A Comprehensive Exploration of Themes in "Family Matters" by Rohinton Mistry

Abstract

Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters(2003) is a literary masterpiece that intricately weaves together a rich tapestry of themes, offering readers a profound exploration of Parsi family dynamics, aging and senility, religious diversity, class disparities, Mumbai's character as a metropolis, secularism, and the enduring questions of mortality and legacy. This paper provides a thorough analysis of these thematic elements, emphasizing how they interact and intersect to form a complex narrative that reflects the intricacies of human existence within a specific cultural and social context. Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters invites readers into the world of the Vakeel family in the bustling city of Mumbai. Through a multi-dimensional narrative, the novel delves into the essence of family relationships, the challenges of aging, the interplay of religious and secular beliefs, the struggles arising from socioeconomic disparities, the cityscape of Mumbai as an active participant in the story, the importance of secularism, and the contemplation of mortality and legacy. Each of these themes plays a significant role in shaping the narrative, and together, they paint a comprehensive picture of life within this Parsi family.