Nectar in a Sieve Questions and Answers
Nectar in a Sieve
What does the title Nectar in a Sieve mean?
The title Nectar in a Sieve symbolizes the fleeting and precarious nature of life's joys and sustenance, much like nectar passing through a sieve and losing its essence. The protagonist, Rukmani,...
Nectar in a Sieve
What does the "nectar in a sieve" symbolize about hope and despair?
The "nectar in a sieve" symbolizes the coexistence of hope and despair. Nectar represents hope and sustenance, while the sieve signifies the futility and despair as hope often slips away. Despite...
Nectar in a Sieve
What is the effect of industrialization in Nectar in a Sieve?
The effect of industrialization in Nectar in a Sieve is the destruction of traditional village life. The tannery disrupts the quiet, peaceful existence with smoke and noise, corrupting the villagers...
Nectar in a Sieve
In "Nectar in a Sieve", what are Rukmani's sons' names, and which one died as an infant and which was killed?
In "Nectar in a Sieve," Rukmani's sons' names are Arjun, Thambi, Murugan, Raja, Selvam, and Kiti. Kiti dies as an infant despite Ira's efforts to save him, and Raja is killed by a watchman at the...
Nectar in a Sieve
In Nectar in a Sieve, what is the significance of a dowry in marriage?
In Nectar in a Sieve, a dowry is crucial in marriage, impacting a bride's prospects and future happiness. Rukmani's lack of dowry and beauty led her to marry a poor farmer, Nathan, highlighting how...
Nectar in a Sieve
Who is Kenny and what is his role in Rukmani's life? How does nature affect the villagers' lives?
Kenny, an English doctor, is a crucial figure in Rukmani's life, serving as her benefactor, mentor, and friend. He helps her with infertility and provides material support, such as milk for her son....
Nectar in a Sieve
In Nectar in a Sieve, how did the tannery factory change Rukhami's village?
The tannery factory brought significant changes to Rukmani's village, both positive and negative. It created economic opportunities, allowing villagers to sell produce at higher prices. However, it...
Nectar in a Sieve
In chapter 8 of Nectar in a Sieve, how does the tannery affect the four women's lives?
In Chapter 8, the tannery significantly impacts the lives of four women. Kunthi welcomes its economic benefits, as her sons earn high wages, and she enjoys the attention of young men. Janaki,...
Nectar in a Sieve
Summarize Kennington and Rukmani's approaches to suffering and injustice in Nectar in a Sieve.
Kennington and Rukmani have contrasting views on suffering and injustice. Kennington, an English doctor, believes in taking action and raising awareness to alleviate suffering, as shown by his...
Nectar in a Sieve
What are Rukmani's struggles in "Nectar in a Sieve"?
Rukmani's struggles in "Nectar in a Sieve" include adjusting to a life of poverty after marrying a poor farmer, facing infertility, coping with her daughter Ira's failed marriage and subsequent life...
Nectar in a Sieve
What is Rukmani's attitude and actions towards the tannery in Chapter 4 of Nectar in a Sieve?
Rukmani's attitude towards the tannery is initially curious but quickly turns to resentment and foreboding as she perceives its negative impact on village life. She is disturbed by the changes, such...
Nectar in a Sieve
In Nectar in a Sieve, what is Rukmani's first money-making activity in the city and its irony?
Rukmani's first money-making activity in the city is reading and writing letters for others. The situational irony lies in her expectation that literacy would be valuable, especially in an urban...
Nectar in a Sieve
What does Nectar in a Sieve reveal about India's caste system?
The novel reveals the caste system as a pervasive aspect of Indian society, affecting different generations in varied ways. Rukmani, shaped by her own experience of marrying into a lower caste due to...
Nectar in a Sieve
In Nectar in a Sieve, what secrets do Nathan and Rukmani reveal involving Kunthi?
Rukmani and Nathan reveal secrets about Kunthi's manipulations. Nathan confesses he fathered Kunthi's sons and she has been blackmailing him for rice by threatening to expose his infidelity. Rukmani...
Nectar in a Sieve
What is the sad irony in this sentence from Nectar in a Sieve: "When Kuti was gone - with bland indifference that...
The sad irony in the sentence from Nectar in a Sieve lies in the timing of events. Kuti dies from starvation, and soon after, an unexpectedly abundant harvest arrives, providing wealth and food that...
