Meena relates her story to us directly, in the first person. Why do you think the author chose this point of view?

Why do you think the author chose to relate Meena's story to us in the first person?

I think maybe to make Meena feel more real. Only she could really tell us the story of her love and her pain.

I think I operate under the assumption that women in countries where culture and tradition are based on 200 year old beliefs just accept what happens to them. I find myself thinking that they go along with the "old ways" because they also believe in them. Why else aren't things changing? It was important for me to hear in Meena's own words that she did NOT accept this. Meena cannot be alone. Throughout India women must be tired of being shamed, abused, raped, robbed from, and denied basic human rights. Women must want a better life for their own daughters like Meena did for Abru. Meena helped me see how truly difficult it is for a woman to speak out against the old ways, and that I should not assume a women's silence makes her complicit.

I liked that we heard Meena's story from her. It wouldn't have had the same impact if told by another. The fact that her sister and she took a job was very brave. Although the brother's protested, they liked the money that supported them. Meena's sin, to her brothers and the village, was that she dared love someone from another faith. They considered it an affront and a public rejection of what was "right" in their belief system. The fact that they had to kill to redeem their so called "honor," was horrible.
Back to the question, because I heard Meena's story from her, it was more personal and I cared more about her.

I think the author chose to have Meena's story relayed in the first person to give it more credibility. The level of detail that Mean recalls about her relationship with Abdul can only come from the person involved. The thought processes that she went through as she tried to resist his advances help demonstrate why she wanted to be with him and what made him so special, much different than the other men in her life. She clearly was naive in truly understanding the consequences of their union, but the strength she needed to withstand her ugly treatment was the same strength she garnered to take care of her daughter and imagine a better life for her.

Meena’s telling of her story made for a more impactful read - in her voice the reader gained insight into her perspective of what happened, the backstory leading up to the tragedy and the court case as well as her feelings.

With Meena telling her story the reader becomes more engaged with the story plus more empathy is felt. Plus it provides an opportunity for Meena to speak which was not allowed her society--again the role of women is shown plus Meena identifies with Smita who is reporter but one with empathy and close ties to Meena's cultural restrictions.

Meena's first person narrative lets the reader enter into the main dynamic of Honor. Her life's drama broadens our perspective of the male dominated culture that she says considers her of being no more important than a lowly worm. But it also helps us see that she did experience the goodness of Abdul's love, the beauty and"nobility of his heart," hope and friendship, before the horror of her community, religion, brothers, and culture turned against her with hatred and violence. How would we know how this felt if she hadn't told us?

By allowing Meena to tell her story the author allows her a voice she didn’t have in her own community. The reader is able to understand and develop empathy for her circumstances quickly by having Meena share her thoughts and experiences with the reader.

I agree with the many insightful comments already made. To try to add something to the discussion, I considered why Umrigar chose 1st person for Meena’s sections rather than 3rd limited, as with Smita. I think that the difference helps establish who the characters are: 1st person narration lets Meena show us her loving heart and the near fatal wound she has received from Abdul’s death; 3rd person limited approaches the story from a more objective position. Almost, it seems, Smita’s struggle with what India represents to her is reported on. In her sections, I felt more like the “voyeur” she often speaks of, and I am able to question her actions and decisions. I could never raise such questions in Meena’s sections. She is her own authority. I liked the way the author handled point of view in this story.

The author chose the first person narrative so that the reader could get to know Meena and care about her. Her life falling in love with Abdul although she knew it was wrong. The horror of watching him burn. The love she had for him and their daughter. Wanting her brothers to pay for what they did. In the end wanting to save her daughter’s life.

The only way we could really get to know Meena was through her own voice.

Having Meena tell her own story gives her power and authority that she never had in her tragic life.

I think this was important for the south or to establish a more intimate connection with Meena and the reader, her last words in the book were so powerful because of this.

A third person account of Meena's story would not have been nearly as powerful as it was in the first person. It is through her sharing that we appreciate more fully the tragedy that was her life. I especially liked Chapter 17 where she explains that the color of her world has gone from green to black.

I think it was done to keep the reader’s assumptions about Meena and her culture from blocking how she really felt about her life and thus having us not see her true thoughts and feelings.

I liked hearing Meena's story from her. If we heard in the news or third party we might wonder if this was all true. It sounds so impossible to me that there are societies that feel this is normal behavior. I think I was raised in a sheltered home because I didn't find out until I was in high school that the south was still fighting the Civil War.

Perhaps to help us evolve with Meena in her feeling about India. It was hard to understand her final decision to stay, so first person allows the reader to evolve along with Meena in her feelings about the country. And to feel her pain with the storytelling about her past.

I think Meena is more realistic in the first person. Her innocence and love ring so true.