sharma says everyone wants to be heard. When we truly listen, people feel loved and understood. Listening can change relationships and even lives. We can learn, grow, and make better decisions by simply listening.


Conclusion:

          Robin Sharma encourages us to try active listening every day. Just for one day, truly listen to others and feel the difference it makes.


“Just hear. Just listen. Just be there for that person.”

Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech by Wangari Maathai Summary, Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech by Wangari Maathai Essay

Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
-  Wangari Maathai 

Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech by Wangari Maathai Short Essay


Introduction:
          Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist, was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. In her speech, she spoke about the strong link between peace, the environment, and human rights. Her words inspired global action and hope.

Environment and Peace:
         Maathai said that when the environment is damaged, people often fight over land and water. Protecting nature helps bring peace. She shared how managing resources well can stop future conflicts.

Women and Change:
         She spoke proudly about the Green Belt Movement, where women planted trees in Kenya. It helped the earth and gave women power. Maathai believed that women play a big role in saving nature and building strong communities.

Global Action Needed:
        Maathai asked the world to join together to fight climate change and deforestation. She said we must protect nature for future generations. Everyone, even with small actions, can make a big difference.

Conclusion:
         Wangari Maathai’s speech is a reminder that peace, nature, and human rights are connected. She encouraged the world to act with care and unity for a better, greener future.