“The slum was a  floodbowl…” – Imagery

“Public toilets spewed out into the maidan…” – Personification (

“The rain came down like nails…” – Simile ( makes people dirty, monsoon has left permanent damage)

Katherine Boo presents the monsoon as a very damaging activity. “The rain came down like nails” shows how the rain was continuous and floods occurred. A vast majority of huts and personl possessions were destroyed and swept away. Overall it was a disturbing moment of time, but it could also be seen as a period of rest, this can be seen when it is quoted “Then the women wished the rains would start again; it seemed unnatural for them to quit for so many days”. It shows how inhabitants of Annawadi worked very hard and this monsoon stopped them working and having a rest. On the other hand some women didn’t enjoy being “stuck inside with my husband for all these months…”