The Castaway
by Rabindranath Tagore
A child separated from his family is taken into another household, where his presence creates emotional conflict. The story explores loneliness, affection, attachment and the vulnerability of children.
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- The story centres on a child separated from his original home.
- The child’s arrival creates a conflict between affection and family expectations.
- Kiran becomes emotionally attached to the child.
- The adults struggle over where the child should stay.
- The story raises questions about belonging and parental responsibility.
- The child’s vulnerability creates sympathy in the reader.
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The story begins in Chandernagore during a storm, while Kiran is seriously ill and her family is anxious about her recovery. The adults disagree about whether she should return to her native village.
A child enters the household and becomes emotionally important to Kiran. Her attachment to him complicates the family’s plans and exposes the tension between personal affection and social expectations.
The story explores what it means for a child to belong somewhere. The emotional conflicts of the adults are seen through the vulnerability and uncertainty of the child.