Midnight
Adiga writes, “At midnight, the water’s skin breaks, and the kadal kanni, mermaids, emerge out of the lagoon dripping with moonlight. From the time he was about four or five years old, Danny had walked to talk to a mermaid.” Midnights offer ideal ambiances for the mermaids. Their appearance which occurs in the backdrop of moonlight creates an amazing sight. Danny is convinced about the mermaid’s existence since he yearns to converse with one.
Lagoon
Adiga describes, “Currents of the lagoon flowing out of those of the Indian Ocean flowing in neutralized each other, producing an illusion of perfect stillness in the water: a solitary white egret stood with one black foot in the spot, to mark the gateway to the world.” The currents’ flow depicts a tranquil setting which is apart from the ordinary world. Here, the egret marks the distinction between the outer world and the lagoon. The patterns of the currents are orderly and organized resulting in an unimaginable perfection.
Danny
Adiga writes, “His five-foot-seven body looked like it had been expertly packed into itself, and even when he was doing hard physical labor his gaze was dreamy, as if he owned a farm somewhere far away. With an elegant oval jaw, and that long, thin forehead’s suggestion of bookishness, he was not, except when he smiled and exhibited cracked teeth, an overseas threat. ” Danny is strong and imposing. His forehead offer an impression that he is scholarly. The ‘ cracked teeth’ depict his imperfection and differentness. Based on his appearance it would be difficult to conclude that he is a cleaner.
Sydney
Adiga elucidates, “Danny divided Sydney into two kinds of suburbs-thick bum, where the working classes lived, ate badly, where the working classes lived, ate badly, and cleaned for themselves; and thin bum, where the fit and young people ate salads and jogged a lot but almost never cleaned their own homes.” The suburbs are based on the residents’ economic statuses. Danny does a market segmentation for Sydney to establish his likelihood of finding cleaning jobs. In both suburbs, the demand for cleaners such as Danny is low.
