#130: A Fine Balance--Reading Response #1

[Mr. Neary]

Take a moment to review the reading objectives for the first section of A Fine Balance:

 

Be prepared to discuss the characterization of Dina as well as the relationship between Dina and her brother Nusswan.  In particular, I like to ask this question: Is Nusswan truly a bad guy? 

 

This question, in addition to the overall theme of balance, will guide in-class discussion.  For this response your task is to discuss a specific moment or scene located between pages 1-91.  You can responsd to reading question above, you can consider the "fine balance" idea, or you can discuss any other aspect of this first section.   Regardless of the angle you take,  your paragraph response must  include the following parts:

     > establish a topic sentence

     > identify the scene/moment/detail

     > include a quote from the scene

     > explain the significance of the example/quote

 

 

The reading response will recieve a grade based on quality and completion.  A response that earns full credit (10-15 points) will possess these characteristics: establishes clear focus; develops main idea with specific, relevant, and sufficient detail in a convincing fashion; inserts quotes fluently, providing the necessary context, and punctuates quote correctly; offers an insightful commentary that goes beyond the obvious; and constructs strong, varied sentences with effective diction.

 

 

Due Date:

       > If test is Friday, this response is due Monday, April 30

       > If test is Monday (or later), this response is due Friday, April 27

[Alexa Lee]

In the novel, A Fine Balance, the character Nusswan is truly a selfish bad character.  He only keeps his self interests in mind, and does not genuinely care for Dina.  Although Nusswan claims he needs to punish Dina for her actions as the head of the household and replacement "father" in many instances Nusswan shows his true feelings of selfishness.  Nusswan abuses Dina when he "tear[s] off her clothes" and in the bathroom "flung a mugful of cold water at her" and "pinched one [nipple], hard" (Mistry 24).  He does all of this because Dina cut her hair after he told her not to.  Then he forces Dina to wear the pigtails in her hair to school every day until her hair grows back.  Nusswan is not simply punishing Dina, but taking revenge for the damage to his pride and authority.   Clearly his motives are not to help Dina, but to make himself feel better.  He feels disrespected and wounded.  If Nusswan really had altruistic motives he would teach Dina through love with kind words and greater explanations of why he didn't want her to cut her hair.  Instead he brutally attacks her and further humiliates her with the pigtails.  In fact if Nusswan cared about Dina, he would focus on his relationship with her.  He would realize that their relationship would have a profound effect on her mental/emotional state in the present as well as the future.  Their relationship would greatly effect her relationships in the future, her ability to trust and to love and to give.  But since he doesn't care about their relationship, thus not caring for her, he didn't think that far ahead.  Even later in the novel Nusswan does not care for Dina and remains selfish.  When he looks for suitors for Dina he thinks of who he would like Dina to marry rather than who Dina would like to marry.  He picks out all of his friends for her, all of whom she resent, but of course he doesn't notice.  He doesn't care enough.  Finally when she falls in love he is "offended that all his choices, were being spurned by her for a total stranger"  (Mistry 35).  Now that is selfish.  He should be happy for her if he truly cares for her.  His offense isn't even that what if this person is not good enough for her or not a nice guy, he just thinks about HIS efforts and what HE wants.  After Dina's husband Rustom dies, Nusswan brings back more suitors and tries to make Dina marry once more.  He compares her to Bapsy Aunty and calls her crazy for mourning over Rustom and wanting him back.  He seems to be completely indifferent to Dina's suffering.  He doesn't care about Dina's heartbreak, it's as if he is hollow.  This entire maliciousness is out of spite for the past, jealousy over Dina's attention from her father.  Early on Nusswan is jealous that Dina was the favorite and too immature to overcome it.  This immaturity and refusal to give up turns into revenge and evolves into selfishness.  Nusswan is not a good character.  Perhaps he'll change, but it will be very difficult with years of bad behavior and ingrained hatred.  It is more likely he will continue on this until he fully severs his relationship with his sister - and it seemed that when Dina left for Shirin Aunty's it had begun.  

[Melissa Lee]

Throughout the first part of Rohinton Minstry’s A Fine Balance, Dina meets many obstacles and is constantly faced with the choice of whether to move over them or stay behind, preoccupied with the past. Dina’s selling of Rustom’s violin is a significant part of her journey. Although Rustom was one of the only people that she could trust and know that would care for her unconditionally, keeping the violin represents Dina clinging to her bittersweet past. At first, she describes Rustom’s violin as if it were meaningless clutter in a dusty room, in the way “she continued to employ the same strategy against the violin, barely acknowledging its existence” (61). Similarly to the untouched violin, Dina had avoided thinking deeply about Rustom for years. When she turns the violin into the store, Mr. Mascarenhas, the storekeeper, wisely explains, “When a violin is in storage, the strings should be loosened, the bow should be slack. We human beings loosen our belts when we go home and relax don’t we?” (62). The imagery of a bow with tense bow hairs strained by the long period of time it had sat in the same uptight position represents Dina’s idleness and consequent growing stiffness since the grief of her loving husband’s death. However, when she was young and her mother died, her brother, Nusswan, seemingly forced her to move on, as it appeared he dictated where the two siblings would go from that moment. And even when she was older, he would still express his expectations for a potential husband for her. Although at that time he seemed overbearing and unnecessarily harsh, I think he did truly care for his sister and had traditional expectations that may have hid his protectiveness evident later, when he sees Dina crushed by Rustom’s death and expressed his sorrow. The tightened bow imagery also speaks towards the idea of Nusswan’s rigidity towards Dina. In a way, just like she had to learn to let go of Rustom, she had to learn to move on from her brother. Literally, she moved out of the flat as much, as it angered Nusswan, because she was able to prove her independence to not only her relatives but to herself. Also, there was a fine balance between this independence and her reliance on Nusswan’s precise prospects or her husband’s memory because while she was able to move on, she still had remaining guilt after she sold the violin.

