Summary on Chapters 1-3

Heading: Section 1
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 1-3

A 13 year old indian girl, named Koly. Koly's father is a scribe who writes letters for people in the market place. She is forced to marry an ill boy named Hari. To marry him, she first has to pay a dowry to his parents. They did so by selling their only cow. Koly has never met Hari till' she finaly took a glimpse of him at the wedding. Hari's parents had lied to Koly's parents by telling them Hari is 16 and just has a simple flu. They also find out that they only married Hari to Koly to get the Dowry to pay for the medicines for Hari. When Koly and Hari first meet, Hari tells her that he will die soon. He must go to the Ganges river to feel better. They stayed at their old friend's place. Koly was never introduced as Hari's wife, she felt as if they didn't want their friends to know she was his wife. When Hari came out from the river his coughing had gotten worse, the doctor said there was nothing else to be done, he is extremely ill. Hari dies and his father tells Koly and feels guilt, he then says she is now his daughter. Koly filled with tears, finds she is now a widow. Hari's father buys a white saree for Koly, she must wear it now that she is a widow.

I personally think the story so far is heartbreaking. Koly is not known as anyone anymore, she is just a widow. She was forced to marry an ill boy named Hari and has now lost him. She can't turn back to her family and her in-laws don't really care about her. She is the "Homeless Bird". I now know why the author named this book as the "Homeless Bird". She now has to live the rest of her life being scolded and ordered by her sass (Hari's Mom) and wear only white sarees. She has no one anymore. I think Koly is a very loving and push-over, by her surroundings. Hari's parents are very demading and always want everything to be perfect. Koly is facing being a widow and living on her own now. She has no one to turn to. I think that the main motif in these few chapters which are being developed is lonliness. Though, people can relate to this novel. Everyone has to get married once and you never know, it could be an arranged marriage. You also never know whether or not you may become a widow one day. So, you can really put yourself in the character of Koly.