International Journal on Future Revolution in Computer Science & Communication Engineering ISSN: 2454-4248

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Cultural rivalry in Bharati Mukherjee‟s Wife and Jasmine

Mrs. V. Indumathi, M.A., M. Phil., B.Ed.,* & M. Ramesh, **

Abstract: Bharati Mukherjee Indian-born American novelist and short-story writer who represented in her writing the cultural changes
and variance in the immigrant experience. Cultural conflict is the clash between two cultures. Culture is the prime identity of human life. They
have disclosed the futility of Western glamorous life and baseless romantic views. Both novels Wife and Jasmine journeys of two young women to
the US for different reasons, under various place. It manifests the East-West encounter and cultural conflicts in various forms. In this
paper analysis, the cultural identity of the conflict arises in the novels. The main theme arises of extends that the writer who has a
broad mind with the cultural problem in society. It focuses on the various reasons for cultural differences and possible causes of cultural conflicts.
Keywords: Cultural rivalry , Wife and Jasmine, Bharati Mukherjee

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I. Introduction City by the fears and passivity resulting from her upbringing.
Indian English Literature has attained an In Mukherjee‟s first book of short fiction, Darkness (1985),
independent status in the realm of World Literature. Wide many of the stories, including the acclaimed “The World
ranges of themes are dealt with in Indian Writing in English. According to Hu” are not only indictments of Canadian
While this literature continues to reflect Indian culture, racism and traditional Indian views of women but also sharp
tradition, social values, and even Indian history through the studies of the edgy inner lives of her characters. The
depiction of life in India and Indians living elsewhere, recent Middleman and Other Stories (1988) centers on immigrants
Indian English fiction has been trying to give expression to in the United States who are from developing countries,
the Indian experience of the modern predicaments. There are which is also the subject of two later novels, Jasmine (1989)
critics and commentators in England and America who and The Holder of the World (1993). The latter tells of a
appreciate Indian English novels. contemporary American woman drawn into the life of
Bharati Mukherjee, born July 27, a Puritan ancestor who ran off with a Hindu raja. Mukherjee‟s
1940, Kolkata, India, Indian-born American novelist and later works include Wanting America: Selected
short-story writer whose work reflects Indian culture and Stories (1995) and Leave It to Me (1997), which traces the
the immigrant experience. Mukherjee was born into a journey of an American woman abandoned in India as a child
wealthy Kolkata family. She attended an anglicized Bengali and her return to her native land.
school from 1944 to 1948. After three years abroad, the Desirable Daughters (2002) attracted considerable
family returned to India. Mukherjee attended the acclaim for its intricate depictions of Indian caste relations
University of Calcutta (B.A., 1959) and the University of and the immigrant experience of reconciling disparate
Baroda (M.A., 1961). She then entered the University of world-views. Mukherjee delved further into the family history
Iowa Writers‟ Workshop, earning an M.F.A. in 1963 and of the characters from that novel in The Tree Bride (2004),
Ph.D. in 1969. From 1966 to 1980 she lived in Montreal, broaching issues of the time-spanning ramifications of
which she found provincial and racist. She then moved to the colonialism. With her husband, Clark Blaise, Mukherjee
United States in 1980 and began teaching at the university wrote Days and Nights in Kolkata (1977), an account of their
level. She became U.S. citizen in 1989 and that year 14-month stay in India, and The Sorrow and the Terror: The
accepted a position teaching postcolonial and world Haunting Legacy of the Air India Tragedy (1987). Mukherjee
literature at University of California at Berkeley. also wrote several works of social analysis,
Mukherjee‟s work features not only cultural clashes including Political Culture and Leadership in India (1991),
but undercurrents of violence. Her first novel, The Tiger‟s an assessment of leadership trends in West Bengal.
Daughter (1972), tells of a sheltered Indian woman jolted Cross-cultural misunderstandings or conflict may
by an immersion in American culture, then again shocked by arise whenever there are cultural differences. Cultural
her return to a violent Kolkata. Wife (1975) details the conflict is a type of conflict that occurs when
descent into madness of an Indian woman trapped in different cultural values and beliefs clash. It has been used to
New York
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explain violence and crime. Cultural conflicts are difficult to obedience and submissiveness in women. Dimple has quite
resolve as parties to the conflict have different beliefs. romantic illusions but considers her marriage to be a blessing
Cultural conflicts intensify when those differences become in disguise. She dreams that her marriage will bring her
reflected in politics, particularly on a macro level. An freedom, fortune, and happiness. What she experiences is far
example of cultural conflict is the from what she cherishes. She wants to eliminate the taboos
debate over abortion. Ethnic cleansing is another and becomes an escapist. She has to face cultural shocks in
extreme example of cultural conflict. Wars can also be a an alien land. The blurring of facts and dreams finally brings
result of a cultural conflict; for example, the the catastrophe. In Kolkata, Dimple moves from her parents‟
differing views on slavery were one of the reasons for house to her mother-in-law‟s place. The reflections of Indian
the American civil war. William Kornblum defines it as a culture abound in the first part of the novel. The mirroring of
