Dedicated to the study of literature.
1. What seems to be the author’s intention or purpose for writing the narrative? Try to think of several purposes and consider varying audiences in your response.
2. Describe the role of faith in the author’s ordeal or in the narrative as a whole.
2a. In general, what would a Puritan say about God and his providence in their everyday lives?
3. Describe the relationship between Mary and her captors.
4. Based on the reading, what do you think the characteristics of a “good” Puritan are?
5. How do you think Mary feels about her captivity by the end of it?
10 comments:
The relationship between Shoba and Shukumar is a very distant one. They used to be a very loving young couple, but after the stillbirth of their first child they grew apart. THroughout the whole story it seems that Shukumar is the reason for the wedge that is driven between them. Shukumar blames himself for state of their relationship because he was out of town when Shoba went into labor and was not able to comfort her. Also Shukumar has self confidence issues and believes he is inferior to his wife because he is thirty five nad is still in school. Due to these things, Shukumar purposely distances himself from Shoba by waking up really late because she wakes up early, putting his office as far away from her, and eating in his office. Even when Shoba does visit him in his office, Shukumar feel like "It is the one time in the day she sought him out and yet he'd come to dread it." It seems as if Shukumar is the one that is tearing this marriage apart because he avoids Shoba and the guilt that he feels with her. Also, Shukumar does not provide any comfort to Shoba over the death of their child and their failing marriage but simply tries to forget it. After the power goes out and the two share secrets and become closer, Shukumar is willing to give more effort towards their relationship. "All day SHukumar had looked forward to the lights going out." Shukumar finds this exchange as an escape from reality and into the state of their marriage before the stillbirth. On the last night the power is out though, Shoba tells Shukumar that she is leaving him. After all of the developement that Shukumar made, shoba still has not gotten over the death of their baby and the absence of Shukumar. Therefore, it is Shoba who is ultimately responsible for not giving enough effort towards their marriage and its failure.
Lilia is ayoung girl that was born under Indian descent but has been shielded from her culture in America. Raised in Boston she has adapted to American culture and is unaware of the political problems occuring overseas. Lilia does not hear about war in the Middle East, but only learns about " The American Revolution,and learned about the injustices of taxation withou representation, and memorized passage from the Declaration of Independence." Lilia's parents experienced difficulties in their native land of Calcutta, but Lilia does not know that these horrible situations still exist today. When Mr. Pirzada comes to their house though, Lilia is exposed to the cruelies of domestic wars and religious fighting. Mr. Pirzada has left his wife and seven daughters to study trees in New England, meanwhile in his home country civil war is taking place. Mr. Pirzada takes the place of a parent like figure in her life. Lilia feels sympathy for Mr. Pirzada and "just wants to tell him dont worry." Lilia feels guilty becuase she has Mr. Pirzada as a figure in her life, while his seven daughters are deprived of that. The visits from Mr. Pirzada are a revealing time for Lilia as she becomes aware of her heritage and the less fortunate people outside of America. When Mr. Pirzada is gone, Lilia does not miss him because she knows that he is safe with his family and loves them.
Mr. Kapasi is a local tour driver in India and gives tour to a tourist family. The Das family that takes the tour is a very unusaul functioning family. Mr. and Mrs. Das are younger than thirty years old and have three children, but the relationship between the family is anything but mature. "They were all like siblings, Mr. Kapasi thought as they passed a row of date trees. Mr. and Mrs. Das behaved like an older brother and sister, not parents" (Lahiri 49) Mr. and Mrs. Das treat their children with a snobby manner, as if they are unworthy of their attention. Mr Kapasi is surprised though, by the reaction of Mrs. Das when he says he also works as an interpreter for a doctor. Mrs. Das thinks this is a very "romantic" and interesting job and questions MR. Kapasi about it to learn more. Mr. Kapasi suddenly sees Mrs. Das in a whole new way. With all of her parental errors set aside, Mr. Kapasi is very attracted to Mrs. Das. Suddenly Mr Kapasi begins to evaluate his whole life and marriage. "Mr. Kapasi had never thought of his job in such complimentary terms. To him it was a thankless proffession." (Lahiri 51) Mr. Kapasi tries to subtlely talk to Mrs. Das and get together with her. He wants to be with her because unlike other people in his life he is appreciated by her. "Mr. Kapasi knew that his wife had little regard for his career as an interpreter. He knew it reminded her of the son she'd lost, and resented the other lives he helped, in his own small way, to save." (Lahiri 53) After the tour is close to finished, and Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi are alone, Mrs. Das confesses that Bobby's father is not Mr. Das. She asks MR. Kapasi to help her, since he is and "Interpreter of Maladies" for so many others. Mr. KApasi realizes she was only interested in his advice and sees him as nothing more than an old man. Mr. Kapasi simply aks her " Is it pain you feel, or guilt". In the few events that follow the Das parent act more mature and adult like. Mrs. Das rvrn says to Bobby as she comforts hime, "Come here a second. Let Mommy fix your hair." This is the first time MRs. Das is reffered to as mommy in the book. Even though Mr. Kapasi did not intend to in the beginning, he ended up being able to relate to this family, interpret their feelings, and help change Mrs. Das.
