7. Glory at Twilight 85 - Class 11 - Woven Words

BhashaLab
Jun 28
5 min read

Updated: Jun 30

Author: Bhabani Bhattacharya

Textbook: Woven Words

Genre: Short Story / Fiction

Summary

“Glory at Twilight” is the poignant story of Satyajit, a self-made man who rose from humble beginnings to become a successful managing director of a bank. His hard-earned success, however, comes crashing down when the bank collapses, taking with it all his wealth. At this low point in life, Satyajit receives a letter from his old village friend, Uncle Srinath, inviting him to attend the wedding of his daughter, Beena. Seeking escape and a moment of peace, he visits the village. There, he is mistakenly still revered as a wealthy benefactor, receiving grand welcomes and devotion. Although tempted to reveal his ruined state, Satyajit maintains the illusion, even as he is unexpectedly asked to contribute ₹2001 for the dowry. He contemplates confession but ultimately agrees to mortgage his last remaining assets—his ancestral home and pond—to preserve others’ faith in him. The story ends with Satyajit lighting his last cigarette under a fig tree, caught between past glory and present despair. It reflects on pride, identity, and the human desire to cling to dignity even in defeat.

Character Sketch

Satyajit:

Satyajit is a proud and self-made man who once rose to success through hard work, intelligence, and integrity. He is thoughtful and sensitive but struggles to accept his fall from wealth and prestige. His inability to admit failure and his desire to preserve others’ admiration lead him to continue the charade of prosperity. Though internally broken, he outwardly maintains calm dignity. His quiet sacrifice and silence show the emotional burden of societal expectations.

Uncle Srinath:

An old villager and self-proclaimed uncle of Satyajit, Srinath is practical and deeply dependent on others’ charity. He treats Satyajit as a god-like figure and uses flowery, reverent language. He embodies blind faith and the Indian custom of associating financial help with divine blessings. However, his devotion becomes opportunistic when he demands a large dowry from Satyajit.

Themes

Theme	Description
Rise and Fall of Fortune	The story highlights how quickly success can turn into failure, especially in financial matters.
Pride and Social Expectations	Satyajit struggles to maintain dignity and hide his failure because of the expectations others have of him.
Illusion vs. Reality	The contrast between how Satyajit is perceived in the village and his actual financial ruin emphasizes this theme.
Identity and Self-Worth	The protagonist clings to his past glory to preserve his sense of identity and worth.
Sacrifice and Silence	Satyajit chooses not to reveal the truth and silently gives up his last assets for the sake of others.

✨ Literary Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
Irony	Satyajit is treated as a millionaire when he is actually broke.
Symbolism	The rocking train symbolizes the uncertainty and turbulence in Satyajit's life.
Imagery	Descriptions of the village wedding, the fig tree, and Satyajit’s memories create vivid mental pictures.
Repetition	“What now?” is repeated to reflect Satyajit's anxiety and confusion about his future.
Indian Idiom	Expressions like “benediction”, “daughter crisis”, and “life-spark is held in your fist” reflect cultural idioms.

Title Justification

The title Glory at Twilight reflects the central theme of fading success. Twilight symbolizes the end of the day, just as Satyajit’s former glory has ended. Yet, like twilight, there is still a lingering glow of the past. Satyajit is momentarily wrapped in this illusion of prestige in his village, even though his real fortune is gone. The title effectively captures this temporary, fading glory and the emotional contrast between appearance and reality.

One-Mark Questions

Why did Satyajit attend Beena’s wedding?
Satyajit attended the wedding to escape the suffocating city life and the mental anguish after his financial downfall. The invitation provided him a break and a chance to revisit his village roots.
Why did Satyajit recall the forgerer during the train journey?
The memory of the forgerer marked a turning point in his career. Now that he had fallen from success, he reflected on the man’s suffering and sacrifice that had indirectly started his own rise.
What made Satyajit feel like an impostor in the village?
Everyone in the village believed he was still a rich man, and they worshipped him for his past generosity. Knowing he had lost everything, Satyajit felt like he was deceiving them by accepting their homage.
Why didn’t Satyajit disclose his financial condition to Srinath?
Satyajit couldn’t bring himself to destroy the faith and admiration the villagers had for him. His pride and emotional conflict stopped him from confessing his downfall.
What did the house and pond symbolize for Satyajit?
They symbolized his last sense of security and continuity with his past. Losing them felt like giving away the last piece of his identity and dignity.

Three-Mark Questions:

How did the cycle of events bring Satyajit back to where he began?
Satyajit started his journey from a humble background and rose to become a bank's Managing Director through his efforts and luck. However, due to overreaching and unforeseen failure, his bank collapsed. He lost all his assets except a small ancestral property. The collapse of his financial empire forced him to seek refuge and peace in his village, where he once started. This physical and emotional return to his origins completes the cycle of rise and fall.
Describe the village’s reaction to Satyajit’s arrival.
The village welcomed Satyajit with great pomp and reverence. He was mistaken for a successful millionaire, showered with garlands, foot-washing rituals, and praises from elders and former teachers. Everyone viewed him as a symbol of village pride and success. This enthusiastic reception made Satyajit feel like a god, even though he knew it was based on illusion. The warm but misguided reception made his inner conflict even more intense.
Explain the significance of the last scene under the fig tree.
The final scene shows Satyajit lighting his last cigarette with “tremulous deliberation,” representing the end of his illusions and the weight of reality. He has just agreed to mortgage his last property to help with the dowry. The fig tree symbolizes solitude and contemplation, a place where he silently accepts his fate. The twilight represents the ending of his glory days, and the cigarette indicates a quiet resignation. This moment captures the theme of internal defeat and external dignity.

Value-Based Question

What does the story teach us about pride and acceptance in the face of failure?

The story teaches that pride can prevent people from accepting and sharing their vulnerabilities. Satyajit could not admit his financial ruin because of the expectations placed on him. Instead, he chose to maintain a false image to protect others’ faith and his own dignity. However, true strength lies in accepting failure and seeking help when needed. The story highlights the emotional cost of pretending and the need for empathy, understanding, and honest communication in times of crisis.

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