What does story say about women's situation in India in relation to Indian
society and British colonizers?
In what ways does the advice expert give Miss Rehana advice?
How does his advice turn out to be "good advice"?
Reflection question: Do you find any similar situations in Taiwan?
"Christopher
Columbus and Queen Isabella of Spain Consummate Their Relationship"
Columbus needed to make connections in order to make his voyages and in
April 1492 King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I agreed to sponsor his
expedition, which marked the the first step in the creation of the
Spanish overseas colonial empire. But why does Rushdie just focus
on Queen Isabella? How are the relationships between Isabella and Columbus
described? What are the reasons Rushdie gives and suggests for Columbus'
pursuit of Isabella?
How does Columbus and Isabella "consumate" their relationship?
Who are the listeners of the story (see the italicized part)? Are
they British? Spanish or Indian?
What is the tone of the narration?
Christopher
Columbus, the one who is known to have discovered "the New World," was
born in Genoa, Italy and died in in Volladiod, Spain. Two relevant
pieces of information:
"The widely published report of his voyage of 1492 made Columbus famous
throughout Europe and secured for him the title of Admiral of the Ocean
Sea and further royal patronage. Columbus, who never abandoned the belief
that he had reached Asia, led three more expeditions to the Caribbean.
But intrigue and his own administrative failings brought disappointment
and political obscurity to his final years" [From Christopher
Columbus: Man and Myth].
"Columbus' mode of operation in Spain, . . . , was to find influential
men to act as his sponsors, and persuade them to introduce him to even
more influential men" [Excerpts
from UNCOVERING THE REAL COLUMBUS].