The Trials and Tribulations of Adolescence

For all readers—whether adolescents themselves or simply adults reflecting on their adolescence—“The Homecoming” is a vivid portrayal of the trials and tribulations of youth. Phatik, a fourteen-year-old boy, is stuck in the awkward phase between childhood and adulthood; throughout the story, he evolves from a cocky teenager with a limited worldview to a miserable young man overburdened by the weight of the world. His behavior indicates the in-between stage that adolescence embodies, at once childish and mature. 

While at home, Phatik is the ringleader of a group of boys. He has little self-control and acts on momentary whims without bothering to think about the consequences. His brain has not yet matured, so when he gets in trouble, he lashes out. Worse, his emotional and physical states are often at odds; he is not strong enough to escape the servant, but he is strong enough to push his mother during one of his rages. 

This bratty, rude, and deeply angry aspect of adolescence likely stems from Phatik’s desire for acceptance among his peers—and from his feeling of being misunderstood by his mother. When Phatik goes to live with his aunt and uncle, however, he gets a deeper taste of what it means to be a miserable adolescent. The author devotes significant space to his exploration of this paradoxical experience: No matter what a fourteen-year-old boy tries to do, Tagore explains, adults will think there can be “no worse nuisance.” They do not allow him the easy excuses of a young child, nor do they provide him the loving guidance he needs to become a mature adult.

The author’s focus on the afflictions and desires of an adolescent like Phatik seems to have a dual purpose. First, it gives young readers a point of identification. They can find comfort that someone understands their longing for love and their inability to please their elders. They discover words to describe their feelings and experiences.

At the same time, the author nudges adult readers to remember how they felt when they were young and perhaps offer greater understanding and support to the adolescents in their lives. Tagore reminds older readers that young people—underneath their difficult, prickly exterior—crave “recognition and love” more than anything else. He suggests that less scolding and more acceptance and gentle guidance may be what young people truly need to overcome the trials and tribulations of adolescence.

The Nature of Home

“The Homecoming,” as the name implies, reflects deeply on the nature of home. Phatik does not appreciate his home when he lives there. He is always in trouble with his mother because of his poor behavior, and he takes his friends and his easy life for granted. To him, home seems like a burden; so, when his uncle offers him a chance for a new home, he is eager to accept.

Only when he settles into his new “home” in Calcutta does Phatik realize how good he had it before. His aunt and uncle’s house is not a home; technically speaking, Phatik does live there, but he finds no acceptance, no love, no comfort—none of the markers of a real “home.” He is merely an “unwelcome guest,” rejected and despised.

Suddenly, his former home takes on a completely new meaning for Phatik. It was not a burden at all, he realizes. It was nearly paradise. He could run free with his friends, and perhaps, he thinks, his mother really loved him after all. Only once he has left does Phatik discover that he loves her, too.

It is only when Phatik no longer has a...