How depressing of a section to start off the fourth
and final section of the book. It seems that anytime something good happens to
anyone in Annawadi, something misfortunate happens to another, and vice versa.
As the book abruptly explains Asha’s ascension to the title of slumlord, Manju’s
friend Meena, in even worse circumstances than her culturally hindered friend,
finally loses the will to live and kills herself with rat poison. However, on
the other end of the spectrum we learn of Sunil’s success at outgrowing his
sister due to earning the funds to feed himself from selling stolen supplies.
Surprisingly the death of Kalu and Sonu’s disagreement with Sunil’s choice of
work doesn’t discourage him as he works with a gang of thieves to steal from
the construction firms working near the airport.
I like that the way in which Boo writes speaks very much
so about the culture of Annawadi. Despite Meena’s tragic suicide, the people of
the slum, save for Manju who becomes devastated from the event, don’t really
seem to care, remark that it’s just a fact of life where they’re from, and even
poke fun at the situation, remarking things about how Meena’s brother will
never want an omelet again after this. It also speaks for the people’s tenacity
to keep going on, despite their better judgment, or better conscience, such as
Sunil trying to put off the robbery until he’s beaten by the ones organizing
the event, at which time he complies. You learn a lot about the desperate
lengths that even the younger members of the slum will go to simply eke out a
life in Annawadi, or perhaps end one.
No comments:
Post a Comment