Ignorance And Cruelty

Words: 1847
Pages: 8

Each action has an associated reaction and unfortunately, sometimes the consequences suffered are too devastating that a second chance is simply not possible. Paru Amma, the young woman featured in the short story “The Subordinate” by K. Saraswathi Amma, allows her desperation for affection, unwavering obedience, and what she believes is real love to influence her when she chose to partake in a short-lived love affair with a much older upper-class man. While the young man in Wilfred Owen’s poem, “Disabled”, own self-confidence blinds him and World War I propaganda fools him so that he cannot see the real dangers and consequences of being at war. In both the short story, “The Subordinate”, and the poem, “Disabled,” both protagonists show a display of youthful ignorance in regards to the cruelty of world around them and …show more content…
To illustrate their youthful ignorance, while caretaking for an older gentleman, Gopalan Nair, his charm and exorbitant self-confidence leaves Paru Amma in a state of bewilderment, but remains unwaveringly obedient to her task at hand. She is “…amaze[d] and unable to move” when he describes himself similar to that of a God when he states he is “…named after Lord Krishna…” and to “...worship [him]” all the same (Amma 154). She is unable to foresee that he is just trying to take advantage of her by capitalizing on her inexperience, lower class status, and craving for love. As a result, Paru, “…succumbed to his desire without any fear of humiliation” while unknowingly accepting the consequence that follows (Amma 159). She convinced herself that they “…were true lovers, united in their love” and the child that resulted was a loving “…memorial to an experience she could never forget” (Amma 156). Paru Amma’s misplaced optimism directly attributed to her feeling that she truly mattered to this man and she would have a better life because of him. In the same token,