Part 4, Narration Summary

Jahanara's granddaughters question her again, unable to believe that she would just leave Isa and Arjumand in Bijapur. Jahanara explains how she felt unworthy of her father's love and how she went back to prove to herself that the Emperor's love and trust had not been misplaced. She makes a point of telling them that they must learn the lesson from her mistake: they need not prove anything to anyone in their lives, including themselves.

Part 4, Narration Analysis

The author, in this explanation by the grandmotherly figure, provides Jahanara's central motivation for her actions. From the beginning she has felt unworthy, like she had to prove her love to her father and perhaps her mother as well. Some of that feeling came from the mere fact that she was born a girl, and therefore was not as worthy as her brothers...