Abscond by Abraham Verghese Summary, Characters and Themes
Abscond by Abraham Verghese is a short story that explores themes of family, loss, identity, and the complexities of cultural expectations. The story revolves around Ravi, a 13-year-old boy who, on the brink of adolescence, is confronted with the sudden death of his father, Dr. Ramanathan, a respected surgeon.
Amid his grief, Ravi struggles with the pressure to meet the high expectations of his mother, Rekha, who wants him to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor. As Ravi grapples with his own dreams, including his love for tennis, he is forced to navigate the overwhelming tides of personal loss, ritual, and emotional turmoil. This heartfelt narrative presents a poignant look at a young boy’s journey toward self-acceptance and the importance of family bonds during times of profound grief.
Summary
Ravi, a young boy of 13, wakes up one Tuesday to the comforting sounds of his mother preparing breakfast. As he lies in bed, he reflects on his life and the routine of his family. His father, Dr. Ramanathan, is a surgeon who works long hours, while his mother, Rekha, a deeply devout woman, takes care of the household.
The family dynamic is marked by a deep sense of routine, but there is an underlying tension due to the differing aspirations of Ravi and his mother. Ravi has always dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player, but he feels unable to voice this to his mother, who envisions him following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a doctor.
On this particular day, Ravi is feeling nostalgic as summer draws to an end, signaling the start of a new school year. He has recently returned from a tennis camp where he realized how talented he is compared to other juniors, and his competitive spirit has driven him to reach the top rank in his age group in New Jersey. However, despite his success, he feels the weight of his mother’s expectations, which continues to haunt him.
During breakfast, Ravi’s mother serves him hot idlis and sambar while his father, ever so quiet, observes them.
Their conversation is light, filled with subtle teasing. His father jokes about how Rekha’s cooking is the secret to his success as a surgeon, while Rekha remains devoted to her daily rituals of prayer and fasting. As their morning unfolds, it becomes clear that while the family shares love, there is an emotional distance, particularly when it comes to Ravi’s future aspirations.
After breakfast, Ravi heads upstairs to get ready for tennis practice with his friend Billy. Though the two friends share a close bond, their relationship is not without its complexities. As they practice, they notice their elderly neighbor, Mr. McGilicutty, looking up at the trees and claiming to see God. Though Ravi is initially skeptical, he finds himself reflecting on the beauty of the moment.
However, everything changes when Ravi returns home later in the day to find that his father has suddenly passed away from a heart attack after performing a routine surgery. The news devastates the family, leaving Ravi and his mother in shock. Rekha, already fragile in her own right, begins to spiral into a state of deep grief.
Her emotional turmoil manifests in physical self-harm and erratic behavior, leaving Ravi feeling helpless and increasingly alienated.
In the aftermath of the death, the family begins the process of preparing for the funeral. As the only son, Ravi is expected to perform various traditional rituals, such as taking a ceremonial bath and wearing a white dhoti. His father’s close friend, Natarajan Uncle, guides him through the rites, providing some comfort as Ravi struggles with his emotions. Ravi finds himself torn between the deep sorrow of losing his father and the overwhelming responsibilities placed on him during the funeral preparations.
Ravi’s feelings of anger and confusion come to the forefront when he questions the importance of these rituals. He feels frustrated by their presence at such an emotionally charged time, but despite his objections, he completes the rites, all the while wrestling with the anger and confusion brought on by his father’s death.
Meanwhile, Rekha remains distant and withdrawn, barely acknowledging Ravi’s presence as she sinks deeper into her grief.
At this point, Mr. McGilicutty, the elderly neighbor, steps in unexpectedly to help Rekha regain some composure. Having lost his wife years ago, McGilicutty has learned to cope with grief and offers his support. He shares his experiences with Ravi, explaining how rituals and personal reflection can provide a sense of closure and healing during moments of loss. Ravi begins to understand the importance of these rituals not only for his mother but for himself as well.
Through McGilicutty’s guidance, Ravi comes to terms with his father’s death, realizing that rituals serve a greater purpose in processing grief.
The next day, both Ravi and Rekha take a quieter, more reflective approach to their mourning. Ravi, still grieving the loss of his father, starts to accept the reality of his passing and the impact it has on his life. While his relationship with his mother has been strained, they slowly begin to reconnect in small, meaningful ways.
Over a simple meal together, Ravi reflects on how much his life has changed since his father’s death. He realizes that, while the pain of the loss will never go away, he must move forward, no longer burdened by the expectations others have placed on him or the need to hide his true self.
By the end of the story, Ravi is left with a profound understanding of the importance of family and tradition, and the realization that while grief may shape him, it will not define him. Though he continues to miss his father, Ravi is ready to face the future with renewed clarity, knowing that he can now honor his father’s memory without the weight of unmet expectations.
