March 5, 2015 - 15:43
Piya says home is where the Orcaella are, but I'm not completely sure if that's what she actually means. Part of my confusion comes from me not being able to be sure if I can absolutely trust what she's saying. For much of the book, the narrator seems to have interjected into the story, providing judgement or validation of ideas or feelings that the character expressed. However, this segment of the book is simply just dialogue, with the narrator giving details to paint the scene. I'm guessing Ghosh did this to allow us to think about what we consider "home" for ourselves and tying that in with the main idea of a safe habitat for humans and animals.
I find it strange how she can find "home" in a community that didn't view value of the life of a tiger as much as she did. I thought cultural differences that didn't allow her to see the tiger that was burned as a "trespasser" would create a divide between her and the rest of the community. However, this seems not to be the case. I, personally, don't think Piya can identify with having a "home." When Piya, says "home," I think she is confusing it as a substitute for saying "purpose." I believe that for Piya, "home" (or her "purpose") is where she can perform her work. Working with the Orcaella has given her something to study and work with. It has provided her with funding and a way to absolve her guilt of being involved with Fokir's death. As far as I can tell, Piya has no home and I don't think she ever will; she has no ability to "settle". This The fact that she did not go back to Seattle to be with her dad or friends, or simply back to the U.S., to recover after the cyclone, adds to my suspicion that she can not identify with a place where she does no have purpose, even if it was the place where she was raised.
As for the idea of a safe habitat for humans and animals, I think this closing chapter leaves me with no resolution. I think that Piya believes that there is no way to define a clear, separate habitat for humans and animals. She herself, is not able to define a habitat for herself, as she moves from place to place. I think Piya may have just found a way to brush this issue to the side and to focus on the Orcaella.