Poverty Poverty is one of the three major, dominant, overarching themes in Katherine Boo's book, "Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity". Poverty - a lack of basic needs and wealth - stalks the people documented in the book like a nightmare, and influences every single part of their lives and their stories. In Annawadi, poverty is nearly inescapable and unavoidable. People are born into such poverty all over the world, and in Annawadi, it is no different. There is no running water, no indoor plumbing, no relief services, no cleaning services, and the people do not take care of what they have, because they can barely afford to take care of themselves. As a driving force, poverty causes contention between …show more content…
For Abdul, scavenging thievery seem the likeliest way, until after his spiritual awakening. From there on, he aspires to rise above his circumstances honestly. For Asha, corrupt politics, sex, and later a Department of Education scheme, are the surest way to ascend from poverty. Indeed, Asha goes so far as to desire to raise her own social status through seeking an arranged marriage for her daughter, using her as a bargaining chip. Hope Hope is one of the three major, dominant, overarching themes in Katherine Boo's book, "Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity". Hope, which entails the desire and seeking of a promise of a better future, exists in the hearts and minds of all Indians, including those in the slum Annawadi. Economic liberalization and globalization with the West have led many Indians to believe that the entire Indian culture will rise in prosperity thanks to such policies and ideas. Indeed, some, like Manju, are so heavily invested in the idea of freedom that they embrace Western culture, including mastering the language of English. Poverty is, ironically, the wellspring of hope for Indians and those portrayed in Katherine Boo's book. Abdul,