The experience of an immigrant is one that is unique and personal. Coming from a country that has always been home, to make a home out of a strange and foreign country is difficult to say the least. Trying to become accustom to a completely different way of living serves as a challenge for many as cultures clash head on. This clash of cultures, and the struggle of finding an identity is something that both stories "Clothes" and "Management of Grief" explore. Both women from the stories are originally raised in their native country of India, and eventually find themselves in the western world. The women grapple with the task of maintaining their cultural identity in the face of a freedom in which they can be themselves in ways that would not
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The west acts almost like a foil to both women 's native country of India through the vast differences in values, beliefs and culture. This is expressed in both stories in various ways. In "Clothes" it is various comments within the story and also the symbol of clothing that emphasize the cultural differences. In the story the sari is a very significant piece of clothing as it is hugely representative of Indian culture. The sari is an extremely modest piece of clothing as it is a loose and flowing garment that covers most of the body. The sari is significant because it is this modesty that is expected of Mita by those around her. In contrast, the American clothing Mita is introduced to is figure hugging and immodest by her communities …show more content…
Although Pam does not appear often in the story, she is extremely significant as she is representative and symbolic of western culture and values. Pam is a character that is obviously shunned in the story by those in her community because of how she indulges in western culture rather than her own. Mrs.Bhave describes her as "the daughter who 's always in trouble. She dates Canadian boys and hangs out in the mall, shopping for tight sweaters"(p.g 461). The activities Mrs. Bhave describe would be considered extremely normal for westernized folks, but for Mrs. Bhaves traditional community, it is the complete
The west acts almost like a foil to both women 's native country of India through the vast differences in values, beliefs and culture. This is expressed in both stories in various ways. In "Clothes" it is various comments within the story and also the symbol of clothing that emphasize the cultural differences. In the story the sari is a very significant piece of clothing as it is hugely representative of Indian culture. The sari is an extremely modest piece of clothing as it is a loose and flowing garment that covers most of the body. The sari is significant because it is this modesty that is expected of Mita by those around her. In contrast, the American clothing Mita is introduced to is figure hugging and immodest by her communities …show more content…
Although Pam does not appear often in the story, she is extremely significant as she is representative and symbolic of western culture and values. Pam is a character that is obviously shunned in the story by those in her community because of how she indulges in western culture rather than her own. Mrs.Bhave describes her as "the daughter who 's always in trouble. She dates Canadian boys and hangs out in the mall, shopping for tight sweaters"(p.g 461). The activities Mrs. Bhave describe would be considered extremely normal for westernized folks, but for Mrs. Bhaves traditional community, it is the complete