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-grandmother's life in Satipur

has no difficulties in adapting to Indian culture

modest, tolerant, open-minded

gains an insight into Hindu life through Inder Lal's family

not oblivious to the cruelty, hypocrazy and condescending behaviour of Satipur

prespective: analyses her surroundings

reasonable and rational

irritation at Chid's 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 Olivia's 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 narrator's 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 Olivia's life

Inder Lal introduces her to the way of living in India

Close relationship with Inder Lal's 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

She's 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 husband's 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