“Why did we do all of that work in the first place? Why train us, encourage us, make us produce all of that? If we’re just going to give donations anyway, then die, why all those lessons? Why all those books and discussions?” (Ishiguro, 259)

Kathy is asking these questions about the importance of her actions at Hailsham but this priniciple also can be applied to the real world. It opens the door to discuss whether living your life well is worth it considering the inevitability of death. Should impending death diminish or augment ones will to live a great life. Madame and Miss Emily would advocate that although one is predestined for an early death, the need to acquire knowledge is not in vain.

Loss is the one of the most relevant aspects of this narrative. Kathy is faced with loss in abundance and uses her memories of those she has lost to cope with the inevitability of potentially her own death or human loss as a whole. Hailsham students grasp on loss is even more distorted because of their shortened life spans and their view of donations. Although, they are cloned individuals they still identify with the natural human experience including a fear of death. This is seen in the mention of deferrals which in essence is only an extension of the time leading to donation. This desire for more time is in line with the human desire to prolong the living experience.  

The tidiness and positive conclusion to the story is super interesting considering the level of complication Grace has been through throughout the narrative. Grace receives the fairytale ending or the traditional happily ever after through marrying and becoming pregnant. Atwood could be using this as a plot device to show the reader that a character like Grace does deserve the storybook happily ever after. It could also lend itself to a feminist argument as a commentary on what is expected for a female protagonist. It does not subvert the fairytale ending but rather displays it head on with the “reward” of marriage and pregnancy. 

One of the most interesting elements throughout is the prevalence of haunting and the major paradox created by the idea of Grace becoming possessed by Mary’s spirit. Grace suffers from being wrapped in two personalities. She is both Grace and Mary. Another interesting aspect is point of view. Grace is the first person narrator of the book, but Atwood also interjects vital information to Grace’s story that show evidence of multiple narrators. This further blurs the line between the real and the fictional. Multiple narrators as well as multiple personalities creates a confusing scenerio. Atwood uses this theme to keep readers perplexed about who has committed the crimes.

Question One:

Does the fragmentation of Saleem’s memory distort the reliability of his narration?

• No, it does not distort his reliability, but informs it within this genre.
  • Quote one
    • On page 119, Saleem summarizes the thirty-two years before his birth “which condemned me [Saleem] to see my own life—its meanings, its structures—in fragments also; so that by the time I understood it, it was far too late” (Rushdie).

• Clear example of Fragmentation, which is important considering Saleem is the main character.
• The first book is told in fragments, creating the backbone of the fragmentation technique Rushdie used to craft this narrative.
  • Rushdie is telling the story of a country he was not there to witness or see, through Saleem who is focusing on the first 32 years before he even came into existence – a set of information that could have only been passed down to him. (not an authentic memory)
  • The fragments of Saleem’s history create the Saleem that understand moving forward in the novel.

• Quote two:
  • But here is Padma at my elbow, bullying me back into the world of linear narrative, the universe of what-happened-next…. I know now that she is, despite all her protestations, hooked. (Rushdie 37).
    • Much like Padma, the reader is uncomfortable in the lack of a linear narrative, and Rushdie uses this moment to point it out.
      • As the reader moves forward within the novel, we begin to look past the need for a linear structure and look to Saleem to inform us of important information.
      • Thus making us rely on his narrative for the duration of the novel.

Question Two:

There is a clear symbiotic relationship between Saleem and India; where do you believe the power of that relationship lies?

• There are four ways one can look at this relationship
  • Saleem’s narrative informs the history of India
  • The history of India informs Saleem’s Narrative
  • To understand himself Saleem must anchor his identity into the history of India because it is a solid foundation.
    • In his mind he believes that he is the center of the universe.
      • Quote 4: “I was already beginning to take my place at the center of the universe; and by the time I had finished, I would give meaning to it all.” (143-144)
    • However this comes off as biased and narcissistic. In any first person narrative, one’s opinion of something else tells us more about them.
  • As a reader we find that he, as an old man, is working through his understanding of himself and has anchored it into the history of India. In fact he resonates with the history as the core of his identity,
    • Quote 3: “I ask you only to accept (as I have accepted) that I shall eventually crumble into (approximately) six hundred and thirty million particles of anonymous, and necessarily oblivious dust. This is why i have resolved to confide in paper, before I forget. (We are a narration of forgetters.) (Rushdie 36).
      • When the book was published (1981), the population of India was at like 700 million, but in 1976 like 5 years prior, the population was at 635 million. So assuming that’s around the time Rushdie wrote this iit would make sense that Saleem is not only tied to his country but a deep metaphor for the fate of that country as much as it is a metaphor for what will happen in his narrative.
    • Ultimately proving that the power of their relationship is interdependent on both, as their historys unfolded simultaneously.

