Sold (First Blood - A Bitter Harvest)

When Lakshmi starts her period, a lot of things change for her. She is no longer viewed as a child. She now had so many more responsibilities. Ama tells her of all of the things she must do or must refrain from doing now. I loved Ama's response when Lakshmi asked why women had to suffer in so many ways. Ama said, "This has always been our fate. Simply to endure is to triumph". The way that women are treated is so unfair. They are degraded in almost every aspect of their lives. Where they live, it has always been the fate of women. They have always been viewed as inferior. But to complain and try to change things in a way is a failure. They do not have the strength to overcome what they are going through. However, to be able to live the way that they are forced to live is a success. If ever a man had to go through what the women have to go through, they would never survive. I don't think the men would be able to endure the torment. The fact that a woman can go through that and still keep their identity, still love, still work to improve shows that they are triumphant over the men's attempt to degrade them entirely.

Lakshmi and her family are suffering because of the dry season. They pray for the monsoon to come. Rations have been placed on the water supply, and many crops are suffering. Whenever the monsoon arrives, they are extremely excited. They rejoice about the blessing. Soon however, the monsoon becomes too much. The fields begin to flood, and the house is leaking and falling apart. The very thing they had been praying for had destroyed them. In many ways I think that this is forshadowing what is to happen to Lakshmi in the future. I think that Lakshmi's future will look bright and full of opportunity, but will bring immense destruction upon her.