The Domino Effect of Discrimination

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Yanonis, Alicia Mrs. Lica English 3-4 Period 3 November 8, 2013 The Domino Effect of Discrimination In the biographical narrative, “By Any Other Name”, written by Santha Rama Rau, two young girls, Santha and her sister Premila, attend the Anglo-Indian Day school. Premila was separated from other students because of her ethnicity and culture. Resolving the problem, Premila took Santha and left without a word left to say. As the author tries to inform the reader how discrimination could effect the blending of cultures, the reader begins to feel a part of sadness and discomfort. The peevishness and irritable mood come off as a sense of anger to get us to feel sympathy for Premila and Santha. Analyzing the story helps us understand the author’s word choice for the discrimination of the Indian culture. In a sarcastic voice, “Oh my dears, those are much too hard for me. Suppose we give you pretty English names. Wouldn’t that be much more jolly?” (Rama Rau 114). The head mistress’s condescending tone creates tension because it makes the reader feel uncomfortable for the characters. Rama Rau puts this experience in the beginning of the story to set up the tension the reader will feel through out the story. Premila’s mom expresses, “You’re to small to have them. You won’t have them in donkey’s years” (Rama Rau 116). The author gives us this expression meaning a very long time to contrast its literal meaning as a figurative meaning. Rama Rau uses the idiomatic use words to show her identity and sense of culture included in the text. The word choice shows the differences in language in the cultures and how they are different. As they awake, “… finally, the shrill, fussy voice of the ayah waking one for tea” (Rama Rau 115). Rama Rau uses words that are spoken with in her culture to get us to see a variety of language. The reader values the sarcastic, idiomatic.
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