Respond in a well-organized essay, and make sure your answer is written in complete sentences.
Respond to one of the questions below. Include at least two supporting details or examples.
A. In “The Literature of the Middle East and South Asia,” Laura Winkiel writes: “These stories help us to understand the complex questions that Middle Easterners and South Asian people ask as they stand at a crossroads of cultural and religious change.” Explain how this statement applies to one of the selections you read. Be sure to include the title of the selection and explain the crossroads that it illustrates.
B. Setting and mood are important elements in many of the stories in this unit. Choose one story and describe some aspects of its setting: where it takes place; what mood is created by the details of weather, place, and time; and how this setting helps to convey the theme of the story.
C. What did you learn about the role of women in the societies described in the reading selections in this unit? Describe how the women cope with the conflicts they encounter.
Note: If you respond to essay (C), you may not choose the similar essay in the Unit 3 Unit Test.
B. In the short story "The Third and Final Continent" by Jhumpa Lahiri, the setting plays an important role in conveying the theme of the story. The story takes place in three different locations: Calcutta, London, and Boston. Each location represents a different phase in the protagonist's life and creates distinct moods.
In Calcutta, the protagonist is a young man living with his wife in a traditional Indian household. The setting is described as crowded and chaotic, filled with noise and the smells of Indian cuisine. This creates a sense of confinement and claustrophobia, reflecting the limited opportunities and societal restrictions that the protagonist faces. The protagonist describes his wife as "a woman for whom the demands of married life alone were not sufficient." This suggests that women in this society are expected to prioritize their roles as wives and homemakers, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction and unfulfilled desires.
In London, the protagonist is a student studying abroad. The setting is portrayed as cold and dreary, with rainy weather and gray skies. This creates a sense of loneliness and isolation, mirroring the protagonist's feelings of being an outsider in a foreign country. The protagonist encounters cultural differences and struggles to adapt to the English way of life. The mood of the setting reflects his difficulties and emphasizes the theme of cultural displacement.
In Boston, the protagonist has settled down and established a life for himself. The setting is described as calm and peaceful, with a sense of order and routine. The protagonist has a job, a comfortable home, and a sense of belonging. The setting conveys a sense of stability and contentment, reflecting the protagonist's successful integration into American society.
Overall, the different settings in "The Third and Final Continent" help to convey the theme of cultural displacement and the protagonist's journey towards finding a sense of belonging. The contrasting moods created by the settings reflect the protagonist's evolving experiences and emotions as he navigates different cultural contexts.