Links between the two plots

LINKS BETWEEN THE TWO PLOTS (1970s – 1923)

BUILDINGS:
- the narrator got Olivia’s letters –> Douglas and Olivia’s house is a post office now
- Inder Lal works in what was the house of Mr and Mrs Crawford

- In the beginning of the novel the narrator is alone
- Olivia is alone and feels lonely (because Douglas is always at work, has no time for her)

- the narrator has conversation problems when she tries to talk to Inder Lal’s mother, doesn’t know much Hindi –> feels left out (p.13 ff.)
- Olivia doesn’t know the language too and can’t converse with the Begum –> feels left out (p. 32 ff.)

- the narrator wants to learn the language to communicate with the natives
- Olivia thinks she has to learn the language (p.41)

- she is often called a ‘hijra’ (p. 14)
- Beth Crawford also looked like a ‘hijra’ and was called likewise (p.15)

- the narrator sees the Saunders’ baby’s grave with the marble angel on it (p. 28 )
- Olivia and Douglas visit the grave of the Saunders’ baby (p. 29)

- the narrator is on a picnic at Baba Firdaus’ shrine with Inder Lal’s mother and her friends (on Husband’s Wedding Day)
- Olivia and the Nawab have a picnic at Baba Firdaus’ shrine (p. 45)

- the narrator and Inder Lal have a picnic at Baba Firdaus’ shrine, they tie two red strings, make love (p. 160 ff)
- Olivia and Nawab go to Baba Firdaus’ shrine, they also tie two red strings and make love (p. 123 ff)

- narrator seduces Inder Lal (Inder Lal: passive, narrator: active)
- the Nawab seduces Olivia (classic gender roles; Nawab: active, Olivia: passive)

- Inder Lal is torn between the narrator and his wife Ritu
- Olivia is torn between the Nawab and Douglas

- the narrator gets pregnant, but doesn’t tell Inder Lal (130)
- Olivia gets pregnant and doesn’t tell Douglas (131)