Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Second Post- Annabelle Schofield
Survival is the most important thing on Lakshmi's mind these days. She knows that she could probably try to escape the Happiness House, but she realizes that she would never survive in the big city without someone to help her. She knows that if she stays in the house she will at least be provided food and housing, even if it means she must sleep with countless men to earn her stay. Lakshmi's world may have been turned upside down, but at least she still has the sanity to stay. But just because Lakshmi is "safe" in the house, does not mean she wants to be there, "And then they are gone, leaving me alone in the locked-in room. I pound on the door. I howl like an animal. I pray. I pace the room. I kick the door. But I do not cry (108)." While Lakshmi is obviously detesting her situation, she certainly is not going to try anything as she is smart enough to realize that it would bring her great harm. Lakshmi knows that the only thing she can do if she wants to stay alive is go along with what Mumtaz tells her and keep a low profile. The only thing Lakshmi has left is her strength for survival, and if she loses that, she is doomed.
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Also, Anita, one of the women that work for Mumtaz escaped. She was chased down by the goondas and beaten, that is why she cannot smile. Lakshmi wants to survive and be ok in the end. So running away is not a choice.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Lakshima's ultimate goal is simply to survive. After Lakshima becomes ill, Mumtaz gives her pills to make her feel better. "I swallow and for a moment, I love her. I love her like a mother, for giving me the medicine that will stop the fever and the sweating and the chills and the shaking. I love her for not throwing me out on the street, for caring for me" (190). This shows that despite Lakshima's hatred of this woman, her instincts to survive kick in and she feels a sort of love toward the person who is keeping her alive because she wants to survive. This is similar to the Stockholn Syndrome, which occurs when a kidnapee relies on the kidnapper to keep them alive and so they begin to love that person. It is tragic, but this just shows how much even Lakshimas most basic instincts wanted her to survive.
ReplyDeleteI also think that her biggest worry is to survive. I really like your quote that backed your thesis up. I also think that along with survival, she is worried about her sanity. She won't cry like you said in your quote and for weeks she was being beaten and starved, but she still wouldn't do anything to disobey her beliefs.
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