Simply To Endure, Is To Triumph

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 I open this blog post with my favorite quote from this novel. When Lakshmi reaches menstruating age and begins, her mother explains to her all of the things that will now change. She makes long mention of how she must behave around men, how she must act as a wife, and the importance of bearing a son. Lakshmi asks her mother why women must suffer. Ama responds with, "This has always been our fate, simply to endure, is to triumph." (McCormick 15) I went back to this line as I was reading, this quote captured Lakshmi's spirit. She had so many instances where she could be broken, where she could accept her assumed fate and let it swallow her. Anita makes mention of the weight of the tragedy some face. "That new girl, the one in your old room, yesterday morning Mumtaz found her hanging from the rafters." (McCormick 142)  She chose not to, even after the nightmare she has experienced in her time in the Happiness House. 

This novel carries the weight of this story between its pages, the worst part about this is that it's real. This is real life tragedy that is occurring everywhere. It was a book I found myself reading in parts and having to put down to process the horror I just read. The girls housed in the brothel were seen as objects of men's desires. Lakshmi overhears the men talking about the women they had been with, and one of the men says that he wishes he could do her again but he doesn't have another 30 rupees. "Thirty rupees. That is the price of a bottle of Coca-Cola at Bajai Sita's store. That is what he paid for me." (McCormick 146) These girls become so broken after their time in the Happiness House. Lakshmi makes mention of these captive women falling ill, catching a disease, turning to alcohol, ending their lives, and much more. Lakshmi's self confidence and feelings about her appearance are warped as her time goes on. "Sometimes I see a girl who is growing into womanhood. Other days I see a girl growing old before her time. It doesn't matter, of course. Because no one will ever want me now." (McCormick 178) The abuse that Lakshmi faces in her time in the Happiness House is horrific, but the ending implies that the Americans were there to save her and end the brothel. The book ends with Lakshmi presenting herself and introducing herself in English. I know this is meant to be a celebratory moment for Lakshmi, and it is, but I couldn't help but feel like her journey was not ending. She may have escaped the wrath of the physical Happiness House, but I know she was going to continue to live with the pain that had happened there. The quote that Ama told her at the very beginning of the novel rang true until the very end. Simply to endure, is to triumph. There is something very heavy and powerful about Lakshmi's story, and I think many people could benefit from reading this story themselves. 

Comments

  1. Olivia BennettOctober 2, 2020 at 4:04 PM

    Hey Emily,
    This story is so heartbreaking. I also found myself having to put the book down out of horror and disgust for what I had just read. The saddest part is that sex slavery is such a prevelant issue in our world today. There are too many young girls just like Lakshmi that this story is actually their reality. I difinatly agree that everyone could benefit from reading this story. The hope and courage that Lakshmi shows throughout this story is insane. Oftentimes, I found myself wondering what I would have done in her situation and I cannot even begin to imagine what I would do. I feel like a lot of times people do not want to read stories about tragic topics that occur in the world because than they can no longer hide behind the bliss of ignorance. However, to change the world we must be informed. Books like McCormick's are so important to changing the realites of the world.

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