The Ayah and Lady

The Ayah is a story that centers around the Bible, and specifically, the Ten Commandments. The story is especially interesting because it deals with aspects of Indian culture and especially Indian domestic scenes. Sherwood’s writing was influence by the time she spend in India. The two main characters in the story are a well-to-do English woman and her servant, or ayah. The ayah is portrayed as lazy, selfish and worthless. Despite her faults, her English masters put up with her and continue to employ her. Sherwood wrote The Ayah in order to teach servants how to behave properly. Though Sherwood meant for The Ayah to be a demonstration of Christian goodness and Christian morals, some critics have found fault with her portrayal of the ayah. Many readers argue that Sherwood’s negative portrayal of the ayah is contemptuous and prejudice. The Ayah was published in England in 1816, and was translated into Hindustani in 1813.