The Glass Palace

Colonialism is a dominant theme in The Glass Palace but manifests in a number of different ways. Explore the ways in which Ghosh’s portrayal of the complexities of colonialism evolve over the course of the book, particularly with regard to the question of Burmese independence.

Characters throughout The Glass Palace become increasingly politically-minded as the narrative progresses. How do politics manifest in the characters’ lives and can you provide an example of a way in which one character’s political ideology changes over the course of the book?

With many bilingual characters and a story taking place across a number of different countries, language becomes an essential tool of communication in The Glass Palace. How does Ghosh’s prose deal with the linguistic intricacies of characters crossing a linguistic divide? Provide examples of syntax, grammar, and literary devices that portray the fluid, evolving language of the characters.