-Gandhi advances a philosophy of non-violence. He calls on the people to react to physical injuries or punishments peacefully and without any violence. So one of his favourite quotes is: „An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind“, which means that a violent reaction just causes new violence. It’s like a circular flow that never ends and so fightings will never stop. That’s the reason why it’s necessary to solve them peacefully and civilised. Gandhi also believes that everyone is equal no matter which religion he/she belongs to and asks the people to abstain from material things.

Although I think his philosophy is right and would definetely make the world a better place I cant’t imagine that it would be successful nowadays.

In my opinion the people are accustomed to their comfortable life and so it’s very difficult to convince them of abstaining from their daily „luxury“.

But from my point of view the bigger problem is the realisation of Gandhi’s non-violence philosophy and his demand for an equal treatment of all people, especially in times like this in which most of the wars are waged to assure a religious supremacy. Also new weapon technics have developed which make it easier to wage an impersonal war. People like the assassins who blow themselves up in public places every day and kill a lot of innocents in this way are totally fanatic and full of hate. I cant’ immagine that it is possible to convince people like them but also the victims’ bereaveds of Ghandhi’s demand for a non-violent behaviour.

„Wherever the English settle, they never leave England.“

-This quotation is probably from an Indian who lives under British colonial rule. I think ‘ they never leave England’ means that the British colonists behave as if they would  still live in their own country and don’t see any reason to adopt the country’s old tradition and its cultural life. But they also don’t accept the Indians’ way of life and force them to adapt the British culture or language.  In my opinion this shows how ignorant but also arrogant the British colonists behaved when they colonised a country.

1. Who do think Olivia and Douglas are?

- I think the two are a married couple and British (they`ve got British names). Maybe Douglas has a high position. You can guess that because of their lifestyle, for example the servants they have or the dinner parties Olivia goes to.

2. Where are they?

-I guess they are in a British colony in India because of words like ‘Simla’ or ‘Sahib’ they use in the text which sound Indian.

3. What are they arguing about?

-Olivia doesn’t want Douglas to smoke in the heat, but he doesn’t take care of this and continues. He says to her she should go to a town called ‘Simla’. Olivia is very upset about this. It seems as if she is very unhappy with her life/ situation.

4. How is the quarrel resolved?

-Olivia explains that she doesn’t know what’s wrong with her. Douglas thinks that she is so touchy and in a bad mood because of the heat.

5. Do you feel that unpleasant heat can have an effect in emotions? Have you ever experienced anything like that?

-I think yes. Unpleasant heat often makes people very touchy and lazy. When it’s hot outside you don’t feel like doing something. Every single movement is strenuous so you just want to be left alone and really don’t need any quarrel. I know from myself that you are earlier in edge.

Dust

1. What are your feelings when you are confronted with the description of such a landscape?

-The description of the landscape evokes a depressing feeling because of all the dust and the heat which seem to be very unpleasant, but also a feeling of loneliness because there’ s nothing till the next one except flat land.

2. Explain why you would or would not like to travel or live there?

-I would definetely not live there because of the heat and all the dust. I guess that would be a big change for me I couldn’t really get used to. But I think it would be very interesting to trave linto a land with such different live conditions.