Nectar and a Sieve

655 Words3 Pages
Dependable and Sturdy During the novel Nectar and a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya, shows an array of relationships that have both hope and despair. The novel exposes the life of poverty and how one lives through the struggles of poverty. The father and son in this novel show a range of emotions and complications. The father feels that he was put on this earth to survive, and work hard ,“we will learn what it is to have a home and children and tenant a farm.” Nathan and Selevam’s relationship changes and provides both hope and despair. There are examples of how their relationship is continuously evolving throughout the story. This story displays the ups and downs of their rocky relationship as father and son , thus providing the reader with evidence of both hope and despair. Their relationship is shown through a positive light when the sons are continuing to mature and learn about the land. Nathan loved to have his sons beside him and loved teaching them about the land. Nathan’s plan from when his sons were very young was that as soon as they were old enough, they would be working with him on the land, no questions asked. That was his dream and he planned to be proactive about it .The one he was most certain would be working with him was Selvam “He liked to see his sons beside him, to teach them the ways of the earth: how to sow; to transplant; to know” (Markandaya , 87).This quote shows how Nathan had hope in his sons working on the land with him. Also, how he is positive that Selvam will be working along with him as well as all his other sons. However, as the sons come of age to begin working with their father, they realize there are other options . Selvam, in particular who begins to work at the hospital. He helps build the hospital, and then devotes himself to it. When he does this, it is very discouraging for Nathan, Nathan can’t

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