[Quincy Shuda]

After reading the first section of A Fine Balance, the truth behind the character Nusswan is hard to decipher. In one respect, he is cruel to his younger sister as he severely punishes her, but on in another light (which is the stronger of the two views), he is not truly a bad guy. In contrast, he is more of a lost soul because of a scar left on him at a young age, and he struggles to express his feelings in an appropriate manner. After experiencing the anguish his mother suffered after her husband’s death and the way she drew into herself, leaving her children abandoned, Nusswan feared the same thing happening to his little sister, and felt the responsibility of preventing it. After breaking through his rough exterior, his real emotions and love for Dina can be seen in the scene after the wedding, which Nusswan took much pride in. As his sister goes to leave, “his voice quavered as he said, ‘All the best! God bless you!’ (Mistry 39)” to the newlyweds. The way the author portrayed his message shows his care deep down and honest good wishes of happiness for the couple. Fear is a force that can overcome many positive feelings, and when Nusswan’s fear of strife for Dina engulfed him, his love for her became a vault locked away in his heart. It took a significant event like the marriage for him to unbury the key that he had hidden away and show just a glimpse of his true underlying goodness.

[Lizzy Hilt]

In the first section of A Fine Balance, Nusswan’s full character is tested by the set of events revolving around Dina’s marriage exposing his nurturing feelings towards his sister; thus, showing the reader he is not a bad guy. If one analyzes this experience as a simulation of his character, the reader can see the scope of his behavior and how it eventually benefits Dina. He starts out on this task with great care in finding her a suitable husband. The significant amount of importance he places on this event brings out his morals. Some may see this as selfishness to uphold the family name, but this will be the person she spends the rest of her life with and no matter how he looks at it. Nusswan realizes the weight of her marriage and confides, “Dina had grown into a beautiful young woman, and she deserved nothing less than the best” (Mistry 28). If he were only trying to uphold the family name, why would the author have him recognize the fact that her happiness plays a factor into his decision? The next even in this sequence was when Dina announces her engagement to Rustom. Although Nusswan does not take the news lightly at first, he acknowledges, “in the end it’s up to [Dina]” (Mistry 37). He accepts she has authority over her future and allows her to make her own decisions. His hesitation at the beginning seems to be fueled not only by disapproval but caution to make sure Dina is making the right choice. Again, being enforced at the conclusion of the set of events when the Dalal’s are leaving the wedding when Nusswan says, “all the best! God bless you!” (Mistry 39).  Throughout the evolution of Dina’s wedding experience, Nusswan was encouraging, caring, and respectful. These scenes prove he is not a bad guy.

[Connor]

Throughout Minstry’s A Fine Balance, Nusswan proves himself to be judgmental and has a lack of empathy. He treats Dina as if she is a child and is incapable of making her own decisions. When she does make decisions, Nusswan ridicules them and decides that his way will always be better. A scene that highlights Nusswan's judgmental characteristics is when he meets Rustom. Upon the arrival of Rustom, he presents Dina with a beautiful umbrella. To Dina "the significance [of the umbrella] was not lost on her" because it was a token of remembrance of a previous encounter and also a beautiful physical present (35). To Nusswan, however, the umbrella was a stupid and petty gift. Nusswan cannot see that Dina as very pleased with the umbrella and uses it as a way to insult Rustom. After Rustom leaves he says "What does your fellow bring? A bloody umbrella!... How will I hold my head up when people hear that my sister married an unambitious medicine mixing fool?" (36) Nusswan uses his perceived lack of a valuable present as a way to insult every aspect of Rustom's character. He insults his character, work-ethic and profession all on the basis that Rustom brought Dina an umbrella. Although I do think that Nusswan truly wants his sister to be happy and successful, his lack of empathy clouds his sight and causes him to judge anyone that he does not perceive to be perfect.

[James Lofton]

Throughout the book, "A Fine Balance", many aspects of the plot can be
considered in context as being a balancing act. In the first two parts
of the novel, this balance motif is most prevalent in how Dina is
forced to treat her tailors. As a result of Dina's rough upbringing,
and the strictness with which her brother Nusswan treated her, she is
inclined in her adult years to treat the people she has power over
with a kinder hand. In no way does she feel the need to treat the
tailors harshly in the early days of their employment. However, Dina's
employer, Mrs. Gupta, advised her to, " be firm with your tailors, or
they will sit on your head" (Mistry 74). The purpose of this advice
was to give Dina some authority after being subjected to rule all her
life. Whether the tailors started to experiment with their freedom due
to an increase in wealth (as the book suggests), or they sense
weakness in Dina as a boss, it is hard to tell. Nonetheless, as the
tailors proceed further into their careers, they start to slack off.
Along with slacking off, discontent grows in Omprakash. He exclaims to
his uncle that, "She treats us like slaves, and you talk of
independence. Making money from our sweat without a single stitch from
her fingers" (Mistry 82). Over time, Dina starts to sense the anger
from her employee. She is then forced to balance her discipline and
her authority. If she is too harsh, there is the threat that her
tailor would abandon her as Omprakash threatens to do on page 84.
However, if she is too lenient, her workers will start to slack off.
Either way she runs the risk of losing her income. Either the tailors
leave, and nobody can sew for her; or, the tailors fail to produce
sufficient products and Mrs. Gupta cuts her out of the loop. I look
forward to seeing how Dina balances this tough situation in the
upcoming chapters.