Characters
Ravi
Ravi is a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, experiencing a mix of pride and pressure as he navigates his personal dreams and familial expectations. As the protagonist of Abscond, his character is deeply shaped by the tension between his aspirations and the wishes of his mother. Ravi, who is passionate about tennis, is an incredibly talented player, ranking number one in his age bracket in New Jersey.
However, he is caught in the crossfire of his mother’s deep desire for him to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor. Throughout the novel, Ravi undergoes significant emotional growth, especially after the sudden death of his father. His initial feelings of alienation and confusion are intensified by the way his mother reacts to the tragedy, leaving him to process his grief alone.
As the story progresses, Ravi’s journey becomes one of self-discovery and resilience. His reflection on loss and rituals helps him begin to understand his family’s complex dynamics, ultimately leading him to a quieter, more introspective understanding of his life and his place in it.
Ravi’s relationship with his mother evolves, and he begins to find ways to reconnect with her, even as they both deal with their profound grief.
Rekha
Rekha, Ravi’s mother, is a devout and traditional woman, whose life revolves around religious rituals and family duties.
In Abscond, Rekha is portrayed as a loving yet controlling figure who wants the best for her son but expresses her affection through strict discipline and high expectations. She follows a rigid routine, including fasting and performing daily puja, which reflects her deep sense of faith and commitment to maintaining order in her life.
Rekha’s grief after the sudden death of her husband, Dr. Ramanathan, overwhelms her, and she begins to behave erratically, which affects her relationship with Ravi. Her outbursts and emotional instability leave her unable to properly care for her son in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Despite her deep pain, Rekha’s connection to ritual and tradition eventually helps her regain some sense of control.
In the end, her relationship with Ravi shifts, and though still tinged with grief, they begin to heal together. Rekha’s character represents the intersection of religious devotion, cultural expectations, and personal loss, highlighting the complex role of tradition in coping with grief.
Dr. Ramanathan
Dr. Ramanathan, Ravi’s father, is a prominent and respected surgeon who is quietly portrayed as the anchor of the family.
His character in Abscond embodies professionalism, dedication, and a certain level of emotional distance. He is a man of few words, often engaging in light banter with his wife but rarely sharing his deeper thoughts or emotions. His sudden death from a heart attack leaves a void in the family, especially for Ravi, who has yet to fully understand the depth of his father’s influence on his life.
Though Dr. Ramanathan’s presence in the narrative is largely through memories and reflections, his role is pivotal. His sudden passing forces Ravi to confront his feelings of inadequacy, responsibility, and sorrow. The absence of his father leaves Ravi with an unspoken expectation to carry forward the family legacy.
Dr. Ramanathan’s death forces Ravi to reassess the paths available to him in life, including the complex relationship with his own identity.
Billy
Billy is Ravi’s close friend and neighbor, a supportive presence throughout the story. In Abscond, Billy serves as a comforting and grounding figure for Ravi, especially during his moments of grief and confusion. Though not the central character, Billy’s loyalty and willingness to listen to Ravi’s frustrations provide a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.
Their friendship is marked by a deep, though sometimes complicated, bond. Billy represents the simplicity and sincerity of youthful friendship, offering Ravi an escape from the emotional weight of his family’s expectations and the tragedy that strikes them. He listens patiently to Ravi’s grief and confusion, though he struggles to fully understand the cultural and emotional weight of the situation.
Despite his good intentions, Billy’s role remains somewhat passive, as Ravi’s journey of self-discovery is largely a solitary one.
Mr. McGilicutty
Mr. McGilicutty, the elderly neighbor, plays an unexpected yet important role in Abscond. His wisdom, gained from his own experiences with grief, becomes a source of comfort for both Ravi and his mother.
A widower who has faced the loss of his wife, Mr. McGilicutty offers insights into dealing with sorrow and the importance of rituals in processing grief. Though initially skeptical, Ravi comes to appreciate McGilicutty’s perspective, especially when he helps his mother regain some emotional stability after her emotional outbursts.
Mr. McGilicutty’s character serves as a quiet, yet profound influence on Ravi’s journey, providing an alternative perspective to the rigidity of his mother’s beliefs and offering him a different approach to dealing with loss. His role exemplifies the theme of community and the importance of shared wisdom in overcoming personal hardships.
Themes
Family Expectations and Personal Ambitions
Ravi’s internal struggle between meeting his family’s expectations and pursuing his personal dreams lies at the heart of Abscond.
From a young age, Ravi is shaped by his father’s career as a surgeon, and his mother’s unwavering desire for him to follow in those footsteps. Despite his talent in tennis, Ravi feels pressured to suppress his ambition for fear of disappointing his mother. This tension is symbolic of a broader cultural clash, where familial expectations are often seen as sacred, and individual desires are secondary.
Ravi’s mother, Rekha, represents the traditional values of the family, where sacrifices and adherence to duty are paramount, especially within an immigrant community that often holds tightly to its cultural heritage. On the other hand, Ravi’s aspirations in tennis reflect a more modern, individualistic approach to success and fulfillment, challenging the boundaries set by his family’s expectations. The novel poignantly portrays how a young person’s journey toward self-actualization can be stifled by the weight of tradition and the pressure of fulfilling parental dreams, particularly when those dreams conflict with the child’s own vision for their future.
