Maji Abstract in Heat and Dust
Maji Abstract in Heat and DustShe sat astride me. I couldn’t see her clearly in the dark, but she seemed larger than life and made me think of some mythological figure: one of those potent Indian goddesses who hold life and death in one hand and play them like a yo-yo.
The quote is from the Narrator. She is talking about Maji, a friend of Inder Lal’s mother. Many villagers believe that Maji has certain powers (54). Initially, I think this quote is rather simple, but on a more intimate level it is revealing the Narrator’s fascination and bewilderment over the exotic and sacred practices of Indian women. The quote is rich in imagery and symbolism. When the Narrator says that Maji is “larger than life” and much like the “potent Indian goddesses” my perception of Maji becomes much more complex (164). I begin to appreciate Maji’s simplicity and wisdom in a way that would not have been possible without the quote.
Throughout the novel, we get to learn more about Maji. According to the Narrator, Maji is a very earthy-looking peasant woman; she is quite fat and always jolly (83). This quote supplements other interesting facts about Maji. The narrator regards Maji as an enigma, a mysterious force of human and supernatural elements. The Narrator tells us that Maji was a midwife, a fact that seems to surprise the Narrator more than if Maji actually had supernatural powers (138).
The quote also helps me to understand the importance of Maji’s character in the Novel. As with India, Maji is much more complex and advanced than what we initially perceive. Maji had been a married woman with several children. She had been the bread winner for her family, then after her husband’s death, Maji spent several years on holy pilgrimages (138). The Narrator is surprised to discover that Maji continues to have a worldly life despite her dependence on friends and her life...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.