Cages

Cages are found in almost every chapter of the book, and symbolize the different balances of captivity and freedom Raja experiences in his life. In Chapter 1 he is trapped by Captain in a small, mobile cage, and is paraded through the countryside. It is his first experience of metal up close, and also the first time in his life he has been confined.

In Chapter 2 Raja is moved between two cages, one small and one large, and the circus arena. In Chapter 3 he is almost constantly kept in the small cage, as the film crew try to coax him into performing; at the end of the chapter, Jaggu, fearing for his life, swaps places with Raja, and locks himself in the tiger cage with Raja roaming free outside.

Though Raja roams free for much of remainder of the book, he must return to captivity in his...