Boori Ma is a durwan at a poor apartment complex. She sweeps the stairs and talks to the residents about her rich and prosperous life in Calcutta before the Partition. She dwells over " the turmoil th at had seperated her from a husband, four daughters, a two story brick house, a rosewood alamari, and a number of coffer boxes whose skeleton keys she still, wore along the end of her sari. Aside from her hardships, the other thing Boori Ma liked to chronicle was easier times." (Lahiri 71) The local residents are skeptical about Boori Ma's stories, but regardless they entertain the adults and children very well. There is a sort of harmony among the apartment building because everyone there is equal. This equality is disturbed when Mr. Dal brings homes two basins and has one installed in his room and one in the lobby. What seems like a very generous idea at first, the basins created many problems among the residents. "Among the wives, however, resentment quickly brewed. Standing in line to brush their teeth in the morning, each grew frustrated with having to wait her turn, or having to wipe faucets after use, and for not being able to leaver her own soap and toothpaste on the basin's narrow periphery. The Dals had their own sink; why did the rest of them have to share?" (Lahiri 79)
The resedints then begin to make renovations to the building themselves. It seems like a good idea, but it becomes more of a competition to out do your neighbor. The residents are no longer equal, and do not want to be equal again. Instead, each resident wants to be the wealthiest in the house. " One decided to barter a stack of her wedding braclets and commisoned a white-washer to freshen the walls of the stairwell. Another pawned her sewing machine and summoned an exterminator. A third went to the silversmith and solback a set of pudding bowls, she intended ti have the shutters painted yellow." (Lahiri 80)Boori Ma extracts herself from the commotion becasue of all of these renovations. She spends her day on the rooftop and going into the city. While she is in the city, her life savings is stolen and when she goes back to the apartment she sees that the basin has been stolen. The residents come to the conclusion that Boori Ma is the reason the basin is stolen and kick her. It is very sad that Boori Ma, the one person who didn't partake in this "competition" is blamed for the basin. This story shows the evil and greed that come with wealth and how a pleasant society can be upset by jealousy.
