Entry 1:
Quote: "The cook had laughed. 'It's not a lucky day to leave,' he said, 'the old woman has died at last. After so many tries. One would think she was hanging on purpose just to be difficult. But she wasn't a natural for suicide at all. Always she wanted to live.'"
Response: This quote engenders a mix of emotions—sadness, empathy, and even a hint of dark humor. The author, Kiran Desai, uses vivid imagery to portray the old woman's struggle to hold on to life. The juxtaposition of the cook's laughter and the topic of death creates an unsettling feeling. The metaphorical reference to the woman not being "a natural for suicide" suggests that life's hardships can be overwhelming, even if one wants to continue living. This quote sets the
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Inside, the sound of a woman weeping had become a river of sorrow flowing ceaselessly, and all the thoughts he had managed to stem broke loose and carried him back to a place of pain."
Response: This quote skillfully uses imagery to draw a parallel between the external world and the character's inner emotions. The moon's gravitational pull and the rising water symbolize the overwhelming force of emotions welling up inside the character. The river of sorrow becomes a poignant representation of the character's grief and the memories that haunt him. This passage creates a profound emotional response, capturing the intensity of the character's pain and loss.
Entry 7:
Quote: "But now he was surrounded by trees so tall and thick he couldn’t see the top, so he couldn’t see the sky, either, and he felt like he was in a well. The sky was a distant idea."
Response: The use of metaphor, comparing the dense forest to a well, emphasizes the character's feeling of confinement and isolation. The inability to see the sky creates a sense of claustrophobia, evoking an emotional response of unease and disconnection from the outside world. This passage effectively conveys the character's sense of being lost in a vast and unfamiliar environment.
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