Reading this book after 'Ghare Baire', I get less of an insight into Tagore's worldview reading this book, but I also cogitate less.. A brilliantly written melodrama about suppressed/repressed desired and morality. I can't help think Tagore meant for Binodini to be a metaphor more for exploited humanity than for exploited womanhood. Mohin is ofcourse landed, self absorbed capitalist- the crime de la crime who cares two hoot for anyone else, and Behari Babu- the idealist, the do goober, omnipotent and can see through people,like none can( the Nikhil of choker Bali).One tender scene where he tends to Rajalakshmi when she is dying and Ashalata defers to him, and Mohin stands contrite reminds me of a scene where Lord Krishna tends to Bhanumati when she is dying with her husband standing outside -shamefaced. Turns out Tagore published much before K. M. Munshi did, but I'd like to think they were both original in their imagination! Also there is a bit of Bihari babu in Rhet Butler, a bit of Melanie Wilkes in Ashalata and Scarlett o Hara in Binodini ... But it is what it is! A great read