‘Studies in the Park’ contains various descriptions, and images that enables the true message of the story to be brought out. The story begins with the line “-Turn it off, turn it off...What next, my god” this line evidently depicts the irritability that Suno is experiencing. This example is a perfect case in which Desai uses a very evocative stream of consciousness to illustrate emotion. This story is written in first person, and because of this Anita Desai is able to express true emotion and sentiment, as shown in the example above. In the line “So I raced out of my room”, Anita Desai indicates that Suno, the protagonist, is annoyed and cannot bear his surroundings anymore. This example is a typical instance where Anita Desai utilises first person, to portray an emotion.
Diction is an essential component of Anita Desai’s style of writing, she uses a diverse collection of words to indicate the precise feeling that the protagonist is experiencing. For example, in the line “...rest of them standing and peering in...” the word “peering” is accurate as it portrays the “curiosity” and the “nosiness” of the brothers and sisters. Another example is in the line “... snarled at him...” The word “snarled”, in this context, implies that Suno is very irritable and ill-tempered at this moment. The word is precise, and specific, and thus, it makes the line more communicative and expressive.
Anita Desai uses imagery as well, at many occasions, in an attempt to invoke vividness and clarity in the story. For example, in the line “Bag-like women in grey and fawn saris ... with their sackcloth backs to the rails” This description of the park is very clear and vivid, it is a description of one instant in the park: it talks about the children falling, the women screaming and the madmen prancing. The description allows the reader to infer many details about the park such as: it is very active, there many people present there, etc. These sorts of descriptions are present all over the story, hence it makes the story more understandable and suggestive. Desai also uses imagery to elaborate on one point, for example, the description “The afternoons would be quiet...bazaars and slums” This paragraph talks about the serenity and tranquillity present in the park in the afternoons, and early evenings. Anita Desai stresses on this point with help of various images.
The use of imagery and diction has been used extensively in the story. However it is most effective, when the protagonist experiences the vision, in which he realises the importance of the aspects of life. The line “Just then she lifted her veil...Divine, I felt, or insane” indicates a new revelation that takes place in Suno’s mind, and with the use of imagery Anita Desai is able to depict this more vividly. During this phase, Desai uses many similes to describe the lady in the epiphany, and hence depict the new revelation. For example, in the line “...her borkha, like a flower...” This line compares the lady’s face to a “wax-white”, lifeless flower that shows importance of health in life.
‘Studies in the Park’ is very communicative and expressive; there are various descriptions and accurate diction that are essential components in the story. These have made the story more understandable and comprehensible, thus the central theme and message of the story has been portrayed competently. Anita Desai’s descriptive writing style is extremely graphic and illustrative: it focuses mainly on descriptions, images and precise diction to portray a particular point. Thus she has been able to depict the importance of everything in life: health, religion, family and love.
