[Behind the Beautiful Forevers]
In chapter 15 “Ice” of Behind the Beautiful Forevers, the Husain family struggles to maintain a dying business while the trail of Karam and Kahkashan continues on. Abduls younger brother Mirichi, often noted as the lazy one, is forced to find work.
Boo writes “Water and ice were made of the same thing. He though most people were made of the same thing, too. He himself was probably little different, constitutionally, from the cynical, corrupt people around him – the police officers and the special executive officer and the morgue doctor who fixed Kalu’s death. If he had to sort all humanity by its material essence, he thought he would probably end up with a single gigantic pile. But here was the interesting thing. Ice was distinct from – and in his view, better than what it was made of” (360).
What’s one scene from the chapter that drew your interest? In brief, explain why that scene intrigued you. Please cite the page number(s) of the scene you identify.
--Kacee Aldridge
10 comments:
The scene that interested me the most, was on pages 358-359. It speaks about how the attacks on the Taj and Oberoi left the wealthy and upper class people feeling like the poor people.Their security and safety was at the same level as the poor, and they were forced to come out of their own world and see what it was like for everyone else. Also, they were all registering to vote. Usually it was just the poor who voted, because they needed the most change, now the wealthy need change. The wealthy only care about the elections and change when it affects them. When it was the poor that need help, the wealthy don't even blink an eye.
The scene from the chapter that drew my attention was on pages 360-361. This was where Abdul not only dreamed about turning into something that was better than where he came from such as ice does with water, but the part that intrigued me the most was the case on page 361.
During the Hussain case, one of the officers attempts to trick Abdul’s father by saying that the trial would be called off by Fatima’s husband for a fee. It is so interesting to see even when it is most certain that Abdul will be charged, and all the pain they have endured financially and physically, that the government would continue to try to take advantage of them up to the very end.
Jacquelene G.
A scene from this chapter that drew my interest the most is a scene that begins on the bottom of page 362 and describes how the quick-witted, creative nature of people in India is most likely due to the nature of their everyday life. It goes into depth by discussing how first world countries in Europe and like the U.S. can make safe assumptions in their everyday lives; an example given was how we expect our lights to turn on and our water to work everyday. They, however, can not be certain about those daily aspects that seem so minuscule to us. They have to have the ability to be creative and quick on their feet for these uncertainties life throws their way. I think the truth in this speculation is what intrigued me about it.
The scene that interested me was on page 361-362. With everything that has been going on with the Hussain family, it's amazing to me that people can still be trying to run them down. During the trial, after the original judge is reassigned, Fatima's husband still tries to trick the Hussain's into giving up more money. It's not just Fatima's husband who is a problem though. Even the officers and other authoritative figures are still trying to take advantage of the Hussain family and any other slum dwellers they can. There is such a corrupted system that needs to be address in Annawadi and surrounding areas.
What interested me most about the chapter was the quote from an Annawadian girl, "We try so many things but the world doesn't move in our favor(362-363)" To me, this highlights the oppressive system that exists within the country that keeps people from moving up in life. The fact that they only way to gain status is to bribe your way shows how the rich keep in power but also preys on the poor. The perfect example is how the special executive officer tried to get the Husains to pay her and Fatima's husband to dismiss the trail, despite the fact that that would be impossible. Those in power only try to exhort money from others to gain more wealth as well as stay in power. The poor, sadly, are kept from gaining anything to better themselves.
Marta A.
The scene that drew my attention the most was the one on page 360, when Abdul is thinking about the difference between water and ice. I thought it was an interesting simile to be like ice instead of water. Of course, I've realized that ice stays separate from water when put into a glass even though they are composed of the same thing, but it was surprising that Abdul could find a deeper meaning in this. It was also inspiring that he could draw so much motivation from something so small and insignificant to other people.
I was most intrigued by the scene about the terrorist attacks (358-359).. The people should be very frightened because there seems to be no order in society. The police lack arms or don't get to the people on time leading to more casualties. It is eye-opening to know that a lot of places aren't as protected or secure as more technologically advanced countries such as the U.S.
The scene that drew my interest the most from this chapter was when a new judge was appointed to the Husains' case, which resulted in the special executive officer and Fatima's husband attempting to extort payment (361-362). Aside from the fact that the special executive officer and Fatima's husband attempted to gain profit from this tragedy, Karam's firm belief in the justice system amazed me. Karam was able to draw on knowledge that he acquired from reading Urdu newspapers in order to dismiss the bribe, "the case against them was a criminal one...Fatima's husband didn't have the power to call it off" (362).
I absolutely loves Abdul's thoughts on ice and water and comparing their traits to people (page 360). It is so insightful and surprising coming from him.
The part that drew my interest the most was the paragraph on page 362 that says that in America and Europe it is said that people knew what was going to happpen when they turned on the faucet or flicked the light switch, but in India, chronic uncertainty was said to have produced a nation of quick witted, creative problem solvers. This paragraph interested my because it is kind of sad to know that this is true of our nation, that we are somewhat more lazy than others and get things handed to us with little or no effort, while other nations have to strive to survive, and still don't get to experience all of the luxuries that people in our country get to experience.
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