One of the most interesting elements of the narrative thus far are the parallels seen between Salman and Saleem and their birth into independence and the turmoil that follows historically. Saleem’s story reflects some of the experience of Salman Rushdie probably quite literally. Along with this parallel, Saleem’s life parallels the story of the entire nation. His life experiences align with significant historical events allowing for the individual story of Saleem to represent that of the entire nation of India. Although this is a retelling of personal events there is an element of connectivity that shows a representation greater than self. 

Both of these short stories exhibit blatant signs of haunting, but are portrayed using different literary techniques. The Demon Lover seems to be literally haunting Mrs. Drover. Although it is made clear who is believed to be haunting Kathleen, there is a level of ambiguity in this haunting surrounding the actions of the supernatural being. This includes the placement of the letter and the knowledge of her destination without it being stated. Ambiguity is found in The Happy Autumn Fields as well. The most present example of this is the lack of information surrounding Mary’s connection to Sarah or the ambiguity surrounding the death of Eugene. Mary’s knowledge of the family is unexplained except through some random letters leaving the reader in a state of amibiguity. Another aspect to compare is the point-of-view in which they were told. The Demon Lover is a third person narrative and The Happy Autumn Fields is omniscient. This changes the level of ambiguity by changing the knowledge of the narrator.

A Passage to India has numerous examples of cultural division pertaining to race and racial relations. It was not uncommon or surprising to have seen a cultural divide between British inhabitants and Indians. The sentiment of the time period is reflected in the attitude of the characters toward “orientals”, but also the text is utlized as a commentary to denigrate the stereotypes surrounding this group of people. 

“You’re superior to them, anyway. Don’t forget that. You’re superior to everyone in India except one or two of the Ranis, and they’re on an equality.” (Location 615, Kindle eBook)

This quote from Mrs. Turton epitomizes the common mindset of a great deal of Englishwomen within the text and in reality during this time period. This is a reflection of the cultural rhetoric that contributes to negative stereotypes perpetuating the notion of “orientalism”.

Memories and the action of recollection is a powerful theme utilized throughout the text. Each character is followed by thoughts from their past that affect their present day lives. Clarissa’s internal battle with her sexuality is tested regularly by her memories of Sally. She values these memories deeply which could be contributing to complications with her husband. Other than Clarissa, Septimus arguably has the most important and haunting memories turned hallucinations. Ultimately his suicide was a result of his haunting past, and it deeply affected Clarissa. When Sir and Lady Bradshaw arrive and mention a recent suicide during her extravagent party initially Clarissa was incredibly upset by it. Was this because of the fact that Lady Bradshaw mentioned death and tainted the positive energy of her function, or was it the memory of the recent suicide of Septimus. Overall, the memory of Septimus killing himself shifted Clarissa’s outlook on life to be surprisingly more positive.

One of the major themes present from early on is the hierarchy of social class. This element plays an important role in the interactions and relationships in Mrs Dalloway. This is due to the fact that most of the characters are fully aware of the relevancy of social hierarchy and their place within the system. Clarissa’s social standing allows her to throw lavish parties with high profile guests but also dictates her interactions with those she feels are beneath her. Clarissa affiliates with those of the same social standing or higher and in this society one boosts their social standing through affiliation. I found it interesting how everyone was affected by the passing of the motor car. This slight affiliation with an individual of high social prominence was enough to fill the entire area with pride including Clarissa. “The motor car with its blinds drawn and an air of inscrutable reserve proceeded towards Piccadilly, still gazed at, still ruffling the faces on both sides of the street with the same dark breath of veneration whether for Queen, Prince, or Prime Minister nobody knew,” (Woolf, Pg 5 Location 200 eBook).