Heat And Dust

Essay text:

She falls in love with a Nawab and becomes pregnant with his child. Her decision to abort the baby results in a scandal. In discovering the truth about these events, the narrator also comes to fall in love with an Indian man, understand herself better and develops an interest in India. The characters The narrator: Comes to India in the 1970s to reconstruct her step-grandmother's life in Satipur has no difficulties in adapting to Indian culture modest, tolerant, open-minded gains an insight into Hindu life through Inder Lal's family not oblivious to the cruelty, hypocrazy and condescending behaviour of Satipur prespective: analyses her surroundings reasonable and rational irritation at Chid's importunites in contrast to her objective behaviour towards the Indians any behaviour lacking reasonableness arouses her suspicion: Chid or the Hindus behaviour towards sick and dying people affair with the landlord: doesnt get emotionally involved, just an ambitious attempt to follow Olivia's footsteps becomes oblivious to India and its problems turns indifferent lacks compassion and comittment becomes pregnant gap between the thoughts and feelings of the narrator and the experience and judgement as a critical and distant observer The narrator's development: has not got anything or anyone to keep her in Britain > not settled in life, no family yet not used to life in India > finding out more about Olivia and life in India (feels a special kind of connection to the country), is interested in the secrecy of Olivia's life Inder Lal introduces her to the way of living in India Close relationship with Inder Lal's mother and Maji > makes friends Time with Chid, gets to know a different philosophy of life Dying begger > realizes and experiences the fears of the Indians Pregnancy > same like Olivia has experienced, new feelings, changes her view of having a family She`s still British, with British views, but adapts to India > ?partly Indian-thinking British woman" Her development is still going on (p...