Nectar in a Sieve
Can you provide events where Rukmani shows success is impossible without hope?
Rukmani's life demonstrates that success is impossible without hope. Her hope in Western medicine leads to the birth of five sons, despite earlier infertility. After a monsoon devastates her village,...
Nectar in a Sieve
What is the impact of the dowry on social class in Nectar in a Sieve?
The dowry system in "Nectar in a Sieve" highlights the rigid class structures and limited social mobility in the society depicted. Dowries are crucial for securing advantageous marriages, often...
Nectar in a Sieve
What is the significance of Ira's birth in Nectar in a Sieve?
The significance of Ira's birth in Nectar in a Sieve is that it proves a disappointment to Rukmani, who was hoping for a boy. Rukmani's disappointment at having Ira gives us an insight into the...
Nectar in a Sieve
What conclusion can be drawn about Dr. Kenny's wife in Nectar in a Sieve?
Dr. Kenny's wife in Nectar in a Sieve appears to have become estranged due to his dedication to his work in India, which led to him leaving his family behind. His wife has left him, and his sons have...
Nectar in a Sieve
Why does Rukmani vividly describe her garden in "Nectar in a Sieve"?
Rukmani describes her garden vividly in "Nectar in a Sieve" to symbolize her personal growth and resilience. Initially fearful and uncertain in her marriage, she nurtures her garden, reflecting her...
Nectar in a Sieve
What role does the tannery play in Nectar in a Sieve?
The tannery in Nectar in a Sieve symbolizes the themes of change and colonialism. It disrupts the traditional, agrarian lifestyle of the villagers, introducing urban complexities and a colonial...
Nectar in a Sieve
How does Kamala Markandaya use and challenge Indian cultural traditions in the early chapters of Nectar in a Sieve?
In the early chapters, Kamala Markandaya uses Indian cultural traditions to illustrate the challenges faced by a poverty-stricken family. She highlights the practice of child marriage and the dowry...
Nectar in a Sieve
What lessons does the main character learn in "Nectar in a Sieve"?
Rukmani learns to adapt to poverty after marrying Nathan, a poor farmer. Initially resentful of her new life in a mud hut without furniture, she grows to appreciate her circumstances and becomes a...
Nectar in a Sieve
What major historical event occurred before Kamala Markandaya wrote Nectar in a Sieve?
The major historical event that occurred before Kamala Markandaya wrote Nectar in a Sieve, published in 1954, was India's independence in 1947. This marked the end of two hundred years of British...
Nectar in a Sieve
How does Ruku evolve throughout Nectar in a Sieve?
Ruku evolves from a hopeful young girl to a wise, resilient woman. Initially naive and fearful after marrying a tenant farmer, she learns to embrace her circumstances and finds joy in her family and...
Nectar in a Sieve
What is Rukmani’s family background and why did she marry Nathan?
Rukmani, the youngest daughter of a village headman, grew up in a family that initially had wealth and influence. Her older sisters married well due to their father's status. However, by the time...
Nectar in a Sieve
What decorations does Ruku see in her new home and what might their conditions symbolize?
Ruku observes a garland of mango leaves adorning her new home, meant to symbolize happiness and good fortune. However, the leaves are dry and rattling, which might symbolize the precariousness of...
Nectar in a Sieve
What could Markandaya be implying about religion's role in the characters' lives in Nectar in a Sieve, through...
In Nectar of a Sieve, Markandaya’s cynical attitude towards religion comes across in Rukmani’s narrative. Rukmani and her family frequently pray to the gods for help and protection, but the only...
Nectar in a Sieve
Why was having a son important for Rukmani in "Nectar in a Sieve"?
Having a son was crucial for Rukmani due to the cultural expectations in mid-1900s rural India. Sons were seen as future providers who could learn their father's trade and ensure financial stability...
Nectar in a Sieve
In Nectar in a Sieve, what surprises Rukmani and Nathan most about Murugan's former employer?
When Rukmani and Nathan finally find out that their land will be sold to the tannery, they are shocked and dismayed. Without the land, they have nothing. They decide to go to the city and find help...
Nectar in a Sieve
Who represents tradition in the face of change in Nectar in a Sieve?
One could say that Rukmani in Nectar in a Sieve represents tradition in the face of change. We can see this through the way she adapts to the ancient rhythms of village life despite the many...