Saturday, October 3, 2009

In Interpreter of Maladies, what is the impact of cultural displacement on the characters in "Mrs. Sen"? Thanks for your help!

Hello! You
asked about the impact of cultural displacement on the characters in "Mrs.
Sen." 

1) Mrs. Sen

It is
obvious to Eliot that Mrs. Sen misses her home in India. She finds it difficult to adjust to the
cherished notion of western individualism and the concept of personal space in American culture.
Mrs. Sen misses just being able to call out when she needs something: in India, an expression of
any kind, whether of sorrow or joy, would immediately bring around concerned neighbors willing
to minister comfort and/or extend needed companionship. It is not so in America.


Mrs. Sen resorts to personal rituals such as wearing saris and painting the bridal
vermillion powder on her forehead in order to hold on to her Indian identity. Despite this, it
depresses her that there are no suitable occasions to wear her most cherished and beautiful
saris. Despite Mr. Sen's insistence that she learn how to drive, Mrs. Sen is not overly
enthusiastic about the...

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