Theme

The main theme of the short story “The Night of the Full Moon” by K. S. Duggal is the consequences of decisions. The story’s theme is enhanced by the motifs of relationships and Indian culture. The motif of relationships is illustrated by Malan’s relationships with her daughter, her husband, and her admirer. The motif of Indian culture is developed by presenting the village society and wedding rituals.

The consequences of decisions

“The Night of the Full Moon” follows a married woman and the impact of her decision to have an affair (a one-night stand) with an admirer. Although Malan has had the same admirer for 20 years, she has always refused his advances and stayed faithful to her husband and her daughter. Though she is not close to her husband, she is very fond of her daughter, who is physically very similar to Malan. The reasons why Malan has never accepted her admirer’s advances might be her daughter and the fear of being discovered. But now that she is ‘losing’ her daughter anyway because the girl is about to get married and move in with her husband, Malan begins to reconsider her decision.

Malan’s decision to have the affair may have been prompted by her realisation that she is getting older. She is in the “afternoon” (p. 27, l. 7) of her life, she has an unhappy marriage, and her daughter is about to leave her. Under these circumstances, Malan takes the rash decision to ...

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