Disintegration of Family in Romen Basu’s A House Full of People

Abstract

This paper discusses how a traditional joint family conflicts to stay intact in a changing environment, which ultimately causes the family to disintegration in Romen Basu’s A House Full of People (1968). The novel uses Calcutta as its setting and explores the disintegration of a joint family. When showing the disintegrating joint family, Basu retains objective and does not display any romanticism. The conflict between the forces of disruption and unity is shown by the two generations of characters. Because of the way the novel is set up, the forces of tradition and unity rule the first half of the novel until Sudhin’s death, and the forces of division rule the second section. Plot creation can alternatively be understood as a sequence of failures and crises that cause division and discord. The joint family itself becomes a character in the novel since it embodies custom and the principles of communal living, such as harmony, safety, and a spirit of mutual assistance.