IV. Quotations taken from Salman Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses 

1.The first quotation sounds like an explanation why the English established colonies all over the world. They say they needed room to spread out and that this is why they made conquests of other countries.It sounds like the quotes are given by an Englishman, who tries to explain the colonialism of England without saying the truth why they really established the colonies – for power and strength.Reading these quotes one gets the impression that the English only had peaceful motives by spreading out, but this is not the truth. The last quote makes clear that the English never left their country, they always brought their culture with them and kept on being English. 2.

The Anglo-Indian relationship is not as peaceful as said in the quotation. The English did not only establish their colonies, because they did not have enough room – No, the English wanted to get more power in the world to guarantee their supremacy, that is why India became a colony of England. Another point why the Indians wanted to become independent of England was that the English brought their culture with them and tried to build up a new England in India. They wanted to change the Indians and that is why the relationship of both was full of trouble.

Heat 

-Who do you think Olivia and Douglas are?

I would say Olivia and Douglas are a married couple from England, because their names sound English. It also makes sense because it seems like the plot plays in India and India was an English colony. Douglas seems like an officer, who has to work there. He must earn good money, because they live in a big house with servants. 

-Where are they?

India, because of the name of the town “Simla” and the words “Sahib” and Memsahib” 

-What are they arguing about?

The quarrel is caused by Douglas telling Olivia she should have gone to Simla. But she doesn’t want to go there and started to burst out all the things which annoy her in India. It seems like she doesn’t feel comfortable there. She heat probably embitters everything and thus she reacts so touched. 

Do you feel that unpleasant heat can have an effect in emotions? Have you ever experienced anything like that?

Of course heat can have an effect in emotions. If you doesn’t feel good, because it is too hot or you even get a headache, it’s totally normal that you are very touchy and vulnerable. The heat is not the reason for a quarrel, but if you are in a bad mood anyhow the heat would embitter it.When I was in Australia we went on a trip to Cairns, where it is really hot and humid. I was so looking forward to that trip, because we wanted to watch an Aboriginal show that day, but after a few hours I felt sweaty, got a headache and just couldn’t enjoy the day any more. Because my mood sank, I was also different to the people I was together with. I got annoyed really quickly and sometimes said nasty things I didn’t mean. I’ve never felt that uncomfortable because of the climate before… 

Dust

 -What are your feelings when you are confronted with the description of such a landscape?

Imagining the landscape of such a flat and dusty landscape, I get a depressing feeling. There is no human being around, only hot sand, a broiling sky and unpleasant wind. I would feel left alone. 

-Explain why you would not like to travel or live there?

I would like to see such a place one day. Travelling with friends I could imagine it to be a great experience, but I couldn’t do it on my own. I guess it is interesting what kind of feelings you get by not only imagining such a place, but actually being there.Even if I liked travelling through such a countryside, I could never imagine living there without any kind of civilization. The monotony and the heat would drive me crazy.

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