Many people look down on the poor. For these dismissive individuals, being poor means having to perform acts that would be reprimanded by others, thus ruining their social image. It is, however, possible to disagree with anyone who thinks this. Hunger is a threat to dignity, but the definition of threat is a person or thing that has the potential to cause harm or danger. The threat does not always have to cause harm. In Kamala Markandaya's Nectar in a Sieve, Rukmani and Nathan do indeed face a threat to their dignity, but Puli and Rukmani, even though her dignity is also in danger, save themselves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Puli is one of the main reasons why Rukmani and Nathan do not have to resort to begging in town or other acts that could cause them to lose respect. At first, Puli helps them find the place where Murugan was working. “However, I will take you there myself, and if you prosper, you can pay me” (page 83). It is Puli who agrees to help them. Instead of wandering for so long, hungry, without knowing where to find their son, the couple finally finds hope. After having their money and belongings stolen, Rukmani and Nathan rely solely on the food given daily to the destitute at the temple. Later in the book, Puli takes them to a quarry, where they can work for money. “There is a stone quarry,” he said. “Not far from here. Stone breakers earn good wages” (page 92). When Puli takes them to the quarry, Rukmani realizes that she is making twice as much money as she did when she wrote letters for people. This allows them to earn more money with which they can buy food for themselves. Puli, although intelligent and a bit cunning, manages to save the two from starvation. “There might be a few more today.” “You have money, don’t you?” he cried.” That’s when Rukmani goes to buy rice cakes from the man she buys from daily. In the book, Rukmani points out all of Puli's friends who look completely sick. “For all their play, they looked as if they had never eaten a full meal in their lives, with their ribs jutting out and their bellies swelling like drums of wind and emptiness” (page 82). Rukmani says she admires them, but most people looked down on them. “When he saw us approaching, one of the peons approached us. “No beggars allowed” (page 86). This statement shows that beggars are not welcome near homes. They didn't even give them food or money. Although Rukmani and Nathan are not beggars, if they were, they would be treated like this. But with Puli's help, Rukmani and Nathan must not be treated badly. However, Puli is not the only one who helped the couple. Rukmani herself is one of the only people to support them during their struggles in the city. Nathan and Rukmani are robbed, leaving them without money. Before Puli helps them out and shows them a place where they can work, Rukmani and Nathan are left to their own devices. They come to live with their son, but discover that he left several years earlier. Nathan is sick and they have to return to their village because Nathan wants to die in his village. Luckily, Rukmani is here to help. Not only is she emotionally strong, but she also has skills and youth. Nathan is several years older than her; therefore, he would become old and frail faster than her. When Nathan and Rukmani try to..