Didn’t read the novel but watched the film adaptation. The cast did an outstanding job with their performances. If it were an event in my real life it would have been difficult not to become extremely angry. What happened to the accused man was so … so … it’s difficult to think of a word. But I was glad that in the end, he obtained justice.

There’s a common expression people use in America. It says: “Life is hard when (or if) you make hard.” I disagree. A lot of times your life is hard because somebody else is making it hard for you! You know it’s not you making it hard because all you’re doing is minding your own business! That’s how I felt about Dr. Aziz. He wasn’t do anything to anybody. Why bring all that hell on him? It was good movie! You posted a nice review / commentary.

I really do not know a lot about India culture and tradition but know some through their movies. When it comes to their history I rarely know little about it cos they are very far from Africa. But going through this post has made me know Indians are being separated into two. When I watch their movies, they speak English language but here in my country they say their English is not real that it is being worked for easier understanding for people across the country. I will always ask myself, does it mean that Indians don’t and can’t speak English language. Until now I still don’t believe it. Am even surprise that the post mentioned earlier war on India. When I watch their movie, the least I expected from their movie is war. Love dominates everything but I think what they display in their movies is not the main thing that’s happening in the country. Wellshall I can’t say everything that happens in a country through their movies.
But until now I still wish to know how many religions that exist in India because the kind of prayer and the kind of status I see in their movies, I wonder.

I believe I read this book many years ago.. and there was a BBC dramatisation.

The Brits tended to somewhat ‘respect’ the Hindu upper class. Compare this to how they looked at the leaders in Africa or the Caribbean. The Brits are easy to distinguish as having class prejudice… of course they aren’t the only ones but they have it like a science.

I am confused whether you are referring to British or Anglo-Indians? Anglo-Indians were never the ruler here but were looked down more than Hindus by Britishers.

The problem you encounter is that many people do not understand the symbolism. They interpret in their own venue, if they even appreciate the symbolism.

For example, in Scripture you will read something like how man was formed from the ‘dust of the ground’. This means from among the population for dust of the ground is often used to refer to large populations.

It is not that Genesis II ‘forgot’ that ‘man’ was already created in Genesis I it is symbolic.

So the moral of the story is: ‘Caves are bad for a man if he goes inside one with a troubled unhappy woman.’ Sorry. The plot of this story is so serious, need to take a break for some occasional humor.

With regard to symbols, they are only as significant as the person who is regarding them in that manner. One person kneels at the statue of Buddha. Another person will put that statue in their bathroom as a decoration. One soldier will hold up the flag of his country with pride. A foreign soldier will piss on that same flag. One person will wear an astrological sign around their neck as a piece of jewelry. Another person won’t because it violates their Christian beliefs. One says: “It’s just jewelry.” The other says: “It’s unChristian. We don’t believe in stars. We believe in The Light!” As for me, I really like doves and what they symbolize. That’s a really nice featured image. 🙂

You are talking about a story. The use of symbols in the stories you are telling is very nice. But I think we use symbols indirectly and directly in our daily life. There are many materials that signifies a lot of things in out day to day life. Colours also signifies a lot in our life. Animals also signify a lot in our practical lives.
Red color symbolizes danger or quiting or stopping. Right from our traffic light, red signs signifies that every car should stop. When you enter a bush and see a tree tied around with red clothes, it means the fruits of the tree is restricted from passers-by. It means the fruits are meant for the owners only. Outsiders are not allowed.
Black colour signifies bad luck and evil. Anywhere black material is used it symbolizes evil and misfortune. That is why devil is being painted black.
Animals like lion symbolizes strength and power, it symbolizes leadership. Anywhere a lion is drawn, the place is at an extent a place for the Kings or the leaders. That is why kings are always happy when they are being called lions. Even Jesus is being called the lion of Judea. But people get angry when they are being called sheep or goat because they both symbolizes cowardice and stupidity. Every thing around us in one way or the other symbolizes one thing or the other.
Symbols has a lot of significance to play in our everyday life.

I also forgot to talk about white color. Any material with white color doesn’t scare people but embraces people. White among all other colour symbolizes peace, purity and goodness. When we pray to God, we ask for forgiveness by telling him to wash our sins so that we can be whiter than snow. Why don’t we say wash us so that we can be blacker than coal. Because black symbolizes evil, white symbolizes purity. That is why dove symbolizes purity. The white color of dive makes it a pure bird among all other birds. In the churches, white is the dominant colour of every decoration(materials). When you talk of catholics, their reverend fathers wear white garment not black due to what white signifies. White colour signifies purity. White candles are mostly the candle used in most churches due to the colour symbol. White symbolizes peace and unity and doesn’t represent evil. Even the evil alters most times are scared of white colours. The evil ones always use vulture or any other black bird but will never use dove as a symbol in their alter. They go on am assignment in form of vulture but can never go in form of dove. That is why the black colour of vulture and it’s feeding habit has made it an isolated animal.
Dove is a bird which every one wish to see and behold it’s white colour beauty.

I haven’t read it yet. But from your blog post it appears to be quite interesting. And as you have already mentioned the elements of The Faerie Queen which compare it to an epic then an epic it is. There should be no questioning on it as such.