post 3- Paloma Prudhomme

Throughout the last part of Sold the reader feels a wave of hope, and loss of hope for Lakshmi. Over time Harish teaches Lakshmi lots of english and things start to look up for her. But as quickly as things start to look up, they die back down again. The tone of this third is just utter heart breaking. Lakshmi doesn't even seem to recognize herself anymore. "Her eyes are empty. She is old and tired. Old and angry. Old and sad. Old, old, a hundred years old"(p.192). The darkness and the gloom is starting to take a grand effect on poor Lakshmi and she almost can't take it anymore. Harish is a good friend to Lakshmi, yet he quickly gets taken away as well. There are moments when you feel hopeful for her but then right away you loose that hope. Lakshmi has the determination of a tiger seeking it's prey. She knows she will get out of this dark place. She needs to. Even when Monica says, "You stupid hill girl, you actually believe what she's told you?"(p.230), Lakshmi still has hope inside of her. She had power and determination so big that it swept off the pages and came into us, and for that I admire her. "I do. I have to believe"(p.230)

One of my favorite parts of the book was when they talked about their culture and their ways that are so different from ours. Especially their traditions when a young girl gets their first blood. With word of the news Ama says "You must stay out of sight for seven days, even the sun cannot see you until you've been purified"(p.14). I love learning about different cultures ways and traditions. This one in particular was very interesting. In America we see periods as something to whisper about with friends but according to Wikipedia in India they spread the news like wild fire. Every needs to know about it and their is always some sort of huge festivity. For Lakshmi this couldn't happen because of their money issue. Ama said that once you have gotten your first blood you are a completely different woman. "Never look a man in the eye. Never allow yourself to be alone with a man who is not family. And never look at growing pumpkins or cucumbers when you are bleeding. Otherwise they will rot. Once you are married you must eat your meal only after your husband has had his fill. Then you may have what remains"(p.15). She goes on to say how you must give yourself to your husband whenever he wishes and how long to breast feed your child. This is all so completely different from anything i've ever heard, I was shocked when I read this. When you get your first blood you basically become a different person overnight in their eyes. You don't have a choice but to hold yourself more maturally and not act like a kid. You must give your fun child hood days up and start being a woman.