Chapter Summary: The Death Of Vishnu

The Death of Vishnu: Chapter 1 Analysis Manil Suri, a mathematics professor at the University of Maryland, also has quite the ability to write. His story, the Death of Vishnu, begins with the explanation of a building in Bombay. This building houses multiple families in multiple floors; however, its tenants seem to have this large concern for the buildings ‘caretaker’. Caretaker mostly means that he does favors for the families in exchange for housing and food. Vishnu, the caretaker, seems to be on the edge of his death; however, the chapter concludes with a sense of reckoning for Vishnu as he has an empowering memory of his mother. Manil Suri’s story of Vishnu does not seem to be just a story. It reflects Indian culture and life during the beginnings of an independent India, and is also a great work of literary fiction. The apartment building in Bombay that houses all of the story’s characters is symbolic of India’s caste system.
Mrs. Asrani brings Vishnu a cup of hot tea every morning and vows to take care of him as long as he is still a contributing member of the building. However, she is becoming upset with Vishnu’s illness and bodily fluids. The depiction of her character and that of Mrs. Pathak’s are somewhat similar in a sense that they both care for Vishnu genuinely, however they feel he is becoming a problem. In actuality the two families are similar in many ways. They both care for Vishnu, but with his sickness hope for a replacement to take better care of the building. Also, when they decide Vishnu may stay they disassociate responsibility for Vishnu’s health between each other and constantly fight over him, the kitchen, and everything else. Mrs. Asrani says “So they are the ones who should pay for the jamadarni. No, tell Pathak sahib that they are responsible. She is responsible.”(Suri 27). Speaking of Vishnu’s