What do you think Lakshmi has ultimately learned about herself and about her place in the world by the end of the novel?

What do you think Lakshmi has ultimately learned about herself and about her place in the world by the end of the novel?

I think she learned that she could survive, that she was proud and didn’t want to be beholden to anyone. And that she had created her own close knit family and had found her home.

She learned that she as independent, talented, and had value beyond a woman's traditional role in Indian society. And , as bestmartin indicates, she found she could create and maintain a home and a family in spite of her early family life.

I think she learned that she was a survivor, that she was strong and that she could overcome obstacles regardless of how different and unexpected.

She learned that some of the things she prized the most (the house she was building) were not as valuable as her relationships.

I too think she had a better understanding of her own value but I also think she realized that she couldn't control everything - Radha's behavior was an example of that.

I really appreciate all of these insights--some hadn't picked up myself. Thanks, all!

I did want to highlight one that @bestmartin and @scgirl already mentioned, because it was one that really resonated with me: her family may not be defined in the traditional way and it may be hard sometimes, but she does have one. As a single woman in this COVID-time of true "aloneness," I needed that reminder.

One that I wanted to add: I think she discovered her true passion. She realized what she enjoyed about being a henna artist was not the painting or the time in the women's opulent houses (though she thought she did), what she really enjoyed was the healing.

I think Lakshmi has learned to have a back up plan. She’s learned that no matter how much planning and effort you put into the plan, there’s no guarantee the plan will work. I think Lakshmi has learned that sometimes our gifts may be used in ways that are contrary to the way we want to use them and as a result a greater impact occurs in our lives and others.

I think that she learned that life has many twists and turns and you have to continuously evaluate what is most important at that time. Sometimes it may be survival at other times it may be helping others, etc.

gayleg that's a great point - sometimes our priorities can shift depending on what's most important to us at the time, or our living circumstances.

Lakshmi learned that she had survived with her own strengths and talents and that she was a woman who had finally gained the esteem of others and also, more importantly, herself, by this survivorship. She had kept her own little family intact and had a future for herself and her family to share. Lakshmi has finally reached a place she can call home by the end of the book.

I think she discovered that she was more worthy, more talented and more loved than she ever imagined. Lakshmi was a survivor and a skilled healer. Her hardships as well as her aspirations led her to rediscover that she was deserving of love as well as forgiveness from those in her makeshift family.

She learned that money wasn't everything when she lost the house. She was happier working with the Doctor to help people in the remote village.

Very early in the book, we learned that Lakshmi had been sending money to her parents over the years and was actually building the house so that they could come and live with her. She was very caught up in keeping her past a secret so as not to damage her reputation. Without her reputation, she would not have the clients, money for the house payments, and no where for her parents to live when they joined her.

While her parents never came, Lakshmi did have a family. I think she learned that the people and the love one has for them is what makes a family, not necessarily how (or even if) you are related- - nor where you live. I think Lakshmi also learned that what one thinks of herself is more important than what others think. Happiness comes when you free yourself from the expectations of others and do what brings you joy. Lakshmi chose joy!

That she is stronger than she ever thought she was, but also that she can let her guard down a little bit and show a softer side to her sister. Also, that she needs to forgive herself for doing what was best for herself and let herself feel more happiness in the life she had made for herself.

Lakshimi finally allows herself to be happy and perhaps appreciate her own self worth. She has the confidence and desire to move on to a better life, doing what she loves - healing those in need. Her work will not be indulging the upper class and their every whim. She learned she can help others without losing her own self respect. She has also learned who the important people are in her life - Malik and her sister.