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Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Henna Artist, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Choice, Independence and Women’s Freedoms
Family and Responsibility
Societal Hierarchy vs. Unordered Intimacy
Care and Communication
Creativity vs. Possession
Summary
Analysis
Kanta and Lakshmi agree that Kanta will tell Radha about the adoption contract, though she will not mention the palace is adopting. They do not want Radha to loiter outside the palace the way she loiters outside Ravi’s house. Surprisingly, Radha agrees to the terms. Lakshmi writes to Dr. Kumar to thank him for being the proxy physician for the adoption, as the palace has all sorts of medical requirements. Since Dr. Kumar is from Shimla, he will be able to attend both Kanta and Radha as they go through their pregnancies.
Earlier in the novel, Dr. Kumar and Lakshmi had sparred—but now, he and Lakshmi emerge as mirrors of each other, two healers helping to bring Radha and Kanta’s pregnancies to term. Once again, Lakshmi refuses to tell Radha key information—though this time, Lakshmi is more explicit that she is keeping things from Radha for her sister’s own good.
Themes
