Desperate Times call for Desperate Measures!

For some reason, this section of Memory of Water reminded me of an old episode of Arthur (that for some reason I vividly remember). I posted the video below; mainly the first 2:30 minutes and especially 10:00 to 10:10, pertain to my reaction to Memory of Water (but no one says you can’t watch the entire episode!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEeZxuPIGpA

The part in the video when Binky and his family asks a well-dressed man to spare any water (10:00-10:10) reminds me of when the mother of a child that just soiled herself asks Noria, “Could you spare a cup of water for us?” (Itaranta 131).At the same time, Binky’s father holds a sign that say ‘Will Work for Water’ which reminds me of the time when Miro gets a visit from the three water criminals that offer “to do smoe work in the garden and house in exchange for water” (Itaranta 148). And right after that, Miro mentions that working for water was “nothing out of the ordinary” (Itaranta 148). Both families are so desperate that they are literally begging for water or work for water, which to me sounds a bit apocalyptic, since water is such a essential necessity in life that without it (or even a shortage of it) would spark a great difficulty to survive.

In the first 2:30 minutes of the video, we see Arthur and his ‘crew’ living in a desert like region with only a bottle of water. Despite this shortage of water, his friends still seem to waste it, from throwing it at a vulture to filling a water balloon. Although these cases are a bit ridiculous, I imagine how these families with a lack of water supply might feel after seeing Noria, with her garden and refrigerator, obtaining a supply of water thats seems more than enough for one person. I imagine the rage within Sanja when she first discovers Noria’s hidden spring. Although she may not know the rules of the spring water, I believe Sanja felt a bit betrayed that her closest friend has been hiding a spring all for herself, especially during times likes these when desperation (and a foul smell) fills the air. When a lack of personal hygiene and contaminated water are causing many to die and suffer, it seems like one living in this world has only two options: either you risk building an illegal water pipe, like Sanja is, and live in fear of execution, or you die from disease and illness. It makes me wonder, just viewing all this from the perspective of one of the family members who lacks water and does not know the rules of a tea master, how is Noria any different from the military?