What Does Nectar In A Sieve Mean

The main character in Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya, Rukmani, has shown many characteristics. One of these characteristics is that she is protective over her children and wants good things for them. Another one of these characteristics is that she is grateful for everything she has in her life. Also, Rukmani is a generous women, and thinks of other people before herself. All of these characteristics put together make an amazing character that has lots of depth and interesting thoughts.
One characteristic that is shown in Rukmani is that she is protective over her children and wants the best for them. When Ira got married, Rukmani knew how she felt when she was leaving. Rukmani says that “My spirit ached with pity. I longed to be able to comfort her, to convince her that in a few months time her new home would be the most significant part of her life, the rest only a preparation…”(36). This shows that Rukmani feels bad for Ira because she knows that Ira is not very content with what is happening. Rukmani went through what Ira is going through and is hoping that she will understand that this is the way of life and to learn to love and live with her husband.

Once Rukmani settles in with her husband, Nathan, she begins to describe her ideal life. Rukmani says her ideal life is when “...the sun shines on you and the fields are green and beautiful to the eye, and your husband sees beauty in you which no one has seen before, and you have a good store of grain laid away for hard times, a roof over you and a sweet stirring in your body, what more can a woman ask for.”(8). Rukmani describes this as her ideal life, however, she is describing her life as it is in this moment. She is grateful for her husband, her land and her life in