Another girl

Thematique 3   The writers in their Time                                                    LELE Terminale

1.Sum up the story briefly in your own words

Kavita, an Indian woman, has given birth to a baby girl in an abandoned hut. She asks the midwife to fetch her sister for help but instead of Kavita’s sister, her husband, Jasu, turns up. When he understands the baby is another girl he asks Kavita to give it to him –probably to get rid of it – but Kavita refuses to obey and stands up to her husband. He then explains that they need a boy to help them in the field and that they can’t afford to raise another girl. But Kavita is determined to save her baby at least for one night…maybe more.

2. - What does Kavita mean when she says “no one heard my prayers” ?

We can imagine that she prayed for a boy but her wish was not granted

3.-Why does she ask the midwife not to tell anyone?

 She asks the midwife to fetch her sister and not to tell anyone /not to break the news about the baby’s birth because she wants it to remain a secret as she may not want her husband to come and snatch/grab the baby from her. She thinks she can rely on her sister to help her to find a solution to her problem

4. Explain Jasu’s change of attitude

At first, he is overjoyed/ delighted/ happy and proud because he is convinced that his wife has given birth to a baby boy. l 13 his eyes are “gleaming” / L 13 14 “Where is he? Where is my little prince? “/ His arms are already “outstretched” (l15) to hold the boy.

When he understands the newborn is another girl, he is so disappointed that he loses his temper and shouts at Kavita as if she were responsible for not having a boy (l 20 “he shouts”)

5. Analyse Kavita’s reaction and feelings

At first “she stiffens” (l16) then “cluches her baby to her chest” (l16) and “wraps” her “trembling arms around the baby, shielding her small body” (l 16 to 19). She is really shaken and probably scared of her husband and yet she seems determined to protect her newborn from her husband at all costs / to stand up to her husband. Indeed, she knows that her husband was hoping for a boy and that he will snatch the baby from her to get rid of it. She even answers him back, shouting in a piercing voice (l 22”the shrillness of her voice”). She seems to be physically overwhelmed / overcome by emotion /anger (l 22 “the tension flood into her limbs”). She can’t hold her anger back. She can’t contain herself. She can’t refrain from shouting at her husband.

6. Guess why Kavita says : »give me one night »

She seems determined to keep her daughter. She’ll do anything to prevent an infanticide. She would rather die than let him take her daughter. When she says “I won’t let you take her this time” (l34) we understand that she must  have already given birth to a baby girl who was taken from her/killed/abandoned.

In the end she begs her husband to let her keep the baby just for one night. She may intend to run away with her newborn. / to give her baby to her sister who will take her to an orphanage where she will be safe…

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