“A queen who trusts no one is as foolish
as a queen who trusts everyone”
-Daenerys Targaryen
9/8/2017 0 Comments Beyond The Beautiful ForeversBy: Lina GruberBeyond The Beautiful Forevers illustrates the daily life of families living in the slums of India. Specifically, in the Annawadi Slum, which resides beside the airport, and is tightly populated with people crammed into such a small space. The story follows families trying to rise up in society, and to at least reach the middle class. It also follows the stories of those who seek a better life, choosing to work hard and persevere. The main point in Katherine Boo's non-fiction novel, is the importance of women, and how their role in family, and their ability to adjust to various hardships allows them to succeed. For example Manju, a young girl trying to thrive within her family is about to graduate college so she won't have to rely on a man for the rest of her life. She hopes for a future, and to break the ancient traditions of her country and caste, but most of all by holding some form of knowledge she recognizes that she has power. Whiles studying, Manju takes the time to teach kindergarten children in order to promote and spread knowledge to future generations. She is not afraid to express defiance against her mother's corrupt actions. her mother takes advantage of the citizens of Annawadi, and swindles them of their money that they receive from government anti-poverty programs. Like Manju, another character labors every second of the novel, trying to elevate herself and her family to middle class title. Asha, is an incredibly strong and intelligent women, who works incredibly hard to forge her own name in her community as the "Go to Girl". By overtaking the title and officially becoming the SlumLord of Annawadi, towards the end of the novel, Asha dedicates all of her time to making money through bribes from the other residents of Annawadi and taking advantage of the government anti-poverty programs. Through this, she finds a way to climb up the low hierarchy of the slum in hopes to build up to the middle class. Her main goal is to support her family and her children, Manju and Rahul, who she hopes will have a greater future/life than she has. Another strong female character is Zehrunisa, the head of her family, the Husain's. Despite the fact that she wishes to fulfill the role of being a wife, and mother, something that is expected by a Muslim women, she has been forced to work and take part in the family business due to the ill health of her husband, Karam. Yet despite Zehrunisa’s misgivings, she clearly enjoys some of the freedoms she receives from working. Zehrunisa feels some kinship with the other residents of Annawadi, especially Fatima (who is the only other Muslim woman near her), but she also wants to do better than the poor families who live in the slum. And she recognizes that by working she has freedom and power that she would never have as a traditional Muslim woman. This power elevates her status her status in the slum. Although the Beyond The Beautiful Forevers shares a rather pitiful story of death, suicide, terrorism, poverty, business, and Illness. These three women have persevered through it all. They earn respect despite the fact that women are discriminated against in their culture. Asha, the SlumLord, Manju with her education, and Zehrunisa, a working muslim woman, all show courage and strength in the daily life of Annawadi Slums. Their behavior and actions have elevated them as role models in their community. Katherine Boo's Perspective:
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