Summary: Oliva´s story (pp.152-154)

This section of Olivia´s story is about the abortion of Olivia´s baby. Olivia has a maid servant who cares for her. The maid servant brings her to the house of her two midwifes. They start massaging and then they introduce a twig into Olivia. The Begum, having arranged the abortion, follows the event with big interest.

the narrators state of mind

Explain the narrator´s state of mind as it develops in Maji´s hut.

When the narrator gets to Maji´s hut, she´s very insecure. She didn´t know who the woman, following her, was. In Maji´s hut she feels safe and secure. She trusts Maji completely and thinks that she knows how things in life work. Having this feelings towards Maji, she agrees to the abortion. Maji closes the “door of the hut and sits astride the narrator. She seems much lager than she really is and makes the narrator think of an “mythological figure, one of those potent Indian goddesses who hold life and death in one hand and play them like a yo-yo” (p.151, ll.7-10). This has such an powerful effect on the narrator, that she can´t identify Maji anymore in that person sitting astride her. No longer identifying Maji, also the secure feeling has gone. She thinks about many things and among other things about her pregnancy, what Maji is just doing and what consequences it has. Because of all these strong emotions, the narrator makes Maji to stop.

Summary: 31 August

In this diary entry a mysterious woman follows the narrator on her way to the hospital. For not any longer being followed by her, the narrator goes to Maji, who explains her that the woman is a midwife, who´s looking at her chance of getting the narrator as an client. Maji again offers the narrator an abortion and the not reluctant narrator asks how she would do it. Her statement was, that a massage would probably be enough. Thus the narrator agrees and says “yes” to the abortion. Maji starts the massage, but then the narrator wants her to stop. Maji does so and after that, now the narrator is very sure, that she wants her pregnancy.

the Nawab´s attitude to Olivia´s baby

Comment on the Nawab´s attitude to Olivia´s baby.

The Nawab always makes things just in that way, that he always is the boss of the situation. He always wants to be the good one and the others shall be the bad ones. Also the fact that Olivia is pregnant, he sees from that from that point of view. He is angry about the lawyers and also other people he knows. They are thinking that he is wrong, but that doesn´t fit into his way of thinking, because he´s the only one, who can be right. He wants to pay them back and thus he holds, that they´ll laugh from the other side of their mouths (p.148, ll20-21) and that they will all have the shock of their lives (p.148, ll.29-30), when his son is born. In the moment he said that, he just uses his (unborn) son for himself. Thinking of the paying back, he´s in a way proud of his son, but I think that this is only, because through him (his son) he has this chance of paying back. He only sees his own use.

Summary: Olivia´s story (pp.147-149)

This section is, among other things, about the Nawab´s agreement of Harry going home. Also it deals with the Nawab´s and Harry´s reactions and acting after knowing about Olivia´s pregnancy. Olivia takes an abortion into consideration and asks Harry for help.

amoebic dysentery

Find out more about amoebic dysentery and its effect on people in developing countries.

What is amoebic dysentery?

Amoebic dysentery, also called amoebiasis, is an infection of the intestine caused by an amoeba called Entamoeba histolytica, which, among other things, can cause severe diarrhoea. Amoebae are parasites that are found in contaminated food or drink. This Amoebaes enter the body through the mouth when the contaminated food or drink is swallowed by the person, who later gets the amoebic dysentery. The most dangerous species of amoebae, such as Entamoeba histolytica, live predominantly in tropical areas. These potentially life-threatening species are able to burrow through the intestinal wall and spread through the bloodstream to infect other organs, such as the liver, lungs and brain.

how do you get amoebic dysentery?

Entamoeba histolytica can exist in two forms in contaminated food and drink; Firstly as free amoebae and secondly as infective cysts, which are a group of amoebae surrounded by a protective wall, that have been passed in the carrier’s faeces (human or animal).

Amoebic dysentery is passed on by careless or negligent hygiene where contaminated food and drink is consumed without adequate heat treatment. (Salads washed with contaminated water are a common method of spread.) In the novel “head and dust” all factors of getting infected are given, thus it´s no wonder, that some people are infected.

Who gets amoebic dysentery?

This illness can be found all over the world. But the most cases of incidence are in the tropics and subtropics. In the U.S. there are diagnosed about 5.000 to 10.000 cases and about 20 of them die each year.

What can you do to help yourself?

The only way to avoid infection with amoebic cysts is to ensure that everything you eat or drink has been washed or sterilised properly and cooked thoroughly. Foods to avoid include salads, unpeeled fruit and ice cream. Ice cubes may also have been made with contaminated water, so avoid having drinks that contain ice cubes unless you are certain that the water used to make them has been sterilised.

Prevention

1. Maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene.
2. Wash hands properly with soap and water before eating or handling food, and after toilet or changing diapers.
3. Drinking water should be from the mains and preferably boiled.
4. Purchase fresh food from reliable sources.
5. Do not patronize illegal hawkers.
6. Cook food thoroughly.
7. Exclude infected persons and asymptomatic carriers from handling food and from providing care to children, elderly and immunocompromised people.
8. Persons with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea should refrain from work/school and seek medical consultation promptly.
9. When traveling to a country with poor sanitary conditions, persons should take the following precautions:
* Always wash hands before eating and after going to toilets
* Drink only boiled water, or bottled drinks by reputable companies, and pasteurized milk or dairy products
* Avoid drinks prepared by ice of unknown origin
* Eat only thoroughly cooked food
* Avoid peeled fruits and vegetables that are not thoroughly cleaned
* Do not patronize illegal hawkers

Summary: 27 August

In the diary entry from 27th of August is described how the narrator cares for Chid, who is lying in hospital, and how she also cares for other patients. Also the reactions of other people, seeing this, is described. The narrator writes to Chid´s family asking for a ticket home for him, because Chid doesn´t want to stay in India, but has no money for a ticket. He has changed a lot. Also in this diary entry is said that Olivia stays in India, but that nothing is left, for knowing what has happened to her later.

Summary: 20 August

In the diary entry of 20th of August the main topic is, what most of the characters of Olivia´s story have done when they got older and if they have stayed in India or moved somewhere else. Douglas has a second wife after Olivia, named Tessie and has a son with her, who is the narrators father. Chid wants to leave India, but his health doesn´t get better and for this reason he goes to hospital.

an ending

In 200 words write an ending to the story.

 

The day of the birth came nearer and nearer. Olivia was torn between the two men. On the one hand there was Douglas, her husband, the man she loved and on the other hand there was the Nawab, a man, who fascinates her. The relationship between Douglas had changed and isn´t that good anymore. It isn´t anymore like it has been once and will never be like it once has been. By contrast the relationship between the Nawab and her has become much better. Thus she decided, to go on living with the Nawab in the palace, where she had spend most time of the summer and where she has had always a very good time. Before the birth of the baby she moved to the palace. Douglas couldn´t understand her handling and couldn´t get along with the new situation. She unlike had a very good time at the palace and thought of Douglas not very often. The birth of the baby came and thus she got more happier. But if the situation with Olivia´s baby and the Nawab´s personality can stand the daily life isn´t sure.

Summary: Olivia´s story (pp.131-143)

The section from Olivia´s story from page 131 to page 143 deals mostly with Olivia´s pregnancy. The reactions to the pregnancy of both the Nawab and Douglas are described. The second big part of this section is, that the reader gets a lot to know about the Nawabs personality, character and his life and handling  with people.