Language and literacy have power in the novel Sold. Even in a society that is pretty male-dominated and power-oriented, Ama recognizes the value of education—and as a result, Lakshmi attends school at home on the swallow-tailed peak, and she knows how to read and write in her home language.
So when Lakshmi is removed from her home and taken to a place where she doesn't know the language, she loses the power that resides in education and literacy knowledge. In fact, the very fact that she can read, write, and do arithmetic puts her in danger at Happiness House. Yet this danger doesn't stop Lakshmi from satisfying her thirst for knowledge with Harish, and then—once he is gone—by herself.
Language and education are some of the only ways Lakshmi regains control over her world, and as such they keep her from spinning into despair and are instrumental in her escape. One of the images that convinces her to trust the third American is a picture of girls in a school. And indeed, it's the words at the end of the novel that Lakshmi speaks in Hindi—the language she learned from Harish—that begin her path to freedom.
Questions About Language and Education
- In what ways does Lakshmi regain control of her life through education, language, and literacy? How does this make her different from other girls at Happiness House?
- Why is Lakshmi's education and literacy a danger to her at Happiness House?
- How do education, language, and literacy prevent Lakshmi from giving up all hope of escape?
- Do you think Lakshmi's educational experiences and literacy levels are common or uncommon for girls in Indian and Nepali society? What makes you say this?
Chew on This
Lakshmi's literacy levels and education experiences directly contribute to her escape of Happiness House.
Lakshmi would have escaped from Happiness House even if she didn't know how to read or write.