Day: September 12, 2023

Introduction to “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”

In story “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine, characters feel themselves imperceptibly tied to each other through a common history, common taste, and universal family relations. These commonalities lead to sympathetic and loving relationships. These commonalities, though, are ignored when people live together, and become distinctive features of socially or religiously hostile families, when they find themselves living in foreign or alien lands. The story “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” by an Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri presents the same predicament of a young girl who is born and raised in America. She could not understand commonalities during her childhood but later in life, she perfectly understands why her father used to find out Asian Indians in America to become their affectionate host. The story “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” shows not only the motif of common history but also of common food and the universal relation of a father and daughter to join the events.

Common History in  “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”

Most often people are attached to each other through common history such as in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”. It is clear from the very first paragraph that the narrator has a common point when she tells more about Mr. Pirzada and the background of her parents after she discovers that they are all Indians. Her father is a bit pricked at her ignorance of Indian history and tells her that Mr. Pirzada is from Pakistan since “Our country was divided in 1947” (Lahiri). This new information makes the narrator take interest in the history of her parents and their new guest Mr. Pirzada, the reason that she “found a book titled Pakistan: A Land and its People” in the library when she is on an assignment (Lahiri). The description of the events in Dacca, the fall of Dacca, and the barbarism of the Pakistani army is a case in point of how she comes to know this common history which runs through the entire story and attaches her family to Mr. Pirzada. However, it does not seem a strong connection until some cultural affinity such as taste is not found common among the people.

Food in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”

Food is another common point that binds people which is true about the story “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”. Mr. Pirzada does not come only for sharing his language and history. Rather he comes to share his culinary taste with the family of Lilia. He comes because he finds what he loves the most. She tells about her mother, “From the kitchen, my mother brought for the success of dishes, lentils with fried onions, green beans with coconut” and their favorite dish, the cooked rice (Lahiri). The Indian subcontinent produces the best rice in the world and Indians are fond of eating rice, specifically the people from Dacca and some other cities of Bangladesh. When Mr. Pirzada finds that he is invited heartily and welcomed warmly by Lilia’s father, he does not miss the opportunity to enjoy “Boiled eggs with rice for dinner” which creates another bond with Lilia, the universal bond of a father-daughter relationship.

Relationships in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”

Not only is the father-daughter relationship universal, but also heart-touching suchas in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”. The narrator, Lilia, comes to know that Mr. Pirzada has seven daughters and all of them are living in Dacca. After some time, she comes to know that Dacca is under attack from the Pakistani military. Being a very young mind, she deduces that Mr. Pirzada’s daughters must be in danger and that Mr. Pirzada must be missing them. That is why she tells her friend Dora about Mr. Pirzada that “His daughters are missing” but later corrects her statement by saying that he is missing his daughters living far away and that “he has not seen them in a while (Lahiri). It dawns upon her by the end of the story why Mr. Pirzada used to bring chocolates and candies for her, for he used to love her as his own daughter when he misses them.

Conclusion

In short, there are several motifs in the story that run parallel to each other and make the story meaningful. All these motifs of common historical linkage, common food items, and the universal relationship of the father and daughter make families join together to pass their time. Mr. Pirzada is found by the father of Lilia due to having the commonality of region and history. But it is the food that brings Mr. Pirzada to their homes while her daughters create a space for Lilia in the heart of Mr. Pirzada, who showers his love on Lilia in return. Although she could not feel this love at first, she comes to know it when having a candy on Halloween day by the end of the story. The story starts with the history and ends on a father-daughter love strand.

Works Cited

Lahiri, Jhumpa. “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine.” UWM. n. d. Web. 14 Jul. 2017.

Relevant Questions about Themes in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”

1. How does the theme of cultural identity and displacement play a significant role in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine,” and how do the characters grapple with their sense of belonging and identity in a foreign land?
2. In “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine,” how does the theme of the impact of political conflict on personal lives manifest in the lives of the characters, and what does the story reveal about the human experience in times of turmoil?
3. Can you explore the theme of innocence and childhood in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine,” and how do Lilia’s experiences and observations reflect a loss of innocence as she becomes more aware of the world’s complexities?

