Family Life

Perspective is defined as: Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view. The texts "Half a Tale" by Banarasi and "The Remonstrantie" by Francisco Pelsaert feature largely different perspectives on many of the same topics. Banarasi, an Indian merchant, discusses Indian culture in a poetic autobiography. Francisco Pelsaert, a European merchant, and foreigner to India, describes various facets of Indian culture in a very clear, concise and structured report to his employers (Dutch East India Company). Both texts are effective in providing insight to Indian culture during the early 17th century, but the perspective of each writer must not be disregarded. The purpose of this essay will be to compare the two texts with respect to family life. This comparison will outline the similarities and differences between "Half a Tale" and "The Remonstrantie of Francisco Pelsaert" and identify the perspectives each has on Indian family life in the early 17th century.  
Due to the fact that Banarasi belonged to an Indian family and that his accounts were personal experiences, one can conclude that his understanding of Indian family life will be immense compared to Francisco Pelsaert. The intent of Pelsaert's report was to inform his superiors about the aspects of Indian culture that were relevant to the Dutch East India Company. Therefore, family life is not revealed in such detail as the other text being discussed.
A surviving child was a miracle in early 17th century India as infant deaths were prevalent. Banarasi states "I married thrice, and had two daughters, and seven sons. But all my children died." (Banarasi, p.92) The high infant death rates caused much grief in families therefore surviving children were received with much joy and family wide celebrations were common: "Festivities continued in the family for no less than six months…" (Banarasi, p.12). Because families sustained such a large number of infant losses, the emotional toll was immense and... [continues]

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