In Jhumpa Lahiri’s short story “A Temporary Matter” readers are introduced to two characters Shukumar, a student as well as a teacher and Shoba, a proofreader. A short but simple story “A Temporary Matter” focuses heavily on the theme of lost love between the two protagonists. As the story progresses layers about each character is revealed in a chain of events. Lahiri demonstrates in “A Temporary Matter” how the loss can affect a relationship and showcases it with the techniques of setting and pacing.
Setting and pacing are key to any story and can affect the credibility of the story. Caren Gussoff, an author that wrote for Gotham Writers’ Workshop Writing Fiction explained the importance of setting and pacing. “Setting can actually enhance …show more content…
Gussoff clarifies that setting is what makes a story credible and affects the tone of the story. One would not write about a death and have the somber funeral take place in the middle of a euphoric circus it does not make the story believable. A clear setting that corresponds with the plot is key in any story. In Lahiri’s short story the setting where the majority of the interactions between Shukumar and Shoba take place are in the home, mainly the kitchen. Lahiri does a great job by using the kitchen as a setting which allow the readers to learn personal information and how the food, space and emotions connect to the protagonists. Within the story one of the points of conflict is that every night around eight p.m. the lights will go out within the neighborhood. This results in Shoba and Shukumar having to eat together in the kitchen. “He remembered their first meals there, when they were so thrilled to be married, to be living together in the same house at last” (Lahiri 326). While Shukumar is preparing to serve dinner …show more content…
Lahiri does not need to show every moment in the plot just key moments that are told through subtle flashbacks that show why Shukumar and Shoba are the way they are with one another. The readers learn about the loss of their son, how their relationship was before they lost their son and how they felt during that time. By pacing the story just right the readers do not feel confused nor do they feel bored while reading the story. “I’ve been looking for an apartment and I’ve found one” (Lahiri 333). This is the last line spoken by Shoba and it reveals that throughout the story she was using the darkness and the secret confession to build up the courage to tell Shukumar that she was leaving him. By pacing these over a sequences of different nights and allowed the change the characters were supposed to go through be believable. If Shoba said on the first night that she was moving out it would have seemed rushed and unclear. However, by using the techniques the ending is credible and accepted by the
Setting and pacing are key to any story and can affect the credibility of the story. Caren Gussoff, an author that wrote for Gotham Writers’ Workshop Writing Fiction explained the importance of setting and pacing. “Setting can actually enhance …show more content…
Gussoff clarifies that setting is what makes a story credible and affects the tone of the story. One would not write about a death and have the somber funeral take place in the middle of a euphoric circus it does not make the story believable. A clear setting that corresponds with the plot is key in any story. In Lahiri’s short story the setting where the majority of the interactions between Shukumar and Shoba take place are in the home, mainly the kitchen. Lahiri does a great job by using the kitchen as a setting which allow the readers to learn personal information and how the food, space and emotions connect to the protagonists. Within the story one of the points of conflict is that every night around eight p.m. the lights will go out within the neighborhood. This results in Shoba and Shukumar having to eat together in the kitchen. “He remembered their first meals there, when they were so thrilled to be married, to be living together in the same house at last” (Lahiri 326). While Shukumar is preparing to serve dinner …show more content…
Lahiri does not need to show every moment in the plot just key moments that are told through subtle flashbacks that show why Shukumar and Shoba are the way they are with one another. The readers learn about the loss of their son, how their relationship was before they lost their son and how they felt during that time. By pacing the story just right the readers do not feel confused nor do they feel bored while reading the story. “I’ve been looking for an apartment and I’ve found one” (Lahiri 333). This is the last line spoken by Shoba and it reveals that throughout the story she was using the darkness and the secret confession to build up the courage to tell Shukumar that she was leaving him. By pacing these over a sequences of different nights and allowed the change the characters were supposed to go through be believable. If Shoba said on the first night that she was moving out it would have seemed rushed and unclear. However, by using the techniques the ending is credible and accepted by the