Dec 29, 2009

Good Advice Is Rarer than Rubies | Character Analysis

Miss Rehana opens the story, and her beauty more than anything else initially characterizes her, especially the beauty of her eyes, which are “large and black and bright enough not to need the help of antimony.” The use of “antimony,” with refers to metallic elements, turns her eyes into jewels so bright they need nothing to make them more beautiful. In celebrating her eyes, the text celebrates India itself. Even the usually rude lala at the gate of the consulate extends some courtesy to Miss Rehana. As for the elderly Muhammad Ali, her eyes make him feel young...