Previous
Chapter 21
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Henna Artist, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Choice, Independence and Women’s Freedoms
Family and Responsibility
Societal Hierarchy vs. Unordered Intimacy
Care and Communication
Creativity vs. Possession
Summary
Analysis
The Jaipur train station is so crowded with vendors, passengers, and beggars that it is hard for the train to actually get moving. Lakshmi reflects on her first train ride at 20 years old, when she came to Jaipur with a knack for drawing and a lot of hope. Lakshmi is proud of the work she has done and grateful for all the people—including Parvati—who helped her succeed.
Lakshmi’s life now comes full circle. After a rural childhood, she moved to the bustling Jaipur; after years of striving in the city, she will leave the crowds behind to return again to quiet. But as Lakshmi acknowledges, these experiences (even the more painful ones) will have changed her forever.
Themes
For a moment, Lakshmi’s thoughts drift to Samir: without him, she would still be in Agra. And beyond that, Samir and Lakshmi did have a wonderful companionship, not to mention that intense night of lust. “To quash those memories,” Lakshmi understands, would be like “pretending a third of my life didn’t exist,” even if there is much about Samir she loathes.
Again, Lakshmi’s willingness to accept Samir as a part of her past—even a confusing, messy one—shows how much she has grown since she ran away from her family all those years ago. Instead of erasing her past or “pretending” to be someone she is not, Lakshmi can acknowledge all of the different chapters she has been through while still moving away from them.
Themes
Before the train takes off, Malik spots the maharani’s chef with a package in hand. The package contains many sweets and a note from the maharani giving Madho Singh (the parrot) to Malik. Indira admits that all Madho Singh will talk about now is Malik, candy, and cigarettes—plus, she is spending all her time in Paris now.
The elder maharani Indira’s newfound Parisian life suggests that she, too, is embracing some of the opportunity for choice Lakshmi and Radha have found for themselves. Since Malik now owns the parrot, Indira is at last a separate person, independent (figuratively and literally) from any husband or bird named Madho Singh.
Themes
As the train moves out of the station, Lakshmi notices Hari standing in the middle of the platform. He is clean-shaven and almost handsome now. “If I could change,” thinks Lakshmi, “why couldn’t he?” Hari brings his hands together to namaste Lakshmi, and she returns his greeting. Hari opens his mouth, but the noise of the train obscures whatever he is trying to say.
In this important passage, Lakshmi gives Hari his full due: just as she has grown up, Hari is a different and much better man than the one who abused her. At the same time, the novel does not force Lakshmi to forgive Hari or have any sort of encounter with him. Instead, by obscuring Hari’s final words, the narrative suggests that his growth is not Lakshmi’s responsibility—at last, she is truly free.
Themes
Get the entire The Henna Artist LitChart as a printable PDF.
