A banyan tree is a type of parasitic plant that starts its life as a sprout on the trunk of a larger tree, which it may eventually choke off and envelop entirely, leading to the death and decay of the original host. The banyan is often referred to as a "strangler fig," and its hollow core, which forms after the death of the original host, can become a habitat for wild animals.

The choice to use the name "the banyan" for a character may be a form of Gothic "othering," implying that the character is less than human and evoking the connotation of a hollow or strangling figure. The banyan tree can also be interpreted as a useful metaphor for post-colonial readings of texts written during the era of imperial expansion, representing a plural and interconnected system that stands in contrast to the unified trunk system of English trees.

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In addition to its literary symbolism, the banyan tree has significant cultural significance in India. It is a gathering place for the transmission of stories in the oral tradition and is described in Hindu texts as both a resting place of the gods and a source of wisdom. The Bhagavat Gita states that one who understands the imperishable banyan tree, with its roots upward and branches down, is a knower of the Vedas, emphasizing the connection between the banyan tree and the acquisition of knowledge in Hinduism.