The story presents a nuanced examination of the complexities of love, duty, and the inevitable clash between personal and familial values, with Ravi ultimately questioning whether following his own path will bring him peace or alienate him further from those he loves.
Grief and Loss
The theme of grief is central to Abscond, capturing the emotional devastation Ravi experiences after the sudden death of his father. This loss is not just physical but deeply emotional, as Ravi is forced to confront the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
The book explores how grief manifests in different ways, particularly through the characters of Ravi and his mother. Ravi’s mother, Rekha, whose entire world revolves around her husband’s presence, spirals into intense sorrow and erratic behavior, showing how deeply a person can be affected by the death of a loved one.
For Ravi, the grief is more complicated, as he is not only mourning his father but also the loss of the future he had envisioned, which was tied to his father’s influence. In the midst of the chaos, the funeral rites and rituals that are meant to offer solace instead feel burdensome to Ravi, who struggles with their significance in such a turbulent time.
Through the character of Mr. McGilicutty, the novel introduces the idea that coping with loss involves not just enduring the pain but also finding ways to process it, whether through rituals, personal reflection, or the support of others. Ravi’s journey of coming to terms with his father’s death emphasizes that grief is not a linear process but rather a gradual shift towards acceptance, and sometimes, it is in the simplest, most unexpected moments—like sharing a meal with his mother—that healing begins.
Rituals and Cultural Identity
Rituals play a significant role in Abscond, not only in the context of death but also as a means of preserving cultural identity. Ravi’s father’s death forces the family to engage in various religious rituals, which serve as a bridge between the past and the present, between tradition and change.
For Ravi, these rituals are initially burdensome, as he struggles with the idea that following prescribed customs might somehow diminish the authenticity of his grief. However, as the narrative unfolds, he begins to recognize the importance of these rituals—not just for his mother, who finds comfort in them, but for himself as well. Rituals in the book represent the stabilizing force of tradition, providing structure and a way to process complex emotions.
They also illustrate the tension between cultural heritage and the individual’s evolving sense of identity. Ravi’s growing acceptance of these rituals reflects his broader journey towards reconciling his personal desires with his familial and cultural obligations. His evolving understanding of the value of rituals underscores a significant transformation in his perception of identity, where the intertwining of personal loss and cultural heritage helps him gain a deeper understanding of his own place within the family and society.
Through this exploration, the novel suggests that while rituals may sometimes feel burdensome, they can offer a necessary framework for navigating life’s most difficult challenges.
Coming-of-Age and Self-Discovery
The novel also addresses the theme of coming-of-age, particularly through Ravi’s transformation from a young boy focused on external achievements to someone who grapples with internal complexities.
The death of his father marks a pivotal point in his emotional and psychological development, as it forces him to confront not just the reality of loss, but the existential questions about life, identity, and his place in the world.
Throughout the book, Ravi’s transition from childhood to adolescence is marked by moments of reflection and self-awareness, especially as he navigates his relationships with his mother and his own feelings of anger and confusion. His experience with tennis, as both a source of pride and a point of tension, exemplifies his struggle to carve out a personal identity that is separate from his parents’ expectations.
This coming-of-age narrative underscores the complexities of growing up, where youthful innocence gives way to an understanding of mortality, responsibility, and the need to reconcile personal desires with the realities of life.
By the end of the story, Ravi’s journey of self-discovery reaches a critical point as he learns to balance his grief with a renewed sense of self, understanding that his future is not solely defined by his parents’ dreams, but by his ability to define his own path amidst the chaos of life.
Alienation and Connection
Throughout Abscond, Ravi experiences feelings of alienation, particularly in relation to his mother and the world around him.
After his father’s death, he feels increasingly isolated, both physically and emotionally. His mother, consumed by grief, withdraws from him, leaving Ravi to deal with his emotions alone.
The tension between them grows as Ravi navigates the intricacies of grief, feeling disconnected from the rituals that once seemed to define his family’s life. The theme of alienation is explored through Ravi’s complex emotions of loneliness and confusion, which become more pronounced as he attempts to understand his mother’s behavior and the rituals surrounding death. However, the novel also presents moments of connection, particularly with Billy and Mr. McGilicutty.
These relationships, though different from the bond Ravi shared with his father, serve as sources of emotional support and understanding. The idea of connection in the novel suggests that, even in times of deep alienation, relationships—whether through family, friendship, or community—provide a framework for healing. The shift in Ravi’s relationship with his mother, as they slowly begin to reconnect in the aftermath of their shared loss, highlights the potential for understanding and growth, even in the face of overwhelming grief.
Ultimately, Abscond underscores the importance of finding moments of human connection amidst alienation, as these connections provide the strength needed to move forward.