·+Nawab’s+dinner+party+14-17



Oliver Bech English SL Ms. Boyce September 27th, 2010

 The Purpose of The Nawab’s Dinner Party  The dinner party at the Nawab’s palace in the beginning of the novel, // Heat and Dust // by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, is significant as it reveals Olivia’s desperate desire of having another individual to occupy her time with and also to hint the introduction of a future relationship between Olivia and the Nawab. Olivia finds life in India dull and uneventful; Jhabvala describes her as “Already beginning to get bored” (Pg.14) and “Alone in her big house with all the doors and windows shut” (Pg. 14). Revealing that she is isolated, lonely and in need for someone to occupy her time with as Douglas is devoting most of his time at work. On the day of the party Olivia finally gets the attention from another person that she had been longing, Jhabvala writes, “(Olivia notices) his eyes resting on her, and she let him study her while pretending not to notice” (Pg. 17). Revealing the Nawab and Olivia displaying interest in each other, which foreshadows the beginning of Olivia and the Nawab’s relationship because even without knowing each other they are already sharing a connection of interest between each other. Olivia reveals her satisfaction from the Nawab’s interest in her when Jhabvala writes, “She liked it.” (Pg.17). Revealing that she appreciated someone giving her attention. Jhabvala also shows Olivia’s happiness from meeting the Nawab when she writes, “After this party, Olivia felt better about being alone in the house all day. She knew the Nawab would come and call on her.” (Pg.17). This is illustrating that Olivia is feeling more content about herself because she had at last found a person in India that demonstrated interest in her. Thus, the purpose of the Nawab’s dinner party was to foreshadow a future relationship between Olivia and the Nawab and to show Olivia’s desire to find a person that she could spend time with.

Michael Ren English SL Block H Ms. Boyce The first time Olivia visits the Nawab is at his dinner party in Khatm, where the Nawab’s attraction to Olivia as well as Olivia’s enjoyment of this attention is revealed. It is stated in the novel that “his eyes often rested on her” (Pg. 17); the frequency of the Nawab's looks at Olivia denotes his interest in her for burdened as he was with conversations with other guests, he "often" looked at her without fail, implying that he thinks of her as not just another guest but someone worthy of his attention. Olivia then recalls that when she first met the Nawab “his eyes had lit up – he checked himself immediately”. The powerful impact Olivia's first impression had on the Nawab, to the point that his eyes "lit up" due to appreciation of her attractiveness, furthers the idea of his intense attraction in Olivia. He also “checked himself”, giving even more support to his interest as he makes sure he is at his best so that Olivia may also find him to be appealing. His interest is not one-sided, as Olivia “let him study her while pretending not to notice (Pg. 17).” Olivia's acceptance of the Nawab's watchful eye reveals her enjoyment of this “visual company” the Nawab gives her and even pretends nothing is wrong so that he wouldn’t stop out of embarrassment. Through Olivia's visit to the Nawab's palace, the mutual interest shared by the Nawab and Olivia is established, and it is hinted that a future relationship between the two might sparkle.