Satī (Devanagari: सती�, the feminine of sat "true"; also called suttee) is a funeral practice among some Hindu communities in which a recently widowed woman would either voluntarily or by use of force and coercion immolate herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. This practice is now rare and outlawed in modern India.

Loves Guleri Has been conditioned to respect (fear?)

his mother Tradition is a stronger force on him

than the love of his wife The tension between love and respect

for tradition leads to an emotional breakdown

Lively, attractive, affectionate, cheerful Comes from good family Fails to provide he husband (and his

family) with a son Arrival of new wife leads to Guleri

pouring kerosene over her body and setting fire to herself (as a ‘widow’?)

‘This year, true to her decision, [Manak’s mother] had paid five hundred rupees to get him a second wife . . . Obedient to his mother and to custom, Manak’s body responded to the new woman but his heart was dead within him.’

‘I am not his wife,’ complained his second wife. ‘I’m just someone he happened to marry.’

‘Why do you croak like an old woman?’ said his mother severely. ‘Be a man.’Manak wanted to retort, ‘You are a woman; why don’t you cry like one for a change!’ But he remained silent.

Manak’s mother had made a secret resolve that she would not let it go beyond the eighth year.

Manak’s mother was pleased with her new daughter-in-law.

Status of young bride within the family Status of husband’s mother Necessity to produce (male) child Tension between love and obedience to

tradition Ancient custom of Sati

Think about how the writer uses Settings Dialogue Symbols (the horse, the flute, the fair,

the house of Guleri’s parents etc) Characterisation: do we condemn

Manak for weakness or his mother for cruelty? How much does their ‘culture’ excuse them?

‘Then why do you want to stop me this time?’ she demanded. ‘Just this once,’ he pleaded. ‘Your mother’s said nothing so why do you stand in the way?’ Guleri was childishly stubborn. ‘My mother . . .’ Manak did not finish his sentence.On the long-awaited morning, Guleri was ready long before dawn. She had no children and therefore no problem of having to leave them behind or take them with her.

Why does the author not tell us at the outset about the ‘decision’ made by Manak’s mother?

Why does the author seem to mention Guleri’s childlessness only in passing?