Man and Nature

The location of the novel is the Sundarbans, an archipelago of islands, covered in mangrove forests, which are situated at the mohona of several rivers in the Bay of Bengal. Although the area has abundant natural resources to help sustain island life it is also dangerous and hostile to humans, as it is susceptible to extreme storms, which sink boats and flood the islands, as well as being home to tigers, crocodiles, and snakes.

When Scotsman, and visionary, Sir Daniel Hamilton traveled there, at the turn of the twentieth century, he did not see the danger but looked upon the expansive and desolate crab-covered mud shores and instead saw potential. “Why are these islands empty of people? Why is this valuable soil allowed to lie fallow?” (50). Sir Daniel, determined to bring civilization to the islands, bought 10,000 acres and built towns and villages there. An...