1. How does “To Build a Fire” by Jack London deal with man’s struggle with nature?

The story “To Build a Fire” deals with man’s struggle with himself, with his willpower, and with nature. It is clear from the very outset that “He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significance” (London 120). It means that he knows that there is ice everywhere. He is also sensing that the temperature is going below 50 and even below 75, and even remember the old man’s advice about not going out in such a freezing cold. However, he could not understand the significance of this in his life. By the end, he comes to know his limits, and there the struggle starts from nature to himself when he thinks that his strength cannot take him running to the camp where he comes to know the reality that “His idea of it was that he had been making a fool of himself” (128). That means that he came to reality at last after fighting with himself that he should not die, but death is staring in his face.

2. Was hubris involved in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London?

Hubris which means taking excessive pride in one’s ability seems to be at work in the character of the man who starts his journey to the camp in the freezing cold of below 70 degrees. In fact, it is more than this because he does not care to pay heed to the advice of the old timer who tells him clearly that a man should not go out when the temperature is below zero. He remembers it when he is around halfway through trapped but still, he thinks of them as “womanish, some of them” (London 124). He thinks that “All a man had to do was to keep his head” (124) and by the end, he loses this. Hence, this is his hubris given in the outcome of this story.

 3. How is the setting of “To Build a Fire” by Jack London is minimal or rich?

The setting in the story “To Build a Fire” is minimal in that wherever the man looks, there is only ice, “North and south, as far as he eyes could see” (London 120) that is ice and snow. However, it is quite rich in the description as he not only thinks about the present, about himself, and about his future. The man thinks about the freezing temperature, its effects, and the things that he has worn to ward off the frost “mittens, ear-flaps, warm moccasins, and thick socks” (120). Then his acts of making a fire unsuccessfully and his final race toward the camp further enriches the setting.

 4. From what point of view is London’s story told?

The story “To Build a Fire” has been told in the third person point of view. The third person is always an omniscient narrator who stays above the characters and tells everything about them. He even enters the thoughts of his characters as does Faulkner who is a third-person narrator and analyzes the thoughts of the man. He shows the contrast through the thoughts of his character and the dog which is with him. The narrator has also passed judgment on the man saying that “He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significance” (London 120). According to him, it was this significance of the advice of the old timer of the Sulphur Creek.

 5. What is the impact of the anonymity of the character in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London?

This technique used in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London shows that he is a naturalist who believes that survival is for the fittest and the dog is better equipped to cope with the freezing temperature than the man. The theme is universal that though man is a rational creature, sometimes even the man has a trouble that Jack London says “The Trouble with him was that he was without imagination” (London 120). He could not sense any sense in the advice of the old-timer “But the dog knew; all its ancestry knew, and it had inherited the knowledge” that the man could not” (122). Therefore, by making the man anonymous, Jack London has put the man against nature and side by side with the animals who are instinctively fit to survive in extreme weather.

Relevant Short Questions about “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

1. In “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, how does the harsh Yukon wilderness serve as a central antagonist in the narrative, posing significant challenges to the protagonist?
2. What role does the theme of human hubris play in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, and how does it contribute to the protagonist’s predicament?
3. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London explores the theme of survival in extreme conditions. How does the protagonist’s experience in the story reflect the harsh realities of nature and the consequences of underestimating it?
4. Can you discuss the significance of the title, “To Build a Fire,” and how it encapsulates the story’s central struggle and theme?
5. In “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, how does the relationship between the protagonist and the dog symbolize the fundamental differences between instinct and intellect in the face of nature’s unforgiving forces?

