Do you know what it's like to be "Sold?"
Michelle Blaundin
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: Entertainment
Students taking PUC's English 100 course are aware of the novel "Sold" by Patricia McCormick, but others should also be informed of this powerful story.
McCormick traveled to Nepal and India to interview the rescued women of the human trafficking industry in Calcutta's red-light district. Her graphic view shows the conditions in which young girls and women of the East live. Oftentimes, young girls are sold to profit their poverty-stricken families.
The point of view of a 13-year-old girl named Lakshmi is prominently used to show a compilation of stories of tragedy in these women's lives.
In the beginning of the novel, Lakshmi describes her life of poverty as wholesome and humble, full of hopes and dreams and a familiar sense of belonging. As the story progresses, she discovers the hopes and dreams she was once promised become shattered into empty promises when she is sold to a sex-trafficking ring.
Even through her horrible ordeal, the character of Lakshmi is amazingly strong-willed and brave. She battles her reality with a fierce heart and refuses the defeat that is being pushed on her from all directions.
"Sold" forces readers to take a step back and examine their own life, causing them to wonder, "Is my life really so hard?" It makes readers speculate on how women are treated and viewed in America, as well as how we value wealth in this country.
McCormick's writing and research shows compassion, insight, integrity and most of all, hope. However, it also gives grim but realistic details of corruption on a deep level that many may not wish to understand.
This novel is an inspiration to the ideas of standing up for what you believe in and the prospect of never giving up hope.
Even though the women represented in this novel are now free, they are still haunted by their past, and that is evident.
McCormick's research helped to make a difference for the women in Calcutta's red-light district. The story of the character of Lakshmi told the tale of many women fighting the injustice of the system in which they lived, and this helped to bring awareness to the proper officials in the district.
This novel should be a must-read for everyone. The strong message of this story will touch the hearts of everyone who reads it. Hopefully, this reaction will cause readers to look for a way to help put a stop to the tragic way in which many women in Calcutta's red-light district are forced to live.
For more information on how to help, please visit http://www.humantrafficking.org/
McCormick traveled to Nepal and India to interview the rescued women of the human trafficking industry in Calcutta's red-light district. Her graphic view shows the conditions in which young girls and women of the East live. Oftentimes, young girls are sold to profit their poverty-stricken families.
The point of view of a 13-year-old girl named Lakshmi is prominently used to show a compilation of stories of tragedy in these women's lives.
In the beginning of the novel, Lakshmi describes her life of poverty as wholesome and humble, full of hopes and dreams and a familiar sense of belonging. As the story progresses, she discovers the hopes and dreams she was once promised become shattered into empty promises when she is sold to a sex-trafficking ring.
Even through her horrible ordeal, the character of Lakshmi is amazingly strong-willed and brave. She battles her reality with a fierce heart and refuses the defeat that is being pushed on her from all directions.
"Sold" forces readers to take a step back and examine their own life, causing them to wonder, "Is my life really so hard?" It makes readers speculate on how women are treated and viewed in America, as well as how we value wealth in this country.
McCormick's writing and research shows compassion, insight, integrity and most of all, hope. However, it also gives grim but realistic details of corruption on a deep level that many may not wish to understand.
This novel is an inspiration to the ideas of standing up for what you believe in and the prospect of never giving up hope.
Even though the women represented in this novel are now free, they are still haunted by their past, and that is evident.
McCormick's research helped to make a difference for the women in Calcutta's red-light district. The story of the character of Lakshmi told the tale of many women fighting the injustice of the system in which they lived, and this helped to bring awareness to the proper officials in the district.
This novel should be a must-read for everyone. The strong message of this story will touch the hearts of everyone who reads it. Hopefully, this reaction will cause readers to look for a way to help put a stop to the tragic way in which many women in Calcutta's red-light district are forced to live.
For more information on how to help, please visit http://www.humantrafficking.org/
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