Chapter glory-at-twilight: Glory at Twilight | Long Questions

The forgery episode is crucial because it highlights the turning point in Satyajit’s career and reveals his initial lack of empathy. As a young clerk, Satyajit caught a man forging a cheque to save his dying wife. At that time, Satyajit felt 'honest contempt' for the man, believing that crime was inexcusable regardless of the circumstances. This event propelled Satyajit into a position of power, meaning his success was built on the misfortune of a desperate soul. Years later, on the train, he recalls the man’s frozen face and realizes that 'shame kills as fast as TB.' His perspective shifts because he is now experiencing his own version of desperation. The episode serves as a moral mirror; it shows that Satyajit’s earlier 'glory' was cold and judgmental, whereas his current 'failure' brings him a painful but necessary understanding of human vulnerability.

Uncle Srinath represents the traditional, dependent villager who views Satyajit not as a friend, but as a 'god on the pedestal of fortune.' He is manipulative in a simple, almost innocent way, constantly producing daughters with the firm belief that Satyajit’s 'benediction' (money) will solve every crisis. He uses high-flown language and emotional appeals to trap Satyajit into giving more than he can afford. The 'daughter crisis' he presents is the ultimate test for Satyajit. Srinath is so blinded by the myth of Satyajit’s wealth that he cannot imagine a world where the 'millionaire' is broke. By invoking the honor of the bride and the shame of a broken marriage, Srinath leaves Satyajit with no choice but to act. Srinath’s blind faith ironically becomes the instrument that strips Satyajit of his very last possessions.

Satyajit’s decision to mortgage his ancestral house and fish-pond is a tragic climax driven by pride and the weight of social expectations. Throughout the story, he has allowed himself to be wrapped in the 'twilight splendour' of his past. By the time the dowry crisis reaches its peak, the confession 'stuck in his throat, clutched by the millionaire’s dead hand.' He realizes that telling the truth would not only ruin his reputation but also destroy Beena’s future and the village’s pride. He chooses the 'insult' of the moneylender's terms over the 'shame' of being exposed as a failure. This choice is heartbreaking because the house and pond were his only remaining security for his own wife and child. The ending signifies the total death of his 'glory,' leaving him with nothing but a final, bitter cigarette in the dark.