Cat’s Eye

by

Margaret Atwood

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Mr. Banerji Character Analysis

A scientist who stays with Elaine’s family for a period during her childhood, as he works with her father. Elaine identifies with him, because he appears anxious and persecuted to her. However, he treats her extremely nicely and she later paints him as one of her three muses after he returns to India when the university refuses to hire him.
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Mr. Banerji Character Timeline in Cat’s Eye

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Banerji appears in Cat’s Eye. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part Five: Wringer
Art, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Gender and Cruelty Theme Icon
Identity and Conflict Theme Icon
Time and Memory Theme Icon
A student of Elaine’s father, Mr. Banerji , joins them at Christmas dinner, as it would be too far for him to... (full context)
Art, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Elaine and Mr. Banerji both pick at their meals, and Elaine thinks that wild things are smarter than tame... (full context)
Part Six: Cat’s Eye
Art, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Gender and Cruelty Theme Icon
War vs. Environmental Catastrophe  Theme Icon
Identity and Conflict Theme Icon
Time and Memory Theme Icon
...doesn’t understand why this activity is called bridge when it’s nothing like a bridge. When Mr. Banerji comes, Elaine feels hopeful because she feels that if he can deal with whatever is... (full context)
Gender and Cruelty Theme Icon
Identity and Conflict Theme Icon
...knitted sock in her basket. She dreams that her real parents are Mrs. Finestein and Mr. Banerji , and that her mother has had a baby—one of a set of twins, and... (full context)
Part Nine: Leprosy
Art, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Gender and Cruelty Theme Icon
Identity and Conflict Theme Icon
Time and Memory Theme Icon
...she also goes and draws images from slides she finds at the zoology building. When Dr. Banerji sees her at it, he compliments her; he has a wife now. (full context)
Part Ten: Life Drawing
Art, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
War vs. Environmental Catastrophe  Theme Icon
Identity and Conflict Theme Icon
Time and Memory Theme Icon
...she could have dedicated herself to an impressive botany career. He has become melancholic, as Mr. Banerji returned to India after failing to get promoted. Elaine’s father see this as a betrayal... (full context)
Part Fourteen: Unified Field Theory
Art, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Identity and Conflict Theme Icon
Time and Memory Theme Icon
...landscape. Her next painting is called Three Muses; she painted Mrs. Finestein, Miss Stuart, and Mr. Banerji —not as they were to themselves, but as they inspired her. (full context)