Why does Jhumpa Lahiri have Gogol and Moushumi fall in love?
I mean, throughout their lives both of them struggle with the idea of self-determination. They don't want to do everything their parents tell them to and live the way their parents lived. They had both been "admonished to marry an American" (213). Moushumi even says that "by the time she was twelve she had made a pact, with two other Bengali girls she knew, never to marry a Bengali man" (213). So then why should the two of them, who were set up by their parents, end up falling in love? Why should they end up following in their parents' footsteps, doing exactly what their parents want them to do, instead of creating their own paths?
Well, I have a little theory...
I think that Lahiri is definitely saying that you shouldn't let others oppress you and tell you how to live your life. However, if you only do things to spite others, that's a whole new kind of oppression-- except this time, you're the one oppressing yourself... kind of a flashback to the Underground Man, am I right?
So, the moral of the story is this:
You shouldn't live your life only doing what others tell you to do. However, you also shouldn't live your life only doing what others tell you not to do. In the end, it's your life and not anyone else's, so just do what makes you happy.
But that's just my opinion. What do you think?
Eliana! This post is fabulous!! It really captures you -- you write like you talk and that is amazing!! I wholeheartedly agree with about how life is yours. I love how you talk about the comparison of Gogol and Moushumi's life. That aspect makes your blog post stronger and more influential to your reader. My favorite part of your blog post is when you talk about oppression and spite. It is quite hilarious(and by hilarious, I mean ironic) how they compare to each other. Your flashback to the Underground Man was ingenious!! Great blog post!!! What a pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEliana, that was such a great post. You know while reading this part of the novel, I actually thought of it in a different light. To me, it seemed like oh well of course Gogol and Moushumi are going to get married and fall in love! They are perfect for each other and have so much in common! But now after reading your post and thinking about the actual ideas and morals that the two of them have in common, everything your saying makes perfect sense! Their life goals were to go against their parents desires and purposely not do everything their parents ask of them. Well look where that got them now, eh? I loved when you explained your interpretation of the moral of the story, SO inspirational, I love it!! I always love reading your posts, keep up the superb work!!
ReplyDeleteMaddy
Eliana,
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of oppression that you bring up here is so insightful.It is kind of asking if what we are willing to do to spite other people, even oppress ourselves? That idea is really interesting and I would have never thought of Moushimi and Gogol oppressing themselves just to spite their parents. Maybe they are so drawn to each other because even though they have both have a resolve to marry non-Bengali people they connect in a deeper way because they come from the same background.
THIS IS THE BEST BLOG POST I'VE EVER READ IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING INSIDE AND OUT NEVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE
ReplyDelete