From the heartfelt novel Nectar in the Sieve, a story of hope and suffering is told by a courageous woman by the name of Rukmani. She not only shows her love and honor to her family, but also goes through many trials and tribulations throughout the story. Faced with countless tragedies, Rukmani nevertheless stayed humble to herself and strong for her family. The poor woman did everything she could to transform her obstacles into something positive. An essential theme thoroughly demonstrates her actions: as long as a suffering family has hope, they will overcome despair.
Rukmanis life was introduced when she realized the poverty she had been forced upon. She was the youngest of four sisters that had the perfect weddings all because of their father. However, when it came time for her wedding, all was dried up in the land and they had no money left. All she had gotten was an unhealthy husband and an unfortunate lifestyle. While her family was dismayed with disappointment, her self-esteem became just as low as her wealth. Despite the forsaken fact that she was now united with a farmer beneath her caste, and realities opened her eyes, she remained hopeful. Her words spoke, How well I recall it, how grateful I am that not all the clamour which invaded our livescould subdue the memory, illustrating some happiness she had gained (Markandaya 8).
Long after Rukmani altered into a loving, caring, and enduring mother, she and her warming husband, Nathan created seven children, one girl and six boys. By that time the conflict was within feeding a great amounted family. Some could deal with the starvation longer than others. Because her two eldest sons were the few whom could not, they had come to an agreement with one another. They had made up in their minds that they were old enough to work in the tannery, a degrading place to their familys caste. Neither of the sons never felt bad for not carrying the legacy of agricultural work. After their mother, Rukmani asked, What will our relations say? (Markandaya 51). One of them responded with no remorse saying, I do not knowI do not care. The important thing is to eat (Markandaya 51). Although, Rukmanis son was tired of starving, he knew there was something better for him. In his mind, if he would have stayed, he never would have eaten as well. Therefore, no matter the turmoil Rumanis family had gone through there was at least one that had faith. By leaving he showed his hope for life, itself. He just did it by taking the only opportunity he had to overcome despair.
Rukmani accepts the truth and starts experiencing saddened incidents. It was not long before on of her sons would suffer from starvation, the other in a theft catastrophe. Nonetheless, Rukmaniand Nathans land agent tells them their land was being sold. The two that were now one were forced to leave their home of thirty years to go live with their son Murugan in the city. Rukmani was not the only one that kept hope alive in the family. Nathans declared, It is a long wayyet the effort must be made. (Markandaya 133). Rukmani and Nathan traveled far with not much money or food. Barely making it, taking on hard labor they had never done to get to where they wanted, and meeting the worse news, they traveled back in the direction of poverty. All of their possessions were now gone, and all they relied on was hope and faith.
At this point, the two must do what they have to in order to survive. Rukmani never would have thought that the end of her journey would come to one last tragedy. Being that Nathan was diagnosed with rheumatism, a severe illness, he died in her arms. He then reminds Rukmani of their happiness together. She was obliged with hope and compassion for the life that was stored upon her. The strength of truth revealed itself through her struggles and sacrifices.
Markandaya, Kamala. Nectar in a Sieve. New York: Signet Classic, 2002. Print.
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