A few years ago, I first read Jhumpa Lahiri’s beloved novel “The Namesake.” Having found it to be a very endearing exploration of cross-cultural identity, I became curious to read more by her. With this Short Stop series, I will be taking a close look at her debut short story collection “Interpreter of Maladies.” Having won The Pulitzer Prize, I am curious to see if she is able to convey in a matter of pages what made her novel so substantial. Will this be a work that captures the complexities of being of two lands, where you’re in search of a home on two continents? Over the next few entries, I hope to discover what has made her one of the most essential modern writers and discover more of what she has to say about the human experience.
Once again Lahiri has returned to a favorite subject: the couple. It has been present since the first story “A Temporary Matter” which found a husband slowly revealing an affair. It was also there in “Sexy” where it was suggested that the woman struggled with identity. What makes “This Blessed House” a bit different is that the turmoil appears much more mundane. Because of where the previous journeys had ended, one would be forgiven for thinking that this story is a bit underwhelming. Nobody reveals a greater truth nor is anyone broken up about it. This is the story of how Christian imagery can be seen as a divisive force in a Hindu household. The only difference is that where most would assume it comes with removing said materials, it ends with one hiding it in their private quarters. So… what’s the greater point?
The story centers around Sanjeev and Twinkle as they move into a new home. From the opening paragraph, they discover Christian iconography that has been hidden around the house. The initial mystery is why any of it is there. The previous residents had moved out and thus one would assume that they’d bring everything they owned with them. Maybe they wanted to share this with the next tenants. As more iconography is discovered, the answer never gets resolved. From the cupboards to the attic, everything feels informed by something that is inherently not Hindu.
As a reader, I was quicker to take Sanjeev’s side. Maybe it’s because of how “A Temporary Matter” has progressed, but I saw the Christian imagery as being something more akin to skepticism. Given that these characters have moved to the Northeast corners of America and have settled down, I was wondering if this would be another commentary on how Indians struggle to feel like their culture is respected in a new land. Following “Mrs. Sen’s” which found an old woman holding onto her values at the expense of loneliness, I assumed that this would be something akin to assimilation or removal of personal identity. Sanjeev is quick to feel that way, or at least hint at his personal discomfort. Not Twinkle.
Twinkle is the type to pick up the crucifix and clean off a stain. She wants to place a statue of Mother Mary in the front yard because everyone else has one. It doesn’t matter that they are Hindu. Something about her new abode is suggesting that this house is blessed. She takes the fact that these heirlooms were abandoned less as a coincidence and more as some cosmic sign. It’s fitting given her name, itself recalling stars in the night sky shining over everyone. Given that this story centers around Christian imagery, could her being a symbolic star connect with the nativity scene where Jesus was born? Twinkle could be seen as a guiding force, but I think on initial read I found it to potentially mean how quickly the light fades.
It's here that I think we can begin to understand Lahiri’s greater intent in the story. As an Indian American whose fiction has been about identity across two lands, it makes sense that her work would speak about those struggles. In “This Blessed House,” she paints Hindu as something more spiritual and resolute. Sanjeev is a man of tradition and following his sacred texts. It’s a big reason that he’s gotten as far in life as he has. He is successful and can’t have any superstitions to keep him down. Twinkle may be more welcoming of cultural differences, but there’s something to Sanjeev that encourages not letting go.
Even as the couple feels divided on what to do, I don’t think that Lahiri paints either as being wrong. This isn’t a marital spat with an easy loser. Twinkle will not lose her identity if she keeps that Mother Mary statue in their yard. Sanjeev won’t lose his if they embrace a more Hindu setting. The greater truth is that duality is not an easy thing. Much like marriage, the story feels like a conversation between Hindu and Christian cultures attempting to live within close quarters. There has to be some acceptance if they hope to get anywhere.
While Indian identity feels less material and about mentality, Lahiri has painted America as being more driven. It’s there in the mission statement of The American Dream. If you work hard, you’ll get ahead. Time and again, the author has explored the difficulty of achieving this without some strain on the individual. Sanjeev may be bringing home skepticism from his job, believing that he will assimilate too much into American culture if he gives into Christian symbolism. The struggle with identity overwhelms. Maybe he wants escapism from work and doesn’t want to be reminded of the minor grievances he has towards this country.
At the same time, he may ironically already be a victim. He fell for The American Dream and it’s obvious that he wants some status if just for his financial well-being. However, he has become the conventional husband role who brings home money and expects Twinkle to be a loving housewife. Small things begin to bother him that go beyond crucifixes and Mother Mary statues. Twinkle appears to be embracing American culture a bit too freely. She is smoking while on the phone to her relatives in California. She is cooking without following instructions. How dare she be so free-spirited! Maybe she is losing her identity or maybe she is finally finding something more meaningful and personal.
This is a story that doesn’t feel like a lot happens. Most of the story is centered around finding Christian iconography around a house. It’s at no point threatening, but Twinkle’s behavior scares Sanjeev for some reason. As a reader who was quicker to take Sanjeev’s side, I think Lahiri’s ability to play on reader’s expectations elevates this story into something more interactive. Whereas most could have negative connotations with Christianity infiltrating other cultures, the idea of Hindus welcoming them shows a cohabitation that is rare in the real world. Maybe Twinkle has seen a side of America less defined by capitalist intentions and more about community. It is a great melting pot, and everyone is welcome to indulge. She has experienced The American Dream in more emotional ways than Sanjeev, who has taken the more pragmatic route for reasons almost obligatory.
Given that the final run of the story centers around a welcome party, the reader would assume that there would be some great butting of heads. As usual, Lahiri chooses the route of civility and has conversations where people are hot under the collar. Sanjeev sees the idea of confusing people with the iconography as a bad thing. Given how “A Temporary Matter” ended, assumptions could be made that “This Blessed House” ends in divorce.
Instead, it ends more as a learning curve for both. The party may have reflected an acknowledgment of the divide between Sanjeev and Twinkle, but it’s not necessarily one to blow everything up for. It’s accepting that there’s going to be a difference of opinions that I think ends the story on a healthier perspective. Had this taken sides, Lahiri could be accused of having opinions on religion that would isolate a certain sect of readers. It would also go against the bigger idea of the story, which I think is to suggest that part of duality is learning from two different sides to live in harmony. It’s not going to happen overnight and, for Sanjeev, maybe not the most convenient. He allows her to hold onto any materials she wants, but she must keep them to herself. By allowing her to have a personal shrine and believe things about the house that he doesn’t, it’s the compromise that’s not fully convenient.
Without giving the story further thought, “This Blessed House” could be read as something more underwhelming and uneventful. Compared to most couples in “A Temporary Matter,” they’re functional. There’s hope for them moving forward. It’s a surprisingly complicated story with an endless number of answers. Is the house blessed? Is there anything wrong with Hindus and Christianity existing in the same house? The conflict is there, but there are ways for answers to be reached. In a book exploring the many different forms of duality, this may be one of the most compelling. It’s also amusing to see characters take sides and reflect the trivial with the serious in humorous ways. Ultimately, it’s a question about what it means to be happy in a new land, and the answers aren’t that simple. It’s what continues to make Lahiri such a great writer and this anthology a rewarding experience.
Coming Up Next: “The Treatment of Bibi Haldar”
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