Works Cited

London, Jack. “To Build a Fire.” American Literature, https://americanliterature.com/author/jack-london

Introduction to Mathilda in “The Necklace”

Regarding Mathilda in “The Necklace”, it is easy to pinpoint her as a narcissistic character. However, it is very difficult to pinpoint how narcissists react when they feel envious, or jealous of others. This perfectly describes the character traits that Mathilda in “ The Necklace” portrayed by Guy De Maupassant shows. She is not only suffering from her own lowly position as she was born into a low family, but she is also suffering from her marriage with the clerk of the education department. The very title of clerk gives her a shock as to her position in society. And this is what tortures her more that he husband was not from the upper class. Her low middle-class status tortures her so much so that Mathilda in “The Necklace” showed narcissism through her envious character traits as well as through her own competition with other women which ultimately led to her suffering.

Mathilda in “The Necklace” as Narcissistic Character

 Most narcissists think that they are very charming and attractive and that “they must be seen as perfect or superior. Mathilda in “The Necklace” is the same character that the very first line of the story shows that she was pretty and charming and thought that it was a blunder that she was born in such a low family (Maupassant) and artisans are often in the middle-class not elite or upper class. Therefore, what she thought of “getting known” (Maupassant) was quite out of question, and to add fuel to the fire, she married a lowly clerk. This became a reason for her suffering as “She suffered endlessly.” She wanted to be loved and “sought after” (Maupassant). Her mental torture started with her consciousness of being very attractive and this consciousness made a frail woman a very easy victim of narcissism. Such persons when they become a victim of this psychological disorder, “criticize, gripe, and complain” (Ashmun) and that is why she was doing it.

Mathilda in “The Necklace” Showing Envious Nature

First, Mathilda in “The Necklace” became envious whenever she met her friend Madam Forestier and whenever she met her, “She would weep” (Maupassant). Her mental agony further intensified whenever her husband used to bring her something or tried to gladden her. When he brought the invitation from the Minister of Education, her immediate response was what to do with it (Maupassant) because she thought that without an excellent dress, she would be looking from a low class and not so beautiful was not acceptable to her. Somehow, he managed to make up the sum for her expensive dress but when the question of wearing some jewelry to suit the occasion arose, again she made his life hell. Her response was she was looking miserable (Maupassant), and this made him think about it. When she put forward the suggestion of borrowing it from her rich friend, he had nothing to go against it and he readily accepted to pacify her mental agony. When she finally got it, “She danced madly” (Maupassant) as her envious nature was finally satisfied. However, this cost not only her but also her husband dearly.

Mathilda in “The Necklace” Showing Competitive Nature

 The second argument is about her competitive nature which made her a narcissist. Whatever she had she compared it with others to see whether it was all right. She had the quality of being “pretty” that distinguishes her, but she competitively wanted to be “getting known,” more than the other women of her ilk and that is what led to her downfall (Maupassant). Her competitive nature came to the fore when her husband gave her an invitation and instead of rejoicing and thinking about preparations, she started making a fuss (Maupassant). This clearly shows that she wanted to compete with other women and woo men which other women also long to come near them. Her consciousness of being pretty but from low family background made her know that she could not dream of having that due to her poverty and this consciousness of being a beauty but not a bedecked one, tormented her. At the party with the necklace that she borrowed from her rich friend, she found herself the cynosure of the party. This was what she wanted to have. It means all other women were neglected and she won. This was a fundamental weakness in her character that she wanted to compete with others in every matter but when she finally became aware that her necklace was lost, she had to undergo suffering for the next ten years. It is another thing that later she discovered that it turned out fake.

Consciousciosuness of Mathilda in “The Necklace”

The consciousness of being a beauty among the general lot and the desire to be differentiated from others due to her beauty and further elegance became the basis of her narcissism. It further fueled her desire to look charming with jewelry and fine clothes. The major desire behind it was to be counted among the elite class. Consciousness of Mathilda in “The Necklace”,is a sign ofnarcissism born out of her competitive nature, led her to do what they could not afford. They not only purchased an expensive dress but also borrowed a necklace whose loss proved costly that they had to undergo ten-year long suffering to repay it. Therefore, it was this personality disorder of Mathilda that cost her and her husband dearly that they had to waste their young years for it.

