Character Sketch from Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter 2 – A Pair of Mustachios of Khan Azam Khan and Seth Ramanand
A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Khan Azam Khan and Seth Ramanand from Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter 2 – The Lament
- Character Sketch of Khan Azam Khan
- Questions related to the Character of Khan Azam Khan
- Character Sketch of Seth Ramanand
- Questions related to the Character of Seth Ramanand
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Character Sketch of Khan Azam Khan
Khan Azam Khan is a poor but proud man from the noble class. His family comes from Mughal nobility, and his high social status is symbolized by his “tiger moustache,” which is a mark of pride among the nobility. Even though he does not have much wealth, his pride and heritage are very important to him. Khan is a very proud man. His pride in his noble background and the importance he places on his family’s heritage make him very touchy about any form of disrespect or imitation. He is not only proud of his status but also rigid in his belief that his class should always be honored and recognized. When he feels his honour is challenged by Ramanand’s imitation, he becomes extremely angry and determined to protect his respect at all costs. Despite being poor, Khan’s actions reveal that pride matters more to him than money. He is so upset by the idea of someone from a lower class copying his status symbol (the tiger moustache) that he goes to great lengths to force Ramanand to correct his moustache. He even pawns family heirlooms to afford the punishment he feels is necessary, showing how deep his attachment to his pride and family legacy is. However, his temper and inability to control his emotions make him act rashly, leading to a comical and tragic situation.
Questions related to the Character of Khan Azam Khan
Q1. What is the matter of pride for Khan? To what extent does he go to assert it?
Q2. Why is Khan annoyed with Ramanand? How does the matter get resolved?
Character Sketch of Seth Ramanand
Seth Ramanand is a moneylender and a shopkeeper who belongs to the lower-middle class. He has no noble background and comes from a different social rank compared to Khan. He is practical, ambitious, and wants to rise in social status. As a shopkeeper, he is used to negotiating, bargaining, and working hard to make money. Ramanand is portrayed as cunning, clever, and opportunistic. He is not above bending the rules to improve his standing and is willing to imitate the tiger moustache of the noble class, even though it isn’t his. Unlike Khan, he is more logical and willing to make compromises, showing that he cares more about appearances and social mobility than maintaining any particular pride. He is also indifferent to the feelings of the upper class when it comes to personal advantages or gains. Ramanand’s decision to style his moustache to look like a tiger’s is a deliberate attempt to appear higher in social rank. This act irritates Khan and sparks the conflict. Ramanand seems to think little of the consequences of his actions. When Khan becomes upset and demands that he lower his moustache, Ramanand follows orders half-heartedly, showing that he doesn’t care too much about the symbolic importance of the moustache. He seems more concerned about the immediate situation rather than the long-term consequences of the conflict. As compared to Khan, Ramanand is portrayed as the calm and composed one in the conflict.
Questions related to the Character of Seth Ramanand
Q1. What qualities of Ramanand can be seen when Khan becomes annoyed with him?
Q2. Describe Ramanand’s character.