On Apr 25, 8:03 am, "Mr. Neary" <tjne...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Take a moment to review the reading objectives for the first section of *A
> Fine Balance*:

>
>  Be prepared to discuss the characterization of Dina as well as the
> relationship between Dina and her brother Nusswan.  In particular, I like
> to ask this question: Is Nusswan truly a bad guy?
>
> This question, in addition to the overall theme of balance, will guide

> in-class discussion.  *For this response your task is to discuss a specific

> moment or scene located between pages 1-91.  You can responsd to reading
> question above, you can consider the "fine balance" idea, or you can

> discuss any other aspect of this first section.*   Regardless of the angle

> you take,  your paragraph response must  include the following parts:
>      > establish a topic sentence
>      > identify the scene/moment/detail
>      > include a quote from the scene
>      > explain the significance of the example/quote
>
> The reading response will recieve a grade based on quality and completion.
> A response that earns full credit (10-15 points) will possess these

> characteristics: *establishes clear focus; develops main idea with

> specific, relevant, and sufficient detail in a convincing fashion; inserts
> quotes fluently, providing the necessary context, and punctuates quote
> correctly; offers an insightful commentary that goes beyond the obvious;

> and constructs strong, varied sentences with effective diction*.
>
> *Due Date: *

[Rachel Hochberger]

In countless moments of Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance, Nusswan reveals himself to be a cruel and selfish person, particularly in his relationship with his younger sister Dina. Even when she does act out, Nusswan never fails to punish her excessively, like when she cuts her hair against his wishes. He forces her to strip in front of him, only satisfied when she begins to cry. Furthermore, he forces her to reattach her hair using electrical tape, saying “You will wear them like this. Every day, even to school, till your hair has grown back.” (24). The fact that Nusswan continued to punish Dina for this one small action showed that he was more concerned with proving himself rather than punishing her, and that it wasn’t really about the haircut, but the fact that she made him look weak. Despite the fact that they are brother and sister, Nusswan’s strange need to constantly prove himself superior, and treat his own sister like a peasant in his self-proclaimed hierarchy speaks more about his own insecurities and paranoia than Dina’s defiance. And while Nusswan does occasionally do nice things for his sister, they are often because he cares so much about what others think of him and his family, exhibited when he urges Dina to get remarried, saying, “It is possible to live a full life, get married again, have children. Or do you prefer to live forever on my charity?” (52). This reinforces the fact that Nusswan’s main concern isn’t his sister’s happiness, but her not being seen as a charity case, and embarrassing him in the long run.

[Josh Klag]

Nusswan establishes himself as a selfish, sometimes loathesome character; however, he is not necessarily a "bad" person. Nusswan's deep-seated concern for what other think of him proves his glaring flaw. This trait is expressed when he "overhear[s] [Dina] in the next room... making fun of his teeth" (Mistry 21). Her teasing outrages him, and results in one of his first violent outbursts. Additionally, his infatuation with the opinions of his peers is evident in his excessive, uncharacteristic hospitality at Dina's wedding. He refuses to let Rustom "work at his own wedding" and "scold[s] guests who [take] too little [food]" (Mistry 38). However, there are fleeting moments where Nusswan appears as a somewhat sympathetic character. The scene described earlier, in which Dina is heard ridiculing Nusswan's teeth, also serves to invoke a tinge of pity for Nusswan, as his already struggling self-esteem is bruised further. Furthermore, when Dina cuts up the ribbons he purchased for her, Nusswan goes running to his mother, "almost in tears" (Mistry 22). The fact that he is close to tears sheds a sensitive, almost vulnerable light on his character.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Ashley Gubernick]

One thing that is very different about the book, A Fine Balance, is the bias tone that the author takes on.  Typically, a book is bias when it is told from the point of view of a specific character.  Even though the author narrates the book it seems bias against Nusswan and sympathetic towards Dina.  For this reason Nusswan seems like a bad person, but is he really?  Everybody deals with grief differently, so Nusswan's taking on the role of "man of the house" could take a toll on him that the reader does not see.  What the reader does see is the harsh treatment of Dina, thus Dina is a more vulnerable character.  However, I think a quote by the author on page 23 humanizes Nusswan: "Exhausted, he wished there was some way to deal with this without another fight.  But her insolence, her defiance, could not go unpunished; or how would he look at himself in the mirror?"  This gives insight into Nusswan's thought process before he abuses Dina by splashing cold water on her naked body.  Nusswan's conscience could be interpreted different ways but I took it as him wanting to be the disciplinarian of the house as his father once was.  If he does not discipline his sister she will end up a different person than his father had intended, and he could not even look at himself in the mirror knowing that he let that happen.  Because of his conscience and devotion to his late father, he abuses Dina.  Perhaps this is not the right away to go about disciplining Dina, but his intentions are just; therefore, I find hat Nusswan is not actually a bad person.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Cat Mosier-Mills]

