Analysis

The analysis of the short story “She Shall Not Be Moved” by Shereen Pandit shows that the majority of the story consists of a flashback which follows a chronological plot structure. The flashback focuses on the events which occured during a bus ride and immediately afterwards.

The main characters in the story are the narrator and her daughter Mariam. The narrator is of immigrant descent and used to be a political activist. The other characters in the story are important, too, as they illustrate the story’s themes.

The physical setting is a bus in London, England. The bus is a micro version of society where racism is allowed to play out. The bus setting also brings to mind certain events in the American Civil Rights Movement.

The story is told by a first-person narrator, who is also one of the main characters. This point of view allows us to see how the narrator is concerned with presenting herself in a positive light. This can be seen from the many excuses she offers as to why she did not step in and confront the racist women. 

The language of the short story is often conversational. The story almost reads like a monologue or a confession, as the narrator attempts to justify her actions to the reader. The story also features several similes, symbols, and repetition. 

You can read a more detailed analysis in the following pages.