Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of hope is “the feeling that something desired can be had or will happen”. Katherine Boo addresses how hope affects the people of Annawadi, a slum near Mumbai, in her book Behind the Beautiful Forevers. Hope may seem irrelevant in places as poor and corrupt, but it inspires Annawadians to follow their dreams of a better life. By encouraging them to chase their goals, hope mainly has a positive impact on the people of Annawadi, but is damaging when given up on.
The positive benefits of hope are most clearly seen as the character Asha achieves her goal and creates a better life for her and her family. The independent woman desired power and influence, and as a result, “Corporator Subhash Sawant, on hand to address the residents, offered
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Abdul was wrongfully accused of murdering his neighbor, Fatima. His mother managed to convince everyone he was a minor, so he would serve any sentence in a juvenile hall. There, Abdul was enrolled in a class with a very inspirational teacher known as The Master. The Master convinced Abdul to make a more conscious effort in improving his morals. Upon his release, Abdul began demonstrating these changes. He compared it to ice and water; ice is clean, while water can carry dirt, or corruption. By the end of the book, Abdul goes back to this comparison and claims “‘[he] tried to keep the ice inside [him] from melting’” (Boo 241). This idea of melting implies that, at any moment, Abdul could become “dirty” or corrupt. Because of this, he has to constantly watch his own behavior and find ways to improve himself. By constantly becoming a better person, Abdul will began to treat those around him better and they will generally return the same attitude. In the end, both Abdul and his community will see the benefits of his continued efforts to reach his