The last third of the book portrays hope. Lakshmi is given something which she has not felt since she has left her home, to feel cared about, one of her costumers. "But I could feel myself, my true self, give in to the simple pleasure of being held." (page 176). Lakshmi waited many days for this man to return, waiting for the warmth and comfort of being held. But he never came. Later on in the book, an american came to Lakshmi but was not a costumer, he said he could take her to a nice, clean place where children are happy and learn. Lakshmi has been waiting for the american for 5 days and finally there's a knock on the door from the police. There's a man that asks for a young girl. "I know this voice. It is my American." (page 261)Lakshmi's hope and patience finally pays off when the man comes to save her. We don't know how the story ends, but it seems as though they take Mumtaz to jail and the women get to go free.
In the book Sold, by Patricia McCormick, a thirteen year old girl named Lakshmi s taken away from whats left of a broken family. She has a other and a baby brother and a stepfather who gambles away anything that is of value, and that is how Lakshmi is sold into sex slavery. Her "aunt" takes her to her "uncle" who takes her across the border and pretends to be her husband. Then she is given to Mumtaz, and after refusing to have sex with a costumer she is locked in a room and drugged. She meets a boy she calls David Beckham boy and he teaches her how to read his books and she gives him a ball made of her old clothes when he leaves. There is also a boy with a tea cart that goes around and after a while just gave Lakshmi free tea because she wouldn't buy any. Then he left and Lakshmi asked him to call the American man that would help her. He finally came and saved her.
I completely agree with your idea that the last third of the book portrays hope. At the same time, i think that the chance for hope is shot down completely before being brought back. At first its looking like there really is a chance for Lakshmi to earn her way out. Then she realizes what is really happening. "I just want enough to pay the street boy what I owe. 'what do you care?' I say. 'It is my money. My family wont miss a few rupees.' She laughs. 'You think the money goes home to your family?' she says." This realization of Lakshmi was so hard to read. You could almost feel her heart breaking. While I agree that the essence of the last third of the book was hopeful, it was also full of hopelessness.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with what you think about the tone, for my tone for the last third of the book I put hopeless. I get your point with the Americans saving her, but the reason I chose hopeless was because she lost hope for helping her family and others, she gave up on the reason why she came to the happiness house. When she was talking to Monica and found out that the money went straight to Mumtaz and not her family, she pretty much gave up on them, and to me that reveals the tone helpless.
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