Themes and message
Guilt
The theme of guilt is explored by Amrita Pritam in the short story “Stench of Kerosene”.
Manak’s guilt is present from the beginning of the story. He is unable to explain to his wife why he wants her to stay home, which frustrates Guleri and makes her keener on visiting her parents. Manak feels guilty because he knows he is expected to take a second wife, but also because he cannot tell Guleri the truth, suggesting his cowardice.
After Guleri leaves to Chamba, Manak’s guilt begins to consume him. Although he is intimate with his new wife, the feeling of guilt makes him feel “like a dead man” (p. 5, l. 26). His guilt increases when he finds out that Guleri has committed suicide because of his second marriage, and reaches a high point when he rejects his new-born baby because he reminds him of G...