'chandra'

Critical Essay – ‘Chandra’ In the novel Chandra by Frances Mary Hendry, the main character Chandra faces difficulties and obstacles that she must overcome. As a result of all the challenges she faces, Chandra’s character grows and gains confidence.
Although at first Chandra is frightened about marrying Roop, she feels better after she has met him because she realises that he is ‘modern-minded’ and will treat her with respect. He proves this by agreeing when Chandra asks him ‘Remember my name, not that I am your wife. Please?’ Although her parents are acting out of love, her father is too traditional and so agrees to send her away, ‘Bapa had sent her here, knowing what had happened, what was going to happen!’ After the long and difficult journey to Roops house, Chandra arrives to a less than welcoming situation, Roop is dead and his family blame her. ‘You’re unclean, unlucky! You’re sight carries misfortune!’ She is beaten and mistreated, ‘She cowered away while the women beat at her.’
Chandra is beaten and neglected by the entire family, except from one old woman who she shares a room with. She is kind to Chandra because she too is a widow and has been there for over thirty years. Unless she does something she will end up the same, so she makes a plan. She considers every stage of her escape, like stealing keys to open doors, taking back her jewellery, hiding in a hay cart to ride to the station and even cutting off her lovely long hair. ‘Hay, you mean! I can hide-ride in it.’ Chandra’s escape from Roops family is difficult because of the different stages she has to plan and all of the challenges she faces. It is very dangerous because if she is caught trying to escape she will get very badly beaten or even killed. When Chandra arrives at her Nani’s house she finds that she cannot stay there. Her father in-law has found out where she is and will come and take her back to Jaisalmer. Chandra then goes to stay with her friend Urvashi and her