In the novel Tusk and Stone, by Malcolm Bosse, Arjun is the dynamic character. A dynamic character is one who learns a lesson or changes behavior following the events of the story. When first introduced, Arjun lives with his family members: father, mother, sister and uncle, but tragically, by the end of the novel, he has become a Kshatriya stone sculptor in Kashi, without any family. The events that bring about Arjun's transformation include the loss of his family and the kidnapping of his younger sister Gauri, his becoming a legendary warrior, and ultimately his capture and sale into slavery. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Fourteen-year-old Arjun is a Brahmin and lives joyfully with his family at the beginning of the novel. When Arjun prepares for his trip to Kashi with his guardian uncle and Gauri, his father reminds him to take care of his sister. After traveling for a long time in a caravan, Gauri is suddenly kidnapped and his uncle is killed by dacoits. Poor Arjun is then left to struggle alone. He testified how “the dacoits formed a column with Gauri and the women in the center, along with a small herd of goats” (31). He was worried about Gauri and what the dacoits would do with her, since Arjun's father left him in charge. Following this event and from then on, Arjun knew that he should always be on the lookout for Gauri to avoid feeling guilty or ashamed of himself. The second event that brings about the change in Arjun's character is that he becomes a legendary warrior. . In the battle, the Chalukyan army included fifty elephants which were the best in the Deccan; the formation was carefully planned so that the soldiers could ensure victory in all circumstances. At first all the soldiers fought bloodily against each other. So, the elephants were left to fight on their own and end the fierce battle. That night and the next morning, Arjun received numerous praises and congratulations for his gaja and victory in the battle. Since Arjun knew that he was a legendary warrior, he hoped that by using his military success and spreading the story of him and his sister, he would be able to find Gauri. Being captured and sold into slavery is the third event that transforms Arjun. Without his great gaja, Gandia, Arjun had no reason to be part of the Chalukyan army, as he no longer owned an elephant. Instead of being exiled, thanks to his gaja's heroic act, "he was hobbled like a wild elephant, then sent to a fenced camp, where fifty or more slaves ate and slept inside sheds made of banana roofs" (193 ). Due to the death of his elephant, Arjun, once a legendary warrior, fell into the slave caste of the social system and was deprived of status. Arjun changed dramatically over the course of the novel, initially losing his beloved family and then his sister Gauri. being kidnapped, becoming a legendary warrior, and ultimately being captured and sold into slavery once again. Arjun becoming a mahout at an early age had an impact on Rama, a static character, because he felt triumphant at having accomplished something significant during his life in the elephant corps by being Arjun's master. Arjun also had an impact on Vasu, another static character, becoming a legendary warrior and provoking him to take revenge on Arjun for defeating him in the battle. Vasu repeatedly warned Arjun about his surprise attack: “Remember my promise! When you least expect it!” (130). These changes have had effects both
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