Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fire on the Mountain, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Nature of Freedom
Honesty and Self-Reflection
Trauma and Suffering
Class and Privilege
Female Oppression
Summary
Analysis
A letter arrives explaining that Tara has had another mental breakdown and Raka’s visit must be extended. Nanda Kaul doesn’t tell any of this to Raka, secretly relishing the sense that her great-granddaughter is now more dependent on her care. Raka still acts like she needs no one, much less Nanda Kaul. She doesn’t even need—or want—to be tucked into bed at night. Nanda Kaul force herself to stay in her room, reading The Travels of Marco Polo, rather than checking on Raka. And although she reminds herself that she came to Carignano to be free from the responsibility of caring for others, she still yearns to perform this duty. She starts to consider leaving Carignano to Raka because she’s the only relative who seems to appreciate it.
Nanda Kaul’s opinions have changed markedly since the beginning of the book. She no longer resents Raka’s presence. In fact, now she’s bothered by Raka’s independence; she clearly feels some genuine sense of fulfillment in caring for others, even if she resented being expected to do so. Now, she cannot convince herself that the life she has—a life alone and removed from others—is truly the life she wants. She must confront her real feelings if she wishes to resolve her unhappiness.
Themes
