Saturday, February 12, 2011

How does Kittur disappoint those who come there for a better life?

2 comments:

stephengillies said...

This is a good question because all those who do come to Kittur to find a better life do not in fact find it. It is not just that they are naive in their expectations, like the two brothers, but that Indian society is prestructured in ways we would have difficulty understanding if we were not familiar with it. Unless one has connections or is a member of an ethnic group that will assist, success is difficult. No one wants to help someone they look down upon. steven

stephengillies said...

This is a good question because all those who do come to Kittur to find a better life do not in fact find it. It is not just that they are naive in their expectations, like the two brothers, but that Indian society is prestructured in ways we would have difficulty understanding if we were not familiar with it. Unless one has connections or is a member of an ethnic group that will assist, success is difficult. No one wants to help someone they look down upon. What Adige also does, however, is reveal the psychodynamics of poverty. It is not just that these new arrivals are hindered in their efforts to be successful, but that the toll poverty, humiliation, degradation takes on them also hinders them. That was something I do not find in Dickens. steven