A House for Mr. Biswas

The family moves between several houses over the course of the novel. How do these houses signify the family's financial independence? Which comes closest to realizing Mr. Biswas's dreams?

How does the hasty arrangement of Shama and Mr. Biswas’s marriage illustrate the erosion of cultural heritage among the newest generations of Trinidadian-Indians?

When Mr. Biswas begins working for the newspaper, The Sentinel has a reputation for being less than truthful. This approach later changes. How does the change affect Mr. Biswas's ability to express himself?

In what way does Mrs. Tulsi challenge gender roles in her society?

Mr. Biswas's lifelong love of literature is a recurring motif throughout the novel. How does he use literature to forge an identity for himself?

In what ways is Shama like her husband? How does she differ from him?

Mr. Biswas's birth is declared unlucky. How does this ominous prediction dictate his life? In what way does it mask the real circumstances of his failure?

How is the Trinidadian-Indian community on the island exploited by the colonial institutions? How does colonialism affect the people's day-to-day lives?