Cultural+adjustment

In the novel __Heat and Dust__ by Ruth Prawer Jhavala, the plot is split into two eras – one during the British colonization of India, and another during India’s independence. Jhabvala uses this division to create a greater underlying meaning of cultural adjustment, achieved through the characters that live during the two time periods. She suggests to the reader that because the British occupiers Olivia and Harry are unable to fully assimilate into Indian culture, they are unable to achieve any sense of fulfillment. In contrast, the characters that live during the time of a free India, Anne and Chid learn to adapt into the foreign culture, and thus are able live contently through fulfilling their desires to achieve happiness.  ·  Italian stone angel as a metaphor or analogy to her. It is a representation of her in India (chipped and worn) and out of place (foreign).  ·  Pregnancy as a symbol of incompleteness because she is unhappy --> how does this tie into British rule? She immediately thinks that she will be happy with a child because it fills her social role as a wife or woman, but she realizes that she is unhappy because of environment, miserable in India (cultural displacement).  ·  Olivia arrives in a full circle – she doesn’t progress anywhere. Originally her life is boring; she is trapped in a house in isolation. In the end she is trapped in a house; however, she achieves a sense of fulfillment, the reader gets the sense that she is content with the outcome of her life. “one does not say no to such a person” (p.30) “it’s almost worse //inside// the Palace. Because of all those people coming and going, such low-class ruffians, the sort you’d never see in the Palace otherwise.” (p.63) “Harry was not keeping good health (thus unhappy). He said he could not stand the heat nor the food form the Nawab’s kitchen. He always had some stomach complaint, even though the Nawab had undertaken the ordering of his meals himself and only the European-trained chef was allowed to prepare them.” (p.88) “’That too. And this dashed, dashed heat.’ ‘It’s //cool// in here. It’s lovely.’ ‘But outside, outside!’ He shut his eyes” (p. 89) “Oh both of you are the same, you and the Major Minnies. I don’t know why you stay here with me. You want to be with him and other English people. You feel only for them, nothing for me at all.” (p.125)  ·  In the end, Anne climbs the mountain which is a symbol for ascension into something greater. She is not moving in circles like Olivia but progressing/doing something else.  ·  She becomes fulfilled because she becomes part of the culture. She wears their clothes, sleeps amongst them/community; whereas, Olivia is sheltered in a place built specifically for the British in isolation. “He is not very demanding, actually – he eats the food I prepare and is satisfied with everything he is given. […] Everyone considers it a privilege for me to have him in my room. It seems I have been presented with an excellent opportunity to acquire merit by serving a holy man in charity. The question as to whether Chid is holy man remain open” (p.55) “Chid doesn’t seem to be affected by the weather. He sits for hours together in the lotus pose […] and goes on and on and seems somehow so //mindless// that its drives me crazy. It is as if all reason and common sense are being drained out of the air.” (p.69) “I can’t stand the smell” (p.121) “Chid and I have now both merged into the landscape, we are part of the town, part of people’s lives here, and have been completely accepted.” (p.68) Ultimately, Olivia wants to be the “perfect” wife/motherly/proper Englishwoman and the Nawab wants power and high status; thus, social desires and roles are unfulfilled because of the unwillingness to adapt to India; whereas Anne’s life progresses because she is able to adapt to a foreign environment. Sense of fulfillment is different for characters. Fulfillment is achieved from realization of desires to achieve happiness. Balance narrative (# of characters/type). What does presence/absence of Brit rule cause? Consider goals – consider effort – consider result. What is the purpose of both impregnated by Indian men? How does this tie into Brit rule. What: Knowledge (plot) Why: Understanding How: analysis (literary). Decisions of author and characters/ actions.
 * Introduction **
 * 1923 **
 * Olivia **
 * Harry **
 * Harry’s ambiguous behavior towards his perception of the Nawab and desires to return to London. (p.30-32)
 * Harry doesn’t interact with the Indian society (other than the Nawab). The people he cannot bear are the people that Anne quite comfortably interacts with.
 * It is quite clear that Harry is unable to adjust to India. The Nawab tries his best to equip Harry with European standards; however, all the time Harry is ill.
 * Many of Harry’s discomforts are caused by psychological problems. (p.112)
 * Harry constantly complains about the heat which causes him discomfort while Chid is not at all bothered by the climate.
 * Harry’s desire is to “go back to England to see his mother” (p.114)
 * 1970 **
 * Anne **
 * Chid **
 * Chid’s spiritual rapture has ironically come to a halt after a holy pilgrimage. His devotion to Hinduism is therefore very doubtful and demonstrates his lack of fulfillment and failure to become fully Hindu.
 * Chid’s sudden change of mind due to such a small problem demonstrates his lack of devotion.
 * Conclusion **
 * Questions to consider: **