One Out Of Many Analysis

In “One out of Many” and “The Rod of Justice” freedom plays a big part in both stories. In “One out of Many” Santosh, an India cook, moves to America after his boss receives a new job. Santosh has to adjust to a new start in America. In “The Rod of Justice”, Damiao runs away from the seminar and is afraid to go home to his father. Instead he thinks of his godfather’s mistress, Sinha Rita, and shows up at her house. Santosh has to carry out her commands in exchange for her to convince his father not to send him back to the seminar. Both Santosh and Damiao end up hopelessly stuck doing things they never expected to do to acquire freedom. In both stories, freedom is obtained in different ways, but the way they gain their freedom is the same.
First of all, In “One out of Many” Santosh struggles with wanting to go back to Bombay or to stay in America. He spends half of his advance pay on a movie, cake, and coffee. After that Santosh tells his boss, Sahib, “I want to go home” (Naipaul 1666). Sahib, means master in Hindi, refuses to let Santosh go telling him that he will have to work six to seven years without salary if he goes back to Bombay. Santosh is desperately stuck between choosing to go back to Bombay where he will have to pay his boss all of his money, or in America where he can keep his own money. Boxill
Machado says, “He was sorry for the little black girl, and resolved to protect her if she did not finish the task” (913). He promised to protect her Lucretia. Damiao was left having to choose between keeping his promise to Lucretia or keeping Sinha Rita happy, so she would not change her mind about helping him to never return to the seminar. He broke his promise by handing Sinha Rita the rod. He stayed attached to Sinha Rita. His new life was left in her hands right when he picked up the rod, and handed it to