We see this throughout the novel through the eyes of Meena and her family. By emphasising the two girls’ divergent paths, Meera Syal highlights the importance that family can have in a person’s future prospects.
Over time, Meena becomes aware that her own family’s rules and discipline are an expression of love, providing her with the support she needs to become a successful adult, whereas Anita’s lack of family guidance leaves her on her own and with few prospects. Meena is often resentful of expectations that she behave like a typical Indian girl and enjoys spending time with Anita because the older girl’s family seemingly allows her more freedom. Anita and her sister are eventually abandoned by their mother. Meena grows up in a tight-knit, loving family. The contrast between Meena’s family the Kumars and Anita’s family the Rutters could not be more different. When Robert dies Meena’s sadness helps her accept that she would never have such strong emotions for Anita. Meena and Robert become so attuned with each other that they can communicate wordlessly through a window.
This relationship allows Meena to recognise for the first time what genuine friendship between two peers actually looks like. Meena comes to terms with the fact that she actually pities Anita as she is a victim of circumstances herself because her mother Deirdre is untrustworthy and ultimately abandons her.Īfter breaking her leg Meena meets a boy called Robert in hospital who is so ill he stays in his own isolation room. Anita’s relationships with her other friends Sherrie and Fat Sally highlight this as she often plays of one friend against the other. When Meena first gets to know Anita Rutter she believes that they share similar rebellious traits but overtime she sees that Anita will never treats her as an equal and that Anita’s friendships involve domination and exclusion. This section discusses the key themes in Anita and Me by Meera Syal.ĭifferent versions of friendship are shown throughout the novel mainly though exploring Meena’s relationships with Anita and Later Robert.
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