A Character Sketch of Misrilal Misra as it affects Dhowli
...ck over her. "Dhowli had felt relieved, but she had also felt a twinge of pain and simultaneously a joy of victory at the thought that a mere Dusad girl drove a Brahman's son so out of his mind"(239). The fact that Misrilal gets sick over her gives her pride and leads her to break some rules for Hindu widows like looking in a miror which is forbidden. After that, Misrilal finds Dhowli bathing in the woods where, she finally gives in to him." Dhowli was ungarded in mind and body. She gave in"( 239). He keeps on telling her so many great but unrealistic things about his love for her and how she's the one he wants forever. This makes Dhowli eventually let go of her fears and give in to him. By giving in to his sexual desires and seducing Dhowli instead of raping her, he is being selfish. His lack of realism causes him to lie to the one he loves. Because Misrilal is being unrealistic he keeps on making false promises to Dhowli that he won't be able to keep. These false promises do not help Dhowli; they just worsen her situation. He tells her that he will only leave for a month and that he is going to help her and her family. He tells her:" I'll be back as soon as the month is over. I'm not sure where they'll send me or what l'll do in this one month. But l'll manage something for us"(242). This is a false promise that he makes to her. In fact, Misrilal does not come back even for months when Dhowli waits for him at the bus stop each because she loves him and connot accept that he has abandonned her. In order to help Dhowli, he asks his mother to take care of her he believes his mother will provide her with some work and some food. When Misrilal asks her to help Dhowli, she replies: " l'll try"(241). When she says those words, Misrilal knows on a subconscious level that this is not a clear and positive answer which can insinuate that she won't keep her promise. However, the Misra boy decides to believe his mother because he wants her to take that responsibility. Also, Misrilal doesn't return to support Dhowli and her family and doesn't make any effort to contact her. " He never sent any messages or any more money"(250). This is another lie that the Misra boy makes to Dhowli. He has abandoned her and doesn't make any effort to support her like a real man should. All the lies that Misrilal tells Dhowli create a pretty strong statement and show some character traits that make him a coward. Throughout the story, Misrilal acts like a coward because he doesn't do what he should and he never stands up for what he believes in and for who he loves. To show that he supports Dhowli, he gives her one hundred rupees which is not a substantial amount of money. " With a hundred rupees these days one can't live for long even in Tahad"(250). He is acting like a coward because he pretends he is going to help her when he's practically not going to do anything at all for her. He doesn't want to come back to the village because he doesn't want to take responsibility for his actions. Also, when he learns by his brother that Dhowli is selling her body ,he decides to confront her about it and he threatens to kill her." Soon after...