Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Essay title: Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
The plot
The events of the story take place in India, during the periods of the British Raj in the 1920s and the present day of the novel (the 1970s). A young English woman, searches for the truth about Olivia (1920s), the first wife of her grandfather.
The narrator discovers that Olivia was a woman smothered by the social restrictions placed upon her by British society. She falls in love with a Nawab and becomes pregnant with his child. Her decision to abort the baby results in a scandal. In discovering the truth about these events, the narrator also comes to fall in love with an Indian man, understand herself better and develops an interest in India.
The characters
The narrator:
Comes to India in the 1970s to reconstruct her step-grandmothers life in Satipur
has no difficulties in adapting to Indian culture
modest, tolerant, open-minded
gains an insight into Hindu life through Inder Lals family
not oblivious to the cruelty, hypocrazy and condescending behaviour of Satipur
prespective: analyses her surroundings
reasonable and rational
irritation at Chids importunites in contrast to her objective behaviour towards the Indians
any behaviour lacking reasonableness arouses her suspicion: Chid or the Hindus behaviour towards sick and dying people
affair with the landlord: doesnt get emotionally involved, just an ambitious attempt to follow Olivias footsteps
becomes oblivious to India and its problems
turns indifferent
lacks compassion and comittment
becomes pregnant
gap between the thoughts and feelings of the narrator and the experience and judgement as a critical and distant observer
The narrators development:
has not got anything or anyone to keep her in Britain → not settled in life, no family yet
not used to life in India → finding out more about Olivia and life in India (feels a special kind of connection to the country), is interested in the secrecy of Olivias life
Inder Lal introduces her to the way of living in India
Close relationship with Inder Lals mother and Maji → makes friends
Time with Chid, gets to know a different philosophy of life
Dying begger → realizes and experiences the fears of the Indians
Pregnancy → same like Olivia has experienced, new feelings, changes her view of having a family
Shes still British, with British views, but adapts to India → „partly Indian-thinking British woman“
Her development is still going on (p.157.“[]it will have to be some time because of my condition which will make it more and more difficult to get down again, even if I should want to.“)
Olivia:
Comes to India in 1923 with her husband Douglas Rivers, a civil servant
a young beautiful woman who sets great store by etiquette and a luxury lifestyle
superficial, selfish, gregarious
naiv and immature
she is curious about her surroundings
eager to get to know her husbands circle of friends and acquaintances
→ realises soon that she is not at variance with the condescending behaviour and attitude of the English community towards India and its inhabitants
does not correspond to the expectations of the English community and her husband
she feels uncomfortable and bored by the community (defends the Saunders)
Contrasting to the English, she is open-minded on India, its people and culture
ignored/ misunderstood by her husband Douglas she gets involved with the Nawab
sensitive