Theme of the Story The Blue Bead
The story shows the theme of great will power and determination. Those who have great will power and are determined to do something, always find the way. The man of great will power does not give importance to the circ*mstances. In the story, when Sibia, who is hardly twelve years old girl, sees a Gujar woman in the grip of a powerful and ferocious crocodile, she, without wasting a single moment and without caring her own life, rushes towards her for saving her life.
Even Sibia does not care of the crocodile which has grown violent and may also attack on her. With all her strength, she aims at the reptile’s eyes with her hayfork and gives serious injury to the crocodile so that it is forced to leave the leg of the Gujar woman. Then she drags her out from the water, stops her bleeding by putting the sand on her wounds and helps her reach the encampment safely. Though she presents to us an act of heroism which is very common in the daily heroism of the forest, it shows her will power and determination.
Next there is the theme of struggle for survival at such place where the people have to face new challenges everyday. The life of the people living in the vicinity of the forests is full of dangers and hardships. In the story, a twelve years old girl Sibia, her family and other people struggle for daily survival in a hostile environment. The lives of the people in Gujar encampment are costantly challenged by the wild animals. Epidemics like cholera and influenza are common in such areas. The people have no facilities of proper roads, electricity, pure water and fuel. The women have to climb the cliffs to get paper grass to sell in the market. They have to carry great load back home.
Since there are no bridges to cross the rivers, they need to jump from stone to stone and have to shout or make noise to frighten the crocodiles. The Gujar women are also seen carrying gurrahs to the river to fetch water and hence their lives are always at risks from wild animals. However, in the lap of nature the countryfolk grow up quite sturdy with a strong will and unwavering determination. The serious health hazards, the lack of facilities and other obstacles cannot force the people to become submissive.
Next, there is the theme of poverty which is depicted in the story through the character of Sibia. Sibia has been introduced as a thin starveling child dressed in an earth coloured rag. She has accepted the fact that she is bom to toil. She husks com, puts dung to dry, fetches water and cuts grass for fodder. She has not sufficient food to satisfy her hunger.
When she eats her meal, she divides her chappati to make it seem more. She stands amazed before the sweetmeats stall but can not have them. At the name of finery, she wears rag which she has divided into two—one for skirt and other for sari. She owns no materialistic possession except the rag. Due to suffering from utter poverty, she has suppressed her desires, dreams and ambitions. The only luxury that she wants, is to make a necklace for herself with shiny scarlet seeds.