Miranda is a young woman living alone in Boston. She used to live in Mcihigan, but moved to New England and has very few friends their, except for Laxmi and Dev, the man she is having an affair with. Miranda met Dev at a mall and has been seeing him for several weeks. Dev is married, but his wife is currently in India. Their relationship is very romantic, as they go on dates together, but there is a sense of urgency as Dev's wife arrival approaches. As the story between Miranda and Dev unfolds, Laxmi also tell the progressing story between her cousin and her husband, who had an affair in London and never came home. This story is very similar to the situation that Miranda is in by being Dev's mistress. Miranda feels guilty because she does not want to hurt Dev's wife, but she is desperate for love, and puts these worries aside. After Dev's wife comes home, the realtionship between Miranda and Dev is strictly a physcial one. Miranda tries to be romantica and sexy, but Dev does not notice. "The first Sunday she opened the door in aknee length robe, but Dev didn't even notice it; he carried her over to the bed, wearing sweatpants and sneakers, and entered her without a word" (Lahiri 93) This arrangement continues, as Dev comes every Sunday, the two have sex, and after a short nap and cigarretes Dev leaves. Miranda knows she deserves a better relationship than this, but he is the first man she felt loved by in a long time, but this love quickly faded when Dev's wife came home. One weekend Laxmi's cousin and her son come into twon and Miranda babysit's Rohin. After her day babysitting Rohin, Miranda realizes the terrible effects that result from an affair and also learns from Rohin's wisdom, the difference between being loved and being sexy. "In spite of herself, she longed for him. She would see him one more Sunday, she decided perhaps two. Then she would tell him the things she had known all along: that it wasn't fair to her, or to his wife, that they both deserved better, that there was not point in dragging it on." (Lahiri 110)
Mrs. Sen, a middle aged Indian woman, is Elliot's new babysitter. He goes to her house everyday after school and watches as she prepares and cook Indian meals. Mr. and Mrs. Sen moved to America from India when MR. Sen got a teaching job at a local college. Mrs. Sen is a very particular woman, especially about her cooking. She goes to great measures just to get "fresh" fish to cook for her meals. She justifies her actions because this is hoew her life was in India. "Mrs. Sen said that she had grown up eating fish twice a day. She added that in Calcutta people ate fish first thing in the morning, last thing before bed, as a snack after school if they were lucky." (Lahiri 123) Mrs. Sen is very homesick, and misses her family in Calcutta. "My sister has had a baby girl. By the time I see her, depending if Mr. Sen gets his tenure, she will be three years old. HEr own aunt will be a stranger. If we sit side by side on a train, she will not know my face" (Lahiri 122) Mrs. Sen is missing her life in Calcutta and is not present for these special moments, such as her niece being born or her grandfather dieing. Mrs. Sen is refuses to lose her culture in any way and does not want to adapt any of the American culture. She has no interest in driving because in India she could simply walk to the market. Mrs. Sen does not intend to settle in America, and just prepares to go back to India. At the end of the story when MRs. Sen gets hit while driving to the fish market, this symbolizes how out of place she is in America. She does not act, cook, or speak like other Americans and she is a middle aged woman that cannot even drive. Mrs. Sen has put forth no effort to adapt to American culture, and is obviously a fish out of water.
Sanjeev and Twinkle are a newly wed couple living in Conneticut. Both Sanjeev and Twinkle are Indian and have recently moved to America from Calcutta. The two get along fairly well, but they have very opposite personalities. Twinkle is very free spirited and outgoing, where as Sanjeev is more reserved and self concious. After moving into their house, their personalities begin to conflict when they find Catholic ornaments hidden in the house. Twinkle thinks these ornaments are very appealing and artistic, even though she is not Christian. Sanjeev on the other hand despises the articles and thinks it is sacreligious to display such things in their home, especially since they are both Hindus. "He did hate it. He hated its immensity and its flawless, polished surface, and its undeniable value. He hated that it was in his house and he owned it. UNlike the other things that they'd found, this contained dignity, solemnity, beauty even. But to his surprise these qualities made him hate it all the more. Most of all he hated it because he knew that Twinkle loved it." (Lahiri 157) Twinkle and Sanjeev actually get into major arguments over the silly matter of whether or not to keep these ornaments. Sanjeev becomes so obsessed over this matter he begins to question Twinkle's admirable qualities and see them as vices. HE even question if he has ever loved Twinkle. It seems very stupid for Sanjeev to make such a big deal over a few statues of Catholic figures. The climax of this situation is their housewarming party that is coming up. Sanjeev is worried that his guests will find it odd that they are Hindus and yet their house is decorated with Christian articles. Twinkle's personality though stuns all of their guests and everyone admires her. By the end of the party Sanjeev is sure of his love for Twinkle and even though he hates the statues and paintings around his house, he is willing to sacrifice in order to please Twinkle.