Although we tend to label characters in black and white terms, clearly defining good and evil, I believe that the character Nusswan is an ironic character -- meaning that, while his actions portray both negative and positive qualities, his intentions are completely different. The most poignant example, and the inspiration for my analysis, appears on page 36, after Dina announces she plans to wed a pharmaceutical chemist: "Mark my words, your spite will come back to haunt you. I am powerless to stop you, you are twenty-one, no longer a little girl I can look after. And if you are determined to throw your life away in the gutter, I can only watch helplessly while you do it." His conniving tone, while seemingly conveying that of a worried father reprimanding his daughter for making foolish decisions, is really him asserting his authority, patronizing her, and acting rather arrogantly. This section is particularly ironic because his senselss abuse towards her contributes to her want to be independent; and while we can argue (for Nusswan's sake) that he has been given a great burden (the author goes into detail describing the dowry and other costs that are associated with girls), he has become drunk with power and blames others for his mistakes. This relates back to the main idea of the novel, finding a "fine balance" in life. Nusswan struggles to find a fine balance between discipline and love; will he follow the "harsh father" method and punish her for her mistakes, or will he reward her for the good that she does? Similarly, the author tries to create a fine balance in Nusswan's character, as mentioned before. Nusswan represents the gray area -- a character that behaves one way and thinks another -- and I found this to be profoundly interesting, especially as it applied to Dina's later psychological development, and how Nusswan's decisions, as well as her lack of parents for the latter part of her childhood, affected her growth. 

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Erica F]

After reading the beginning of the novel, 'A Fine Balance', I'm not
quite sure how I feel about Nusswan's character. During Dina's
childhood, Nusswan was downright nasty, selfish, and treated Dina with
complete disrespect. Was this out of hatred for his sister, or out of
trying to respect his father's disciplinary ways? Shortly after Mr.
Shroff's death, Nusswan had to assume guardianship of Dina,
"perceiving his father to be a strict disciplinarian; he had stood in
awe of him, had even been a little frightened of him...if he was to
fill his father's shoes, he would have to induce the same fear in
others (Mistry 20)." Nusswan saw his father as highly authoritative
and strict, while Dina saw him as her beloved daddy- she was the apple
of his eye- the two siblings saw their father in completely different
ways. Nusswan was only trying to imitate what he thought were things
his father would do, but as time went on, he abused his power over
Dina, physically hurting her as well as humiliating her. Nusswan
thought he was doing the right thing, but unfortunately he was blinded
by his authority. It's funny, because at the start of the novel, I
wanted nothing more than something horrible to happen to Nusswan. I
thought he was a complete monster! As Dina grew up, however, he showed
some signs of affection, wanting to "pay for [her wedding] out of the
money he had been collecting for her (Mistry 36)." and comforting her,
as well as providing her with housing and money, after her husband
passed away. At face value, Nusswan is not a good person; but he did
do some decent things for Dina, and showed some teeny tiny amount of
affection towards her. Every statement he makes is a sort of double-
edged sword, a combination of a sneer and a kind gesture. For example,
when Dina is fed up with him and is about to move back to her own
flat, he tells her, "None of our relatives will blame me, I have done
all I can to help you. And will continue to do so (Mistry 53)." While
he has to throw in the fact that their relatives won't pity Dina, but
him, he also says that he will always be there to help her. There's a
positive and negative statement in there, which gives me a sort of
neutral opinion about him at this point in the novel. He's a
fascinating character, and I'm interested in his progression
throughout the book.

On Apr 25, 8:03 am, "Mr. Neary" <tjne...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Take a moment to review the reading objectives for the first section of *A
> Fine Balance*:

>
>  Be prepared to discuss the characterization of Dina as well as the
> relationship between Dina and her brother Nusswan.  In particular, I like
> to ask this question: Is Nusswan truly a bad guy?
>
> This question, in addition to the overall theme of balance, will guide

> in-class discussion.  *For this response your task is to discuss a specific

> moment or scene located between pages 1-91.  You can responsd to reading
> question above, you can consider the "fine balance" idea, or you can

> discuss any other aspect of this first section.*   Regardless of the angle

> you take,  your paragraph response must  include the following parts:
>      > establish a topic sentence
>      > identify the scene/moment/detail
>      > include a quote from the scene
>      > explain the significance of the example/quote
>
> The reading response will recieve a grade based on quality and completion.
> A response that earns full credit (10-15 points) will possess these

> characteristics: *establishes clear focus; develops main idea with

> specific, relevant, and sufficient detail in a convincing fashion; inserts
> quotes fluently, providing the necessary context, and punctuates quote
> correctly; offers an insightful commentary that goes beyond the obvious;

> and constructs strong, varied sentences with effective diction*.
>
> *Due Date: *

[Allie Martin]

