Missilin

Chitra Fernando’s “Three Women” illustrates the exploitation of women who are employed as servants. The collection contains the following stories ‘Missilin’, ‘Action and Reaction’ and ‘Of Bread and Power’.

The story Missilin depicts the picture of a servant whose innocence never let her understand that she has been exploited by all. Chitra Fernando sketches Missilin as innocent, loyal, selfless and loving character, which evokes the sympathy of the readers when they come across the subtly exploitation of her by Mrs. Ranasingha.

Mrs. Ranasingha prevents Missilin’s visit to her village on New Year, by stating that she couldn’t get out of bed because of sickness. Yet on the same day Mrs. Ranasingha goes for dinner to her sister’s home leaving Missilin alone. (“Yet, she recovers enough to attend the New Year dinner at her sister’s place.”) Missilin never retaliate towards Mrs. Ranasingha to let her go home.

The death of Kalu, affects Missilin very much. Her bond with Kalu cannot be explained to the people like Mrs. Ranasingha. For them it is just a cat. But for missilin Kalu is a character to whom she poured all her minds agony. The tragic death of Kalu makes her emotionally down.

Gomis on the other hand is the reason for Missilin’s gradual change of attitude of men. But it becomes a great disappointment when she comes to know that he is getting married to another woman. “It was her nearest of romance” states the writer. Missilin manages to overcome Gomis by concentrating on her work and thinking of Leela.

Leela on the other hand treats Missilin as her confidant. She takes Missilin to all the places in the past. Missilin thinks that Leela cares for her. But the reality is that Leela uses Missilin for her selfish purpose. Missilin vaguely realizes the intention of Leela in making her leave Ranasingha’s family thus she stops the visiting Leela’s house. This shows Missilin’s loyalty towards Mrs. Ranasingha’s family.

The story touches its climax when we see Missilin down with Tuberculosis. Missilin is “bundled off” to hospital for all the sacrifices she has done for Mr. Ranasingha’s family. Mrs. Ranasingha neglects Missilin and never visits the hospital till Missilin’s death. This shows the hypocrisy of her. To advertise her religious pious, she arranges an alms giving in the memory of Missilin and she gets the praise of the neighbors as a religious lady.

Through the character of Missilin, Chitra Fernando illustrates the situation of the innocent poor women who are exploited by the so called pious high class society.