Bibi Haldar is a thiry year old that lives in Calcutta. Bibi suffers from a type of epilepsy and has major attacks very often. None of the doctors around understand what is wrong with Bibi or how to treat it. Bibi was well cared by her father, who was a local math professor, but following his death her life got a lot harder. She moves in with her cousin and his wife. Her cousin, MR. HAldar, owns a women clothing and beauty store and Bibi works in the storage room and takes inventory. All Bibi wants from life though, is be married, have children, and have a family of her own. "Each day she unloaded her countless privations upon us until it became apparent that Bibi wanted a man. She wanted to be spoken for, protected, placed on her path of life. Like the rest of us she wanted to serve suppers, and scold servants, and set aside money in her almari to have her eyebrows threaded every three weeks at the Chinese beauty parlor." (Lahiri 160) After being discouraged that she will never be married, Bibi goes into an awful siezure. The doctor perscribes that to cure her she must be married in order to calm her blood. Bibi prepares to be married and notifies everyone. Her efforts are discouraged though by Mr. Hadlar and especially his wife. His wife is a sloth and is overweight and underworked. She wants the best in life and is not concerned with low lifes like Bibi. She is convinced Bibi is possesed by the devil and will not be by her alone. Bibi continues to try to find a husband but has no success. In the meantime Mrs. Hadlar becomes pregnant and has a baby girl. After a baby comes into the house, Mr. and MRs. HAdlar treat Bibi even worse and fear she is going to infect the baby. BEcause the couple treat Bibi so pathetically people boycott their store and do not shop there. Eventually the Hadlars go out of buisiness and move out of town, leaving Bibi alone in the storage room. "Bibi had retreated into a deep and prolonged silence. We took turns leaving plates of rice and glasses of tea. She drank little, ate less, and began to assume an expression that no longer matched her years." (LAhiri 171)Several months later Bibi is found in the storage room and she is more than four months pregnant and in September she had a son. Following this Bibi learns how to care for a child and reopens the store as her own. "For years afterward, we wondered who in our town had disgraced her. A few of our servants were questioned, and in tea stalls and bus stand, possible suspects were debated and dismissed. But there was no point in carrying out an investigation. She was to the best of our knowledge cured" (LAhiri 172) Bibi gets the life that she has always wanted but in an unexpected way. She has a family of her own and a boy to take care of. Her story shows how strong faith will always prevail and that God works in mysterious ways, and unsympathetic people such as the Hadlars will not be rewarded.
The main charactar is an Indian man, that grew up in Calcutta. He has moved from Calcutta to England, where he went to school and then he moves to America to fill a library job at MIT. This man is very young and posseses a creative, resoureful characteristic. He was very poor in England when he went to school, "I lived in north London, in Finsbury PArk, in a house occupied entirely by penniless BEngali bachlors like myself"(LAhiri 173), and is very poor when he moves to America. The biggest challenge for the main character when he moves to America is adapting to the culture. "I learned that Americans can drive on the right side of the road, not the left, and that they call a lift an elevator and an engaged phone busy" (Lahiri 174) The main character lives a very simple life as he lives at the YMCA and eats cornflakes every morning for breakfast. In addition to becoming familiar with America, the main character has just gotten married. The main character finds a cheap apartment by campus and plans to stay their until his wife, Mala arrives. The apartment that the main character lives in is run by a very interesting old woman, Mrs. Croft. She seems intimidating and fierce upon their first interaction."Her lips, chapped and faded, had nearly disapeared, and her eyebrows were missing altogether. NEvertheless, she looked fierce." (Lahiri 178) As the two see each other more, their relationship is very brief in words, but meaningful. The main character respects MRs. Croft not only for her toughness and her age (of one hundred three), but because of her sincerity. Mrs. Croft has not lied or been fake with the main character, but has been honest with him since the beginning. The main character moves out six weeks later upon the arrival of his wife. The two move to a bigger apartment and begin their life together. At first they are very awkward around one another and do not share any feelings. Because it was an arranged marriage, the two are practically stangers. " I waited to get used to her, to her prescence at my side, at my table and at my bed, but a week later we were still strangers." One night though the main character and MAla walk through town and stop at MRs. Croft's place to visit. While socializing with Mrs. Croft MAla and the main character connect in a romantic way." Ilike to think of the moment in Mrs. Croft's parlor as the moment when the distance between Mala and me began to lessen. Although we were not fully in love, I like to think of the months that followed as a honeymoon of sort." (Lahiri 196)The main character and Mala become closer and learn to love each other. THe main character reads in the newspaper several months later that MRs. Croft at the age of one hundred three. Although she barely saw the main character, Mrs. Croft had a profound impact on him. She taught him about honesty and love. Her life shows how honesty and a strong personality can affect the life of others.
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