In the novel A Fine Balance Dina's brother Nusswan is the first antagonist we are introduced to, but i don't think he is truly a bad guy. I think this particularly shows in the wedding scene when Dina is leaving Nusswan's flat for good. In this scene Nusswan shows emotion for his sister that is never seen before in the novel. When he was sating goodbye to the married couple "his voice quavered as he said 'All the best! God bless you!'" Also in that scene Nusswan hugs Dina, and according to her that was the first time in seven years that he has ever done such a thing. Though in the beginning of the book Nusswan beats Dina and is very strict with her some of his thought revealed by the narrator suggest that he feels pressure to do a good job, and once Dina was of age he didn't bully her around like he did. He let her make her own choices and never truly forced her into anything. Is he the greatest guy in the world? No, but I predict he isn't the worst human to be seen in this novel.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Shefain Islam]

In my opinion, Nusswan is neither a bad character nor a good character but a person who, like many, have been deeply affected by events in his life that have caused him to act in certain ways. We can see one of the first signs of Nusswan "turning bad" during Nusswan's birthday party. Nusswan believed in becoming a businessman because his father was never concerned about money and often ridiculed or pestered about his financial situation. However, Nusswan is quickly shut down on his idea when the people around him "whispered that the son was obviously not made up of the same solid stuff as the father-no ambition, wouldn't amount to much" (Mistry 16). This later affects Nusswan as he never able to allow people to shame him again and works tirelessly, whether it be at home, to gain power and control. To Nusswan, this one event left an impression that he could never seem weak or useless in the eyes of anyone ever again. The fact that Dina was then placed above Nusswan in the eyes of his father later added to the resentment that Nusswan has for Dina. Nusswan gets back at Dina later on and says "I'm not going to waste money on school fees for another year" (Mistry 26). In this scene, Nusswan intentionally humiliates Dina by saying he is unworthy of an education in order to make her feel the same pain he felt by being second best in his father's eyes. This is just one instance of Nusswan being a outright "evil" character. While Nusswan does take his actions to an extreme as a form revenge, the principals and "basics" of Nusswan's actions are very common for that time period and that part of the world. For this reason, I cannot judge Nusswan as an solely evil character because the beatings and the tapping of the hair would be something I would expect to hear from an elderly neighbor in Bangladesh. To many people of that generation and of that region, what Nusswan did was normal. However, I am not negating the fact that Nusswan was tarnished by jealousy and resentment and therefore acted in ways that were not appropriate. Furthermore, the behavior of Nusswan after the death of Rustom provides evidence that Nusswan is not a truly evil man. When Dina begins to have nightmares about Rustom, without thinking twice, Nusswan and Ruby "if they heard her, came into the room and held her tight, stroking her hair" (Mistry 47). This is honest and true love that is not clouded by past emotions. This thus reveals that without clouded judgement, Nusswan is a loving and caring brother in the best way he can be. However, Nusswan is not a perfect brother by any means and still is quite selfish and resentful but all in all, one cannot label Nusswan as the "bad" or "evil" character because he is just a man who has been severely affected by this past.

[Maureen McDermott]

The overwhelming consensus of the posts I've read say the Nusswan is a selfish and cruel character, and that he doesn't really care about Dina. I, however, believe that, while he sometimes treated Dina with cruelty, he ultimately cared for her deeply and was just trying to do what was right for her. Even though he would often push her into things she didn't want, his intentions were always in the right place. After Nusswan and Dina's parents died, he was the person who had to take her in and continue to raise her. I think one of the reasons he was so harsh on her was because he didn't want to shame his parents. He had never before brought up a child, and he felt so much pressure to do it right, that he was so imposing on her life to make sure nothing would go wrong. And while he was really cruel and ignorant towards Dina and her life, he was always there for her in the end, and would always support her. One particular passage that stood out to me was when Rustom died and Dina was going back home with Nusswan. "By the time they got home, the tears were silently streaming down her cheeks. Nusswan held her and stroked her head." To me that was one of the most profound moments in the Dina/Nusswan relationship, in my opinion. And it shows just how much he truly loves her and wants her to be happy. It shows that, whether or not he approves of her choices, he will always be there for her through her times of struggle. That passage really helped me realize that, while Dina may have made him out to be, Nusswan really is a good guy, and his heart is in the right place. 

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Colin Castro]