Works Cited

1. Ashmun, Joanna M. “Narcissist Personality Disorder.” Halcyon, 2008, http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/traits.html. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
2. De Maupassant, Guy. “The Necklace.” Exploros, n.d., http://exploros-shared-media.s3.amazonaws.com/OER/ELA/Grade+8/ELA8.2.02.passages.pdf. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.

Relevant Questions about the Narcissism of Mathilda in “The Necklace”

1. How does Mathilda in “The Necklace” exhibit narcissistic traits through her relentless pursuit of social status and material possessions in the story?
2. In what instances can we observe Mathilda in “The Necklace” displaying self-absorption and a lack of empathy for others, characteristics often associated with narcissism?
3. How does Mathilda in “The Necklace” seek attention and admiration at the ball, and how does her pursuit of these desires shape the events of the story, reflecting her narcissistic tendencies?

Introduction to “Greasy Lake”

“Greasy Lake” by Boyle is a story about rebels in society specifically when teenagers find freedom and intend to exploit it, behaving naturally as stated “it was nature” in the story (Boyle 01). The time is not good as the narrator states in the opening of the story that there “was a time when courtesy” is not the style of speaking, and the narrator along with his similar friends Digby and Jeff try to become “dangerous characters” but it boomerangs and they get the taste of their being bad (02). This proves that others could be bad too at the same time. The story “Greasy Lake” sums up their actions of how they start committing mistakes of their bad behavior but are paid back in the same coin.

Bragging of the Narrator

The narrator of the story “Greasy Lake” first brags about their bad behavior saying “we wore torn-up leather” and leading a bohemian lifestyle, drinking and taking drugs (03). Similar to their clothing and behavior, some others are also looking for enjoyment in which they bang and find out something else. They are going to the lake, the Greasy Lake, which is a good hangout for characters like them. However, Boyle has described the lake exactly like these three characters who are out to show their bad behavior and the lake is bad too as it “was fetid and murky” (04). He uses military jargon such as “There was a single ravaged island” which shows how it has faced destruction from other characters like them (05).

Greasy Characters

In the story, “Greasy Lake” when they go there, they come across another car where according to the narrator a “greasy character” has been hanging out with his “fox” with whom they pick up a brawl (02). The narrator of “Greasy Lake”, during the scuffle, loses keys, and all three of them face severe thrashing though they succeed in overpowering the “greasy character” the fox also comes out screaming which terrifies them (04). The narrator is aware that they are committing mistakes. In fact, their intended target is not what they imagine. Hence, they have to pay back. The narrator has to use a “tire iron” to overpower the “greasy character.” Soon they all, in disheveled shape, took to their heels and he enters the lake where a dead boy blocks his way out. The people after them smash their car and throw trash in it and soon they also realize their bad behavior and leave. When they come back, they find the car drivable and try to leave but two girls spot them who offer them free sex, but they refuse. They have faced the consequences of their actions – a moment of epiphany that shows them that there could be others like them at the spot they are going and this exactly happens to them.

Setting and Order

The setting, chronological order in which the story, “Greasy Lake”, takes place, vocabulary, and brisk flow also match the situation and behavior of the character. Exactly like its setting and plotting, every sentence of “Greasy Lake” oozes dirtiness and badness.

Works Cited

Boyle, T. Coraghessan. Greasy Lake and Other Stories. Penguin, 1986.

Relevant Questions about “Greasy Lake” by T. C. Boyle

1. How does the physical filth and decay of Greasy Lake mirror the moral decay and recklessness of the story’s main characters? What are some specific examples that highlight this connection?
2. What role does the lake itself play in symbolizing the characters’ descent into filth and darkness? How does the lake transform from a seemingly appealing location to a symbol of their moral deterioration?
3. In “Greasy Lake,” the characters engage in destructive and immoral behavior, such as violence and drug use. How does the story depict the consequences of their actions, and what message does T. C. Boyle convey about the price of rebellion and hedonism?