Essay Questions

Why is Mariamma's father dedicated to educating his daughter to the college level?

Mariamma's father discovers early that his daughter is intelligent, critical and curious. Whenever the father challenges Mariamma, she answers all questions smartly, which motivates him to ensure she achieves the highest level of education. The father does not want his daughter to get married early as her mother did. Instead, the father wants his daughter to pursue her education to achieve her dreams.

What is the symbolic meaning of water in the novel?

Water bodies are mentioned throughout the novel to symbolize death. Abraham Verghese uses water to represent a curse that has affected Ammachi's husband's family for three generations. Each year, a member of the family must die by drowning. Throughout Ammachi's life with her husband, she witnesses family members die by drowning, which saddens her. Fortunately, Ammachi survives the curse of death by drowning because she lives until her old age.

What is the main theme in the novel The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese?

The main theme in the novel is early marriage. The novel introduces a 12-year-old Mariamma who is married to a forty-year-old man. In the Kerala community, men make marriage decisions, and they marry off young girls in exchange for dowry and other gifts. When Mariamma's father dies, her uncle quickly arranges for her marriage. Mothers are not allowed to comment whenever fathers and close relatives make marriage proposals for their daughters. For instance, when Molay, Mariamma's uncle, says the girl has to be married at twelve, her mother is scared to question the decision because if she does, she will be kicked out of her house.