FRITZ MEANING
FRITZ MEANING
Before we start with the story Fritz by Satyajit Ray we need to know Fritz meaning.
THE STORY AND FRITZ MEANING IN DETAIL:
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
The story revolves around two primary characters, Jayanto, the protagonist of the story, and Shankar, the narrator of the story and Jayanto’s childhood friend. Both the friends completed their education from the same school and college.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
Jayanto’s job was in the editorial section of a newspaper while Shankar took the profession of a teacher. The beginning of the story begins with the two friends deciding to spend their vacation in Rajasthan. While the majority of the people prefer to visit places like Udaipur, Jaipur, or Chittor in Rajasthan, Jayanto insisted on going to Bundi.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
Jayanto’s decision of going to Bundi confused Shankar, but still, he consented to it. While traveling in train Jayanto informed Shankar that he had already visited this place when he was six years old. His father worked in the Archeological Department. Hence after he grew up he always wanted to return back to this place so that he could compare the present Bundi with his childhood memory of the place.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
In his childhood days when he came to Bundi with his father, they stayed in a Circuit House which the British had built, hundred years ago. After thirty-one years when he again came to Bundi along with his childhood friend Shankar, he chose to stay in the same Circuit House.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
At Bundi, Jayanto became very quiet. After having tea both Jayanto and Shankar went to the garden for a stroll. While strolling Jayanto suddenly remembered that there was a deodar tree in the garden when he had visited the place thirty-one years ago.
FRITZ STORY – A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
Strolling in the garden Jayanto went to the far end of the compound and was full of ecstasy to find the same deodar tree to be still there at the exact spot where it had been during his previous visit at the age of six.
FRITZ STORY – A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
While staying in the Circuit House a string of memories ran through his mind. However, out of all the memories Jayanto recalled most, the memory of a rag doll. His uncle had brought this particular rag doll for him from Switzerland. The length of the doll was twelve-inch.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
The puppet-maker gave it the look of an old man and dressed it in a traditional Swiss costume. The most uncanny thing about the doll was that the man who sold the doll to Jayanto’s uncle had told him to call it “Fritz” since the doll would not respond to any other name.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
Little Jayanto became very fond of Fritz. He gave up playing with all the other toys and spent all his time playing with Fritz.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
Jayanto with a sigh told Shankar that he had lost the doll during his previous visit to Bundi thirty-one years ago. One day he was having tea with his parents in the garden. The tea spilled on his pants. He had to rush inside to change. However, Shankar left his doll Fritz behind on the grass.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
When he returned he was astonished to find two stray dogs fighting with Fritz. Fritz’s clothes were torn into pieces and its face was in such a condition that it could not be recognized. This incident destroyed Fritz completely. Jayanto though sad buried Fritz under the deoar tree.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
The same night after Jayanto revealed to Shankar about Fritz a strange thing happened. Shankar and Jayanto went to sleep in their bedroom. Suddenly Shankar woke up by a noise. He saw Jayanto sitting upon his bed.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
Shankar saw a look of anxiety on Jayanto’s face. When Shankar questioned him, Jayanto said that something walked over his chest while he was asleep. Shankar looked all over the room for the creature. As Jayanto had closed the door of the room, Shankar was sure the creature was unable to escape.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
Jayanto showed Shankar some circular marks on his quilt. According to Shankar, those marks could be of a cat. But Jayanto remained quiet. He did not say anything, however, he looked disturbed. Shankar tried to pacify him with some soothing words and then ultimately went to bed.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
The next morning Shankar and Jayanto both went to the Bundi Fort. It was a place worth visiting. But Jayanto was not at ease. He was feeling uncomfortable. He looked gloomy and informed Shankar that he would return back to the Circuit House.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
While returning back to the Circuit House, Jayanto exposed to Shankar his personal view about the previous night’s intruder. Jayanto had a strong belief that the small circular marks on his quilt cover were of nothing else but the footprints of Fritz.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
Jayanto was sure that Fritz had come to their room the previous night. Shankar wanted Jayanto to get rid of his weird thoughts about Fritz. For this Shankar thought of a plan. He suggested digging the ground where according to Jayanto they buried Fritz thirty-one years ago.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
They decided to dig the ground under the deodar tree. Accordingly, they asked the gardener of the Circuit House to dig the ground. A strange thing happened on digging the ground. To their great astonishment and horror, they found a twelve-inch long, and a pure white human skeleton lying in the ground.
SUPERNATURALISM AS A THEME AND FRITZ MEANING:
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
Satyajit Ray in an adept manner dealt with the theme of supernaturalism in his stories. Fritz too deals with the theme of Supernaturalism, through a twelve-inch long doll.
FRITZ MEANING IN FRITZ STORY
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
The story had been left open-ended by Ray for his readers to imagine whether Fritz was some supernatural creature who died unnaturally or simply a piece of Jayanto’s imagination. Moreover, it creates a suspicion in the minds of the readers if Fritz was really an evil spirit as hinted by its seller, the old Swiss man that it would respond only if called Fritz.
A DOLL FROM SWITZERLAND
Maybe it is this reason why after digging the ground a twelve-inch-long human skeleton was found. The final conclusion may vary among the readers but the story is superbly related to the theme of Supernaturalism.
