Analyse what sort of treatment is prescribed for Inder Lal’s wife, and why.

On page 52 we have already found out that Inder Lal’s wife Ritu is not well- physically as well as mentally. That night everyone slept outside the narrator first heard Ritu screaming (“a high-pitched wail piercing through the night.” – p.53, ll. 23, 24)

During the plot Ritu’s condition has become worse and on page 79 the narrator and Chid talk about different methods of treatment. Whereas the narrator has the opinion Ritu needed psychiatric treatment, Chid has a different view on that – to him Ritu might be possessed by an evil spirit which has to be driven out with a red-hot iron.

The views of both show the different adaption to the Indian culture. The narrator still believes in Western methods of healing, Chid however is convinced that Ritu’s malaise can only be treated with an Indian method.

On page 80 the narrator talks to Inder Lal about Ritu’s condition and it is shown that Inder Lal has the same opinion as Chid, he does not belive in psychiatric treatment. “They had tried everything else but had not succeeded in relieving Ritu’s suffering (ll. 5, 6) That again points out that Ritu cannot be healed with Western methods.

Maji advises pilgrimage for Ritu, because in her opinion it is the best way to bring one’s heart at ease. To her part the journey is like “climbing up into heaven” and will bring Ritu back to health.