Point of View

Climbing the Stairs is recounted in the first-person point of view by Vidya, a fifteen-year-old Indian girl. Vidya's beliefs are formed by the world around her and her limited exposure to the world outside the walls of her home. Vidya is close to members of her immediate family, but doesn't know what they are thinking and feeling unless they tell her. The reader is allowed glimpses into the minds of other characters through their body language and facial expressions.

Setting

The larger setting of Climbing the Stairs is Bombay and Madras, India. However, the majority of the book takes place within the walls of Thatha's family compound. Thatha is a wealthy man. His home has two floors. Men live upstairs and women live downstairs. The men and women live separate lives. Men eat together while the women serve them. When they are finished the women eat...