In the earliest pages of the story we are introduced to an aged, and
possibly reflective Dina. Dina is greeting Maneck, Ishvar and Om. The
reader initially is introduced to Dina as a middle aged woman living
in a dirty apartment, begging for money and a widow. As we delve into
Dina's story she describes the disappointment surrounding her life. I
thought the most impactful parts of Dina's childhood were her
ambitious father, and his disappointment in Nusswan. I think
Dr.Shroff's disappointment in Nusswan's lack of interest in the
medical field hurt their relationship, and strengthened Dina's bond
with her father. I'd also suspect this to create a level of jealousy
and anger in Nusswan toward the love, and attention his sister
recieved. This couldn't have helped their relationship, nor did the
sizable age gap. After Dina's father dies, Nusswan admirably adopts
Dina and their mother. He goes on to basically enslave Dina as a
teenage housemaker, disallowing her from having a social life or
maximize her education. This really negates all the good he's done in
taking his family in, because he's turned his daugther into a servant
and nurse to his sick mother. As Dina wants to grow and expand her
horizons we see the first serious tension between the two. Dina's
frustration boils when she first explains herself to Nusswan, " "I'm
not your servant! Wash your own dirty plates!' Weks of pent-up
frustration came gushing. 'You said we would each do our own work! All
your stinking things you leave for me!" " (Mistry 19). This is the
turning point of their relationship because after this rage inside
Dina is exposed, Nusswan changes. Nusswan's changes fluctuate between
kind, selfless and caring and brutal, abusive and disgusting in
actions toward Dina. I wouldn't say Nusswan is evil, but he always
strays away from seemingly honorable intentions. After this blow-up,
Nusswan feels compelled to emulate his father and discipline his
sister so she can learn to respect him. That's a great intention, but
physically hitting her and threatening her newfound sexuality is not
enforcing a sense of discipline it's destructive and scarring to Dina.
As Dina ages, it appears Nusswan changes for the better. Nusswan's
search for a man for Dina is honorable, he's trying to find her a
stable partner who she can raise a family with. However, Nusswan
negates that compassion for his sister when he pressures her into a
quick decision and than mocks her relationship with Rustom Dalal,
because he's a chemist. Nusswan crosses the same boundary of respect
he always chides Dina for crossing when he describes Rustom as, "
"Selecting someone without looks, without money, without prospects" "
(Mistry 37). Nusswan appears to make notable strides throughout hs
arrangement of the wedding service, great relations with the married
couple and unbending support in Dina's initial state of overwhelming
grief after Rustom's death. But, Nusswan seemingly undoes his good
deeds again through pressurizing Dina into finding a new spouse, and
chastizing her decisions. I hesitiate to call Nusswan a totally bad
person because he has honest, and good intentions somewhere inside
himself. But, ultimately his actions and words shadow them.

On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 8:03 AM, Mr. Neary <tjn...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Leigh]

In my opinion, Nusswan isn't truly a bad person. Sometimes his actions aren't the great for Dina, but he always has her best interests in mind. For example, when Dina was mourning the loss of her husband, Nusswan said, "You know, Dina, I am very impressed with you. No one can accuse you of being frivolous in mourning. You have acted so correctly, so perfectly, this whole year." This was one of the few times in the book where Nusswan confessed his pride in her, but I believe he has been proud of her throught the whole book.

Even though Dina never liked Nusswan's attempts to find her a husband, he was only trying to make her life easier and better overall. He wated to find a husband that could give her everything. Sometimes he lost sight of her wishes, but in the end he let her marry Rustom even though he was opposed to it. Even though Dina thinks the way her brother brought her up wasn't the best, she still acknowledges that he was only trying to help her, saying "He is not a bad person. He just has his own ideas about things." In the end I don't believe Nusswan is a bad person. I just think his interests clash with Dina's often, causing him to be unfairly villified due to the fact that the book is written in Dina's perspective.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Sarah M]

We are judging the character of Nusswan by our own standards of "good"
and "bad". But these standards are a product of the Western, American
society that we live in, and it is important to keep in mind that this
book takes place in a culture completely separate from the one that we
know. That being said, I feel that Nusswan is a man that understands
the written (and unwritten) rules of his culture, and the pain these
rules will bring to his family or himself. I predict that he is far
more tactful at manipulating this system than he appears, and Dina
should be wary to trust him with certain things. His cunning can be
seen as malicious, because often he does some very cruel things, but
cruel people are the product of a cruel world such as the one
described in the novel. He is a man that has lost his innocence, and
this is often considered synonymous with "a bad person." For example,
when Dina chooses to marry Rustom Dalal, Nusswan is horrified at her
choice of a man that does not have as much wealth as the other suitors
she could have chosen. But he accepts the reality of his power in the
situation when he realizes that "I have no reason to insult him. But
it is my duty to meet him, and then advise you properly. In the end
it's up to you" (Mistry 35). Therefore, Nusswan pays for the wedding
and appears to celebrate with pride and grace, as he is expected to do
for his younger sister. But inside, he is furious with Dina for her
decision, and though he feels he has lost now, will find a way to get
back at her in the end. When Rustom dies, he pressures her
unrelentlessly to find a new husband; this time, one that meets his
criteria. He is a person that is ruthless in getting what he wants;
again, this is often considered the same thing as "a bad person".

[Ben Cohen]

In the book, "A Fine Balance", Nusswan turns out to be a
misunderstood, yet good character. At times in the novel Nusswan
treats Dina horribly, but it is for his own good. Nusswan's malicious
acts can be justified by the postion he was put in at such a young
age. After his father died, Nusswan was left taking care of a teenage
girl and a practically brain-dead mother. Not only did he have to take
care of them while at home, he also had to work to support them. When
Nusswan laments, "Every day I sit at home, I lose mone. These bloody
uncultured savages don't deserve independence... I wish they would go
somewhere else and do it quietly," (Mistry24) his extreme level of
distress is exposed. This moment comes the day after Nusswan had an
encounter with Dina in which he threatened to harm her, which must be
stressful for an older brother to do to his younger sister. Despite
the inhumane persona he puts on, Nusswan is just trying to do whatever
he can to keep Dina in-line due to his secretive, yet deep love for
her. All of his irrational decisions and horrific treatment of Dina
are just products of the stress he had from taking care of a family,
working, and dealing with a rebellion in India. LAter in the novel
Nusswan builds a stronger realationship with Dina. He houses her for
many key years in her life, until she finds a husband, and even after
her husband tragically passes away. Dina also expresses the feeling
that Nusswan's harshness arises from his love while speaking about him
to Rustom's parents," He is not a bad person. He just has his own
ideas about things." (Mistry 53).In conclusion Nusswan cares
internally, but finds a way to contrude his feelings with nasty action
externally.

