In The Shadow Of The Banyan Analysis

Dealing with the grief of losing a loved one is different for everyone, some may feel guilty about it while others may feel anger and some may just feel sadness. When a child deals with grief, it is different than that of an adult. Children can sense a feeling of loss and insecurity, some may even blame themselves and say things like “I could’ve done more” or “Why didn't i spend more time with that person?” or “If only I had done that instead of..” etc. Some children may have sensations of yearning, helplessness, confusion, sheer shock and sometimes an overwhelming feeling. In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner, Raami, a 7 year old has to deal with the loss of her father and the death of her sister Radana. Raami feels something called

She feels as though she had betrayed her father when she blurted out his royalty name to the young Kamaphibal when he demanded to know everyone’s real name. A while later, her father tells Raami, “you didn’t know… it isn’t your fault” (100) and his palm brushed in her hair which Raami says is the gesture he only used to forgive her for something. This makes Raami feel guilty even though she does not know what is going on exactly. Auntie India and Big Uncle rebuked Rammi for being honest and deep down they are afraid that the Kamaphabil will do something to her since “now they’ll also know who you are.”(100) Raami begins to feel panic, confusion and fear since her father gestured a sign of forgiveness along with her aunt and uncle kept reprimanding her. She’s afraid that she had done something very wrong but doesn’t know exactly what she has done. Raami states her confusion by thinking: “Know what? What didn’t I know? What wasn’t my fault?” (100) When her father asks if she knows who he is she says “of course, what a funny question.”(103) What she didn’t know was that being in the royal family does have its disadvantages. She was proud of her father and didn’t think twice because she thought it wasn't a huge deal. This just shows her innocence and how a 7 year old can be naive with the reality around them. Raami deals with the loss of her father by keeping him alive in her mind, fighting for survival and remembering the stories and poems that her father told her. “Papa had anointed his creation with my pet name..” (163) This is one example of many occurrences in which she remembers her dad and the stories he told her. Sometimes she likes to think that her father in on the moon because that is how they had separated. “will your spirit go to the moon then?” “Yes.. I will follow you, and you’ll have only to look at the sky to find me, wherever you are.” Papa said. Raami keeps hoping to see her father