Hardships in Life.
In the novel Nectar in a Sieve, written by Kamala Markandaya, the characters portrays many difficulties a person goes through in their life. The main character, Rukmani is the first one who goes through many difficulties in order to keep her family happy. She comes from a good family, but is married to a tenant farmer. Rukmani has to learn many chores in the household and she also helps Nathan, by selling some of her homegrown vegetables in the market. This happiness does not last very long for the family when the monsoon strikes and destroys all of their crops. With more people in the family, and less food to go around, Rukmani tries hard to saver her family from starvation. Rukmani and her family live through many struggles and hardships that occur, Markandaya demonstrates that one’s hope will help overcome harsh moments in life.
Rukmani is one of the few characters to show hope for the future throughout the book. She is always there for her family and she, does not want her family to starve when their crops are destroyed. The monsoon season destroys all of their crops, and they still have to pay the landowner money for the land. Their only source of food or money is their next crop, which has to be enough to pay the debt and be able to provide them with food. As the rains were come to an end Rukmani takes the seed to the “ Goddess and places it at her feet to receive her blessings ” (78). The family waits as they see the seeds grow, because the seeds contain “ [their] future and [their] hope” (78). Rukmani holds hope for this crop to be ready by the harvest season because she knew that they would be able to pay their debt. Not only does Rukmani have hope for her farmland, but she also has hope for her children. She always wishes the best for them, and she does not want to see them struggle. Rukmani tries to save up when ever she can so she does not have to see her children starve. When Selvam is offered a job at Kenny’s...