Revision.

Using post-colonialism or reader response, describe how the characters address the theme of
adaptation to change.

In the novel by Anita Desai, The Village By the Sea, post-colonialism theory can be seen in
the overall aspects of living of the people in Thul. The effect of post-colonialism to them is the
hybridity that address the theme of adaptation to change. Hari and Panwallah are the characters
who have undergone drastic changes in their development from the cross-cultural exchange of the
coloniser in the social aspect. However, their development in the hybridity varies from each other as
categorized into different age groups. It can be seen that age and maturity factors play important
role in this novel as they are the determinants for the evolvement of the characters in handling their
situations and deciding for their future and dreams alongside their experiences. The adaptation to
changes is portrayed by the characters of young generation and old generation.

Hari represents the young generation of the South India. The hybridity in which he adapt to
the changes in his life is when he choose to change his path of life into a better one. From the
beginning of the novel, he is just a frustrated little boy who is deeply overwhelmed with the poverty
of his family. He has to earn for his family too at young age while working hardly; breaking bunches
of coconuts, fishing along the shallow sea during his free time and working in the arid field. His
mother is very ill and his father tries to run away from his debt problems by making himself drunk all
day long. Then he sees hope in Bombay. He learns to survive on his own by working earnestly at Sri
Krishna Eating House, one of the shabbiest and meanest restaurants in that place. The good qualities
that he portrays has earned trust from Mr Panwallah thus gives him opportunity to improve his
inner self as he becomes a stronger person who is able to cope up with any challenges in his life.

Panwallah who represents the older generation of the South Indian who proves to be a
successful person after being able to break through challenges and low expectation of the people in
Indian. Having to see the Hari’s potential and attitude in working, he acts as a true benefactor to
Hari and gives encouraging words so that Hari learns not give up on his current life. The words given
by Mr. Panwallah are “....... Learn. Learn, learn-so that you can grow and change. Things change all
the time, boy-nothing remains the same.” These are the words that keep Hari motivated and strive
enabling him to adapt to changes in his life. Mr. Panwallah makes him realize that opportunity lies
everywhere around them even in any difficult situations.