There are two major settings in Sold, and Lakshmi experiences suffering in each one. Life for Lakshmi on her mountain in Nepal is not easy, and struggles are a part of daily life—but in Nepal, Lakshmi can rely on Ama and her community to help her cope with her difficulties. So this type of physical and emotional suffering seems much more palatable than the suffering Lakshmi experiences at Happiness House because on the mountain Lakshmi's suffering is balanced with joys.
At Happiness House though, no such joy exists. Lakshmi experiences physical and emotional suffering, and it's easy to see how her systematic abuse could destroy her spirit and her health.
But Lakshmi's strong-willed, and she decides to try to find her own way out of this suffering. She does this by submitting, to some extent, to Mumtaz's will, and she also finds what joy she can in learning from Harish. Maintaining her hope though, is difficult because of what her life is like in the brothel. Even though she tries to form a community around her to help her deal with her suffering, one by one these friends disappear from her life. In the end, Lakshmi is left to save herself from her suffering and pain. It's definitely not fair, but it also seems incredibly realistic.
Questions About Suffering
- In what ways does Lakshmi suffer at home on the mountain in Nepal? How does she cope with these difficulties?
- In what ways does Lakshmi suffer physically and emotionally at Happiness House? Which is worse for her—the physical or emotional suffering—and what makes you say this?
- How do other characters cope with their suffering at Happiness House? Think of Shahanna, Shilpa, Pushpa, Monica, and Harish.
- What other emotions are connected to Lakshmi's suffering both at home in Nepal and at Happiness House in India? What makes you say this?
- Does Mumtaz suffer?
Chew on This
Suffering is inevitable in Sold—no one escapes it.
Lakshmi's suffering both in Nepal and at Happiness House has made her a stronger person, so it was worth it in the end.