Analysis of “Susanna’s Seven Husbands”

Introduction

“Susanna’s Seven Husbands” is a dark and intriguing short story by Ruskin Bond, published in his collection A Face in the Dark and Other Hauntings. Unlike many of his more gentle and nostalgic tales, this story delves into the macabre and mysterious, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and the lengths to which a woman might go when repeatedly wronged. The story gained significant popular attention when it was adapted into the critically acclaimed 2011 Bollywood film 7 Khoon Maaf.

Plot Summary

The story is narrated by a young boy, Arun, who grows up on his grandmother’s estate in Mussoorie. He is fascinated by the enigmatic Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, a beautiful and wealthy woman who lives nearby. Susanna has a peculiar history: she has been married seven times, and each of her husbands has met an untimely and mysterious end.

Arun, as he grows older, becomes increasingly intrigued by Susanna and her past. He observes her from a distance and hears various rumors and whispers about her husbands’ fates. Each husband is distinct in his personality and profession—a military man, a poet, a doctor, a priest, a Russian spy, a drug addict, and a final, seemingly perfect man. Each marriage begins with hope and passion, but inevitably ends in tragedy, often with Susanna being the last person seen with her husband before his demise.

As Arun pieces together the fragmented stories, he begins to suspect that Susanna might be responsible for the deaths, driven by a desire for freedom from unhappy marriages or perhaps a darker, more sinister motive. The story maintains an air of ambiguity, leaving the reader to ponder Susanna’s true nature—is she a victim of circumstance, a femme fatale, or a woman driven to desperate measures by a series of unfortunate unions? The narrative concludes without a definitive answer, leaving the mystery of Susanna’s husbands unresolved.

Major Characters

Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes: The central, enigmatic figure. She is beautiful, wealthy, and seemingly cursed by fate, as all her husbands die mysteriously. She represents a woman who, perhaps, seeks an ideal love but is repeatedly disappointed, leading to extreme measures.
Arun: The narrator. He is a curious and observant young boy who grows into a man, fascinated by Susanna’s story. He serves as the reader’s lens into the mystery, piecing together clues and rumors.
The Seven Husbands: Each husband is briefly characterized, representing different types of men and different forms of marital disappointment or incompatibility that Susanna experiences.

Major Themes

Love, Betrayal, and Disillusionment: The story explores the complexities of love and marriage, particularly how initial passion can turn into disillusionment and betrayal, leading to tragic consequences.
The Enigma of Human Nature: Susanna’s character is a study in ambiguity. The story invites the reader to question her motives and actions, exploring the darker, more mysterious aspects of human nature.
Freedom and Confinement in Marriage: For Susanna, each marriage seems to become a form of confinement, and the deaths of her husbands can be interpreted as her desperate attempts to gain freedom from unhappy unions.
The Power of Rumor and Perception: The story is largely built on rumors and Arun’s observations, highlighting how perception can shape reality and how a person’s reputation can be constructed through fragmented information.
Justice and Morality: The lack of clear resolution regarding the husbands’ deaths raises questions about justice, morality, and whether Susanna’s actions, if indeed she is responsible, are justifiable given her circumstances.

Literary Style

Gothic and Mysterious Tone: The story employs elements of gothic fiction, creating an atmosphere of mystery, suspense, and the macabre.
First-Person Narration: The use of Arun as a narrator provides a personal and observational perspective, allowing the reader to piece together the mystery alongside him.
Understated Horror: Bond uses subtle hints and suggestions rather than explicit violence, creating a sense of unease and psychological tension.
Ambiguity: A key stylistic choice is the deliberate ambiguity surrounding Susanna’s guilt, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions.

Critical Reception and Legacy

“Susanna’s Seven Husbands” is a departure from Ruskin Bond’s usual style, showcasing his versatility as a writer. It is praised for its intriguing plot, its enigmatic protagonist, and its exploration of darker themes. The story gained widespread recognition and popularity after its adaptation into the Bollywood film 7 Khoon Maaf, which brought Bond’s work to a much larger audience and highlighted his ability to craft compelling narratives across different genres.