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... displayed 300 characters
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Major Minnies)
more respectful after mutiny
comfortable life
suffer from the climate
want to change the culture
Major Minnies (p.147/149)
India= opponent/ enemy to be guarded and fought against from within one's own being
one has to be determined to withstand India
most vulnerable are the onces who love to much > ? weak spot ? (= Olivia: loneliness marriage > adultery > naive, selfish, promiscuous)
India seeks them out and pulls them over into other ?dimensions" (= the way Indians live, morales and values of Indias)
?to be softened": An European woman is supposed to be smart, faithful and resistant to temptations
> Olivia loses all these virtues (Tugenden): comitts adultery, becomes pregnant
The role of women in India
In ?Heat and Dust"
mothers are powerful, wives are powerful
arranged marriages
women are categorized: intelligent, educated, not educated
women have to to the family planning, are in charge of housekeeping
women are most powerful when they are widows
women are subordinate to men
only wealth women are well-educated
the narrator is treated with respect
In ?An Indian Girl"
abuse, rape, beating > bad living condidtions
subordinate to men
have to accept their situation: no protection, no education, no job prospects, early arranged marriage, forced childbirth
no acceptance of divorced women and women working in ?typically male" professions
life of lower class girls is planned/ predetermined
girls are taught to accept their weak status, taught not to fight back
more freedom for upper class women > education
Historical Background
Why the British were in India (British rule in India was known as the ?Raj"; they had partial or complete controle of India from the 17th century to 1947)
17th century East India Company: trading in India (valuable natural resources) > imperialism
Imperialism
The extension of the power of the state through the acquistion of other territories coincides with the subjugation and exonomic exploitation of the people who live there... displayed 300 characters
