Hannah-Rushdie-2/28

Saleem's mother, Amina, is described as taking the "burdens of the world" upon her own back on page 180. She becomes a Christ like figure because of her loyalty to her family and community, her ever lasting guilt and most importantly, the sacrifices she goes through in order to feel rid of her "sins" (seems like being human is too daunting for her).

"'Amma, maybe you're a mermaid really, taking human form for the love of a man-so that every step is like walking on razor blades!' My mother smiled, but did not laugh" (179). Amina feels responsible for her husband's impotency and her inability to love him as a whole that she is full of guilt. She even blames herself for Monkey's disinterest in feminine qualities, her son's big nose and gambling to support the family. It seems as if catering to human nature and letting some things go isn't what Amina is willing to do for herself. She seems to be striving for an inhuman, or perhaps spiritual, type of life because she can't deal with having to let go of Nadir. According to the Bible, Christ was born in a manger and grew up as a carpenter's son, yet was crucified for the world's sins and is now in Heaven. Amina, then Mumtaz, was tucked away into darkness with Nadir (simpler times) then suddenly thrust up into another marriage, having to pay for her secrets and guilt by being a Christ like figure to everyone else around her.

On page 180, Amina seems to have a fog of guilt around her head (Christ and his crown of thorns, representing and mocking his claim to be the son of God). Everyone who came in contact with Amina felt the need to confess their sins, such as Lila Sabarmati and Hanif. Afterwards, they felt better about themselves. Maybe this air of confession was due to the fact that Amina was regarded as being put together and able to handle everyone else's problems, since she was seen as a Christ like figure (untainted and pure). She is portrayed as a relatively moral woman and I feel Saleem decides to speak about this right before the bathroom incident in order to show the reader that not everybody is as strong as they seem.