On Apr 25, 8:03 am, "Mr. Neary" <tjne...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Take a moment to review the reading objectives for the first section of *A
> Fine Balance*:

>
>  Be prepared to discuss the characterization of Dina as well as the
> relationship between Dina and her brother Nusswan.  In particular, I like
> to ask this question: Is Nusswan truly a bad guy?
>
> This question, in addition to the overall theme of balance, will guide

> in-class discussion.  *For this response your task is to discuss a specific

> moment or scene located between pages 1-91.  You can responsd to reading
> question above, you can consider the "fine balance" idea, or you can

> discuss any other aspect of this first section.*   Regardless of the angle

> you take,  your paragraph response must  include the following parts:
>      > establish a topic sentence
>      > identify the scene/moment/detail
>      > include a quote from the scene
>      > explain the significance of the example/quote
>
> The reading response will recieve a grade based on quality and completion.
> A response that earns full credit (10-15 points) will possess these

> characteristics: *establishes clear focus; develops main idea with

> specific, relevant, and sufficient detail in a convincing fashion; inserts
> quotes fluently, providing the necessary context, and punctuates quote
> correctly; offers an insightful commentary that goes beyond the obvious;

> and constructs strong, varied sentences with effective diction*.
>
> *Due Date: *

[Drew Vollmer]

At face value, many portray Nusswan as an antoagonistic, downright
mean character. However, this is simply not the case. He does come off
as strict, and stickler of sorts, but his actions are justified. With
the death of his father, Mrs. Shroff becomes dead inside, as Nusswan
takes notice of. This is not uncommon for a widow though, despite the
length of her sorrow. However, Nusswan does not like to see his mother
like this, and therefore does not want the same to happen to his
little sister. Therefore, he takes responsibilty as head of the house,
and begins to crack down on how he raises Dina. At one point, while
lecturing her, Nusswan states "Someone has to teach you respect [...]
It is my duy I suppose" (MIstry 21). Afterwords, he begins to hit her,
which many may portray as abuse, but it is simply a form of
discipline, although uncommon in our current culture. And even if it
is a bit harsher than neccesary, "he stopped when a cut opened her
lower lip" (MIstry 21). So it is not like Nusswan does not have
limits, for he does stop. The fact of the matter is, Nusswan is
learning. He takes the role of father almost prematurely, and thus has
a tendency to go a bit far. It is clear that Nusswan means well for
Dina. He simply cannot stand to see his sister end up like his mother
did: Lonely, depressed, and dead inside. Why, he constantly searches
for a husband for her, even after the death of Rustom. Arranged
marriage is not uncommon in cultures like India, so those more
ignorant of Indian customs may easily percieve this action as
forceful, unfair, and rude. Nonetheless, Nusswan means well for Dina.
This is where the "fine balance" may come in, as Nusswan struggles to
find a balance between discipline and happiness, regarding his
parenthood of Dina.

On Apr 25, 8:03 am, "Mr. Neary" <tjne...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Take a moment to review the reading objectives for the first section of *A
> Fine Balance*:

>
>  Be prepared to discuss the characterization of Dina as well as the
> relationship between Dina and her brother Nusswan.  In particular, I like
> to ask this question: Is Nusswan truly a bad guy?
>
> This question, in addition to the overall theme of balance, will guide

> in-class discussion.  *For this response your task is to discuss a specific

> moment or scene located between pages 1-91.  You can responsd to reading
> question above, you can consider the "fine balance" idea, or you can

> discuss any other aspect of this first section.*   Regardless of the angle

> you take,  your paragraph response must  include the following parts:
>      > establish a topic sentence
>      > identify the scene/moment/detail
>      > include a quote from the scene
>      > explain the significance of the example/quote
>
> The reading response will recieve a grade based on quality and completion.
> A response that earns full credit (10-15 points) will possess these

> characteristics: *establishes clear focus; develops main idea with

> specific, relevant, and sufficient detail in a convincing fashion; inserts
> quotes fluently, providing the necessary context, and punctuates quote
> correctly; offers an insightful commentary that goes beyond the obvious;

> and constructs strong, varied sentences with effective diction*.
>
> *Due Date: *

[Maddie Chapin]

In A Fine Balance numerous themes and controversial topics are brought up that could easily be seen as Nusswan being abusive or Nusswan being a loving brother, but to me, Nusswan is truly a good person. Although in parts of the context, he is portrayed as over protective and harmful to his sister, which is true, I feel that his loving moments outshine the bad. It seems as though Nusswan's early life has negatively affected his ability to correctly express his emotions and feelings in a healthy way, but one can't deny his care for his sister, Dina, in lines like, "he had been faithfully putting money aside for Dina's wedding" and he thinks his sister has grown into a "beautiful young woman" when he is trying to find a suitable husband for his sister. This quote shows Nusswan's true dedication to his sister and that he will always have much faith towards her. Without Nusswan, Dina would not have been where she is, and although he is portrayed as such an evil character and although he did such cruel things to her, they can be balanced with his overall dedication for Dina, emphasizing the name of the title, "A Fine Balance".

