Reading the headnote of Jhumpa Lahiri gave me a different insight on the story 'This Blessed House.' Due to the reason that I was born in Ukraine and have been raised in the States most of my life while speaking two distinct languages and learning two different cultures. Whenever I would go back to Ukraine to visit my family, they would always call me 'american' and whenever I am in the States people call me 'ukrainian'. Therefore in a sense I can relate to the two different cultures Jhumpa was discussing.
This was clearly illustrated in 'This Blessed House.' While Sanjeev was stuck in his values or say religion in this story, his wife, Twinkle, was willing to embrace her surroundings of the house having 'christian' items that clashed with their 'hindu' beliefs. This showed Twinkle as someone who is free-spirited and embracing her surroundings. By letting whatever situation she was presented with be the coolest thing ever and love every single moment. Sanjeev was a bit stuck in his ways. He was concerned of what others thought of him, and the lifestyle he lead. He did not think very highly of the people in his life, he was comfortable and liked order. Twinkle definitely challenged his old bachelor years of not being married by being someone he did consider wife material. I loved that she would go out for 3 hours and get a medicure and pedicure, my type of girl. He even questioned if he truly loved his wife. I found that to be quite interesting and rather quite normal to due in a marriage. We often do question our surroundings, and the situations we are in. If we didn't then you are perfect, and well since no one is perfect then there you go.
I liked how his wife was the star of their party, and everyone felt like she was an amazing women. That showed me why Sanjeev had picked this women out of all the women he could have chosen, her spirit and charisma drew him in, and looks did play a role as well.
When she cried and how he reacted demonstrated his love for his wife.
"He thought of her slipping them on her feet. But instead of feeling irritated, as he had ever since they'd moved into the house together, he felt pang of anticipation at the thought of her rushing unsteadily down the winding staircase in them, scratching the floor a bit in her path." Now that shows me his heart and that he dose love this women.
It was quite a neat story.
I think that being a Ukrainian American certainly would give you an advantage in reading this story as opposed to someone who had never lived or been closely connected with anywhere other than the US. The two cultural contexts of this story certainly set the stage for the conflicts to emerge. Of course, conflicts emerge everywhere. But the conflicts in this story are particularly informed by the mixing of Indian and American world views, habits, etc., which can be tricky to sort out.
ReplyDeleteAbout that quote you offer as evidence that Sanjeev does love Twinkle. I think that it can be read the way you read it. But I think that it might be more complicated than that. Instead of feeling irritation he feels a "pang of anticipation". This is significant. But what, I wonder, is that pang directed towards? Is it because he cares for her or is it because he sees the floor about to be scratched? Or is there a little of both in there?