Essay Questions

Deconstruct the morning after Deeti’s wedding night scenario.

Gosh writes, “When she opened her eyes next morning there was a dull ache in her lower abdomen and a painful soreness between her legs. Her clothes were in disarray and she reached down to discover that her thighs were crusted with blood. Her husband was lying beside her, with the brass box in his arms, his clothes undisturbed.” The ache deduces that she was molested while she was unconscious. Blood is a confirmation that she has forfeited her virginity. The husband’s intact clothes infer that he may not have been intimate with her because if he had, he would have removed his clothes. Deeti’s purity means that she had not forfeited her erotic innocence at the time of getting hitched to Singh.

Which allusion does Gosh employ to situate Sea of Poppies in its appropriate context?

Historical allusion: “After the British proved victorious, they had proved as adept at the learning of English as they had previously been in the acquisition of Persian and Urdu. When it was to their advantage, they were glad to shape their lives to the world of the English; yet they were vigilant always to prevent too deep an intersection between the two circles. The inner determinations of the white mercantile community, and its private accountings of profit and opportunity.”

Historical allusion explores the adverse implications of British Imperialism in India. The repercussions of the colonization trickle down to the micro realm. Britain targets capitalizing on India manipulatively and fortifying her impact through the English language. Besides, the colonization heartens prejudice which is embodied in the ‘ two circles.’

Explicate the irony of money.

Gosh observes, “But money, if not mastered, can bring ruin as well as riches, and for the Halders the new stream of wealth was to prove more a curse than a blessing.” Gosh’s ironic remark underscores that although money is a source of stability, when it is misused it brings woes upon the rich. Gosh elucidates, “Learning of the zemindar's new source of wealth, his mistresses – of whom he had exactly as many as there were days in the week, so as to be able to spend each night in a different bed – grew more exigent, vying with each other in asking for gifts, baubles, houses, and jobs for their relatives. Always a doting lover, the old zemindar gave in to most of their demands, with the result that his debts increased until all the silver Mr Burnham earned for him was being channelled directly to his creditors.” For zemindar, money is an utter curse because he runs out of it due to the accruing debts. Prior to his bankruptcy he pampers himself using romantic engagements with mistresses as a way of exhibiting his money. His indulgence depletes his finances ultimately. Money invested in pleasure cannot harvest concrete revenues, it yields debts.