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Addy]

The novel A Fine Balance is a fascinating book that examines the culture and values of Indian life. I think that Dina's relationship is fraught with complex human interactions and emotions. As to whether or not Nusswan is a bad guy depends on your personal definition of a bad guy. My definition is someone who's only goal is to further their own standing in life. I do not think that Nusswan ever does anything out of selflessness. I think that he is so worried about his personal image that he will give charity, not out of pity or generosity, but because he want people to see him being generous and they will think better of him. He makes me think of the bible verse that reads "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others" (Mark 6:5) which is a verse that is told every year in church and it really stands out to me. It goes on to say that when you give to the needy your right hand shouldn't see what your left hand is doing. I think that this speaks volumes about Nusswan's character. When Nusswan doesn't allow Dina to continue school and she runs to Grandfather and Grandfather calls Nusswan to come over and talk. Nusswan goes and Mistry says "He cared deeply about the family's opinion of him" (27). Mistry gives this as the only reason for Nusswan going to see Grandfather. There is no mention of him feeling remorse about his action's toward his sister, but his only care is to look good in front of the family. This clearly proves that Nusswan puts his own self image above anyone or anything else, and I think that that kind of person is "bad" in the extreme.

P.S. Sorry its so late Mr. Neary, but I hope your mind is blown by my in-depth and concise argument!!

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote:

[Kaleigh Link]

Nusswan is not a bad person, but he does make selfish decisions that,
to us, reflect poorly on his character. "Nusswan had always been
sensitive about his bad teeth" (Mistry 21); "[Nusswan] cared deeply
about the family's opinion of him" (Mistry 27); “[Nusswan’s]
sincerity touched them. They promised to pray for him too. ‘Don’t
worry Nusswan, everything will be all right. We will light a lamp at
the fire-temple’” (Mistry 20). Nusswan is very concerned with what
others, especially his family, think about him. Because of this,
Nusswan is portrayed as the bad guy in certain situations. Like in
the first quote right after Dina and her friend made fun of Nusswans
teeth, he enforces fear into the minds of the two girls and sends
Dinas friend home; portraying himself as the bad guy. Also because he
cares so much about his family’s opinion of him, he’s willing to do
anything, even if it breaks the bond siblings share, just to please
his family or to seem like the victim and the good guy.

On Apr 25, 8:03 am, "Mr. Neary" <tjne...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Take a moment to review the reading objectives for the first section of *A
> Fine Balance*:

>
>  Be prepared to discuss the characterization of Dina as well as the
> relationship between Dina and her brother Nusswan.  In particular, I like
> to ask this question: Is Nusswan truly a bad guy?
>
> This question, in addition to the overall theme of balance, will guide

> in-class discussion.  *For this response your task is to discuss a specific

> moment or scene located between pages 1-91.  You can responsd to reading
> question above, you can consider the "fine balance" idea, or you can

> discuss any other aspect of this first section.*   Regardless of the angle

> you take,  your paragraph response must  include the following parts:
>      > establish a topic sentence
>      > identify the scene/moment/detail
>      > include a quote from the scene
>      > explain the significance of the example/quote
>
> The reading response will recieve a grade based on quality and completion.
> A response that earns full credit (10-15 points) will possess these

> characteristics: *establishes clear focus; develops main idea with

> specific, relevant, and sufficient detail in a convincing fashion; inserts
> quotes fluently, providing the necessary context, and punctuates quote
> correctly; offers an insightful commentary that goes beyond the obvious;

> and constructs strong, varied sentences with effective diction*.
>
> *Due Date: *

[Jeremy Rhome]

I know this was due about a week ago and I was positive that I sent this in on time.  But after checking the google post this week I realized my post was not here.  Luckily I saved my post to my computer last week when I did it.

            

            Although Nusswan abuses his sister, classifying him as a bad guy would not have complete truth.   Nusswan and Dina, both burdered by the death of both of their parents, have to survive on their own.  Nusswan gets pinned into a difficult father-like father-like position for his sister.  He wants the best for her; however, he demonstrates malice when trying to enforce his aspirations.  Nusswan does not know how to appropriately punish and interact with his sister.  In simplest terms, Nusswan is not a truly bad guy, but the ways in which he enforces his ideologies are incorrect.

            Nusswan takes advantage of his position as head of the household once his father dies.  He first pushes Dina by making her do increasing amounts of chores around the house.  Dina, aware of her unfair treatment, defies Nusswans commands.  Nusswan then responds with even greater ferocity.  He beats her senseless until one day he sexually assaults her.  Dina defies Nusswan and cuts her hair short and a beating ensued, “With lashes of the ruler across her calves and arms, he drove her to the bathroom, where he began tearing off her clothes” (23).  This quickly escalated into a sexual assault, Nusswan through ice-cold water onto her naked body, pinched her nipples and then threatened to cut her breasts and tongue off.  Nusswan’s actions cannot be justified under any circumstances.  The punishment clearly does not fit the crime.  Dina, a little girl, innocently cuts her hair to conform to the fashions at school.  Nusswan demonstrates his mental incapacity to care for and punish someone appropriately.  Nusswan’s does not know how to appropriately balance his good intentions for Dina’s life and the ways in which he believes he achieves those intentions.  So far in the book, the fine balance has not been personified through their relationship.  The title expresses not what Nusswan has, but what Nusswan needs to have.   Having a fine balance would raise Dina properly, rather than destroying Dina’s dignity and emotional stability.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:03:03 AM UTC-4, Mr. Neary wrote: