The choice between conforming to social standards and pursuing a personal desire is a conflict that many young people face. Arjie, in Shyam Selvadurai's “Pigs Can't Fly”, initially experiences the joys of living a carefree childhood through her imagination and playing the bride-to-be. The story traces Arjie's journey to becoming the object of envy of his cousin Tanuja, being pressured to conform to social norms by his parents and, finally, his acceptance of the loss of his childhood due to conformity . With the sari as a recurring motif, the ideas through the use of symbolism illustrate the effects of conformity on Arjie's life. Selvadurai suggests that conformity leads to the loss of Arjie's childhood innocence and freedom. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Arjie is an innocent boy with the freedom to play as he pleases. This freedom comes in the form of monthly spent days, during which Arjie can “leave the constraints of [himself] and ascend into another self, brighter and more beautiful,” playing the bride-to-be. Arjie is happy to be not only part of, but also a leader of, women's territory, with respect to the "incomprehensible" side of boys and ideas of fun. Being considered an important person by the other members of the women's team, Arjie is able to fully realize his full "strength of imagination" through these games, as well as "[his] last moment of joy", without restrictions. Such innocence allows Arjie to transform a childhood game of dress-up into becoming “a gracious, benevolent, and perfect being” and “the personification of all that was good and perfect in the world” to him and his cousins. In this way, Arjie also manages to emulate his mother, whom he holds in high esteem. He feels "a joy akin to ecstasy" as he watches her dress up in a sari. and so as he plays the bride-to-be he wears his sari, and is free to pretend to be like a person in his life who he thinks is beautiful, and in doing so feels beautiful himself. This gives great meaning to a simple object like the saree as it symbolizes its innocence and freedom of imagination to interpret and believe that it can be anything it desires. However, similar to Arjie's freedom that would not last long once he grew up, the sari is old and "slightly yellow with age", with "its border torn", and does not require major irreparable damage. however, he is put at risk by Arjie's cousin Tanuja. Tanuja deliberately sabotages Arjie out of jealousy, as she herself wants to be the leader of the women's world, deeming it "unfair" that the position always belongs to Arjie. Arjie's freedom in this once essentially boundless world is questioned for the first time, and the sari that symbolizes her freedom is contested, as it now seems that her freedom must be shared. Both Arjie and the girls, however, do not accept Tanuja playing the lead role. Since Arjie's role as a bride is a tradition that has existed for a long time, they do not want it to be put in danger and Tanuja is rejected, which in turn pushes Tanuja to expose Arjie's actions to adults which are without their knowledge. It was only at this point that Arjie realized that being part of the women's team was perceived as wrong. The adults, with the exception of Arjie's parents, laugh and ridicule him for the first time due to his appearance before them wearing the sari, in stark contrast to previously being revered by members of the girls' side. The sari thatonce able to transform it into an object of beauty and a being “larger than life,” it became shameful to him and “suffocating around [his] body.” If it weren't for Tanuja, Arjie's parents would not have discovered his passion for brides, allowing him to continue enjoying his "most awaited" days. As a result, Arjie is subject to the desire of others to conform. Arjie's actions are now brought to light by his parents, and his parents pressure him to conform. His father does not want Arjie to become "funny" and humiliate his family, while Arjie's mother pushes him to conform to avoid blame as problems with children are seen as "the mother's fault". Both parents aim to prevent their family, and by extension themselves, from being viewed negatively by other members of society. Arjie dressing like a girl is seen as wrong and is despised by his extended family, and his parents attempt to stop him to avoid it. To discourage Arjie, he is forbidden from playing on the girls' side and from watching his mother dress, effectively taking away two of the joys of his life. The sari, a symbol of Arjie's innocence and childhood freedom, his "most precious possession", must be hidden from the sight of his parents, as it is used against him. This is a parallel to her childhood innocence, as it must be hidden at this point, as it has become unacceptable in the eyes of others. Arjie clings to the sari and the hope of returning to the world of girls he loves so much, until the point where he is caught for the second time doing the opposite of what conformity required. Arjie has given up hope of escaping into this world. freedom again, at the hands of conformism. The change in the story happens when Arjie sits on the beach with her saree torn. The sari is a symbol of her childhood innocence and freedom, which is also torn to pieces. While Arjie had previously resisted others' urge to conform, on the beach he is overcome by "[his] desperation," when he finally decides that "[it's] time to go back to [his] grandparents' house," accepting his fate . of not being able to continue his games that were not in line with what others saw as conformity. After seeing his family not accept him for who he is, despite his efforts, Arjie knows that his life "will never be the same" and accepts the fact that he will no longer be able to maintain the life he has always had during the period elapsed... i-days. Arjie had previously resisted and defied his mother's order to play on the boys' side and had come up with a plan to escape, but now he has given up and decided to return home of his own free will. He possesses the knowledge that he will receive punishment for his actions in the form of being hit with his grandmother's cane, which is as painful as the loss of his childhood innocence. The warm sand of the beach and the bright reflection of the ocean symbolize the painful changes in Arjie's life, such as the uncertainty of the “future that awaited him” and the awareness of the loneliness he would have to endure during the future. the days, no longer belonging to the world of girls or boys. The scenario that "was once so familiar" is no different from Arjie's lost innocence and freedom, as these aspects of childhood were distant, seemingly "shimmering in the distance like a mirage." Arjie, no longer in an “act of defiance,” is forced to cross the railroad tracks to return home, a metaphor for how he finds himself at a crossroads in his own life, where only one path can be taken. Conformity leaves no room for acceptance for Arjie, and he must ultimately conform as his parents desired. Here.