conflict that occurs when conflicting norms create the life in the West is noticed in the second part of the novel.
"opportunities for deviance and criminal gain in deviant Her residence in Jyoti and Meena Sen‟s apartment
sub-cultures". has made her aware of the ways of the western lifestyle.
Kornblum notes that whenever laws impose cultural Jyoti Sen has characterized American life as consisting of
values on a group that does not share those views (often, this violence, rape, and murder. The material comforts and the
is the case of the majority imposing their laws on a minority), physical facilities of the land of money, honey and prosperity
illegal markets supplied by criminals are created to are noticed by Dimple. Dimple gets Americanized totally and
circumvent those laws. He discusses the example her assimilation with the American culture of the west is
of prohibition in the interbellum United States, and notes how complete through Ina Mullick and Milt Glasser.
the cultural conflict between pro- and anti-alcohol groups Bharati Mukherjee‟s Wife is a unique fictional work
created opportunities for illegal activity; another similar that probes into its heroine psyche; depicts the cultural
example he lists is that of the war on drugs. conflicts that she faces as an immigrant and the psychological
Kornblum also classifies the cultural conflict as one eccentricities of the heroine Dimple Dasgupta, Born into a
of the major types of conflict theory. In The Clash of middle-class Bengali family, Dimple sets her heart on
Civilizations, Samuel P. Huntington proposes that marrying a neurosurgeon. She entertains the vision of her
people's cultural and religious identities will be the primary marriage as a portal to romance, freedom, love, and
source of conflict in the post-Cold War world. happiness. Marriage would bring her freedom, cocktail
Jonathan H. Turner defines it as a conflict by parties on carpeted lawns, fund-raising dinners for noble
“differences in cultural values and beliefs that place people at charities. Marriage would bring her love.” (Wife 3) Amit
odds with one another".On a micro level, Alexander Grewe finally comes with the news that they could immigrate to
discusses a cultural conflict between guests of different America and they decide to stay with Jyoti Sen, Amit‟s friend
culture and nationality as seen in a British 1970 until he finds a job. Dimple being a „plaint, docile and
sitcom, Fawlty Towers. He defines this conflict as one that submissive girl‟ understands that it is quite difficult for her to
occurs when people's expectations of a certain behavior adapt to the culture of America. She obviously experiences
coming from their cultural backgrounds are not met, as others the cultural shock in the new country. She realizes that it is
have different cultural backgrounds and different not so easy for her to adjust to the American ways of living,
expectations. who is born and brought up in a totally different
Cultural conflicts are difficult to resolve as parties to environment in India. The cultural and social gulf dividing the
the conflict have different beliefs. Cultural conflicts intensify two worlds is too vast for her to accustom and bridge over.
when those differences become reflected in politics, Dimple is also shocked to know that New York is the
particularly on a macro level. highest crime-prone city in the world. She is further shaken
An example of cultural conflict is the by the realization that it allows only a little freedom to Indian
debate over abortion. Ethnic cleansing is another extreme wives. She experiences total estrangement from herself and
example of cultural conflict. Wars can also be a result of a her surroundings as well. She finds a wide gulf between
cultural conflict; for example, the differing her fantasy world and the reality of her situation. She
views on slavery were one of the reasons for the sinks into a world of isolation. Even Amit is totally
American civil war. unaware of Dimple‟s situation. He insists that Dimple
must go out and make friends with Americans and must
CULTURAL RIVALRY IN BHARATI MUKHERJEE’S not stay at home always. But she is daren‟t to go out
WIFE and mix with them. Mukherjee ascribes Dimple‟s mental
Cross-cultural relations as observed in Bharati state to the „dilemma of cultures‟. Dimple not only suffers
Mukherjee‟s second novel Wife (1975). The protagonist from culture shock but also from inferiority complex and
Dimple Dasgupta is a product of a middle-class family thinks that she is not able to win her husband‟s love and
in Kolkata. The class as a whole indoctrinates the values affection. Amit thinks that providing material 26
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comforts are more than enough and hardly bother for her CULTURAL RIVALRY IN BHARATI
emotional needs. She feels that she is being ignored by her MUKHERJEE’S JASMINE
husband; often picks a quarrel with him and accuses him. “ I Cross-cultural relations in Jasmine (1989). The
feel sort of dead inside you never listen; you‟ve never protagonist Jyoti undergoes different transformations as she
listened to me. You hate me. Don‟t deny it” (Wife 110). leaves India and goes to America. She has a strong will
Mukherjee emphatically points out the difference between power to fight against all odds and obstacles in her target of
her two characters, Tara and Dimple. getting Americanized as her husband Prakash Vijh desired
Tara is engrossed in the memories of her home her to be. She oscillates between the claims of Indian
country, her family and friends; her attachment to her past tradition and the claims of survival in contemporary America
makes her travel back to her country. Her expectations turn as an independent woman. In spite of differences and
out to be disappointments. But for Dimple, she renounces her contradictory claims of the two cultures, Jasmine is capable
past and present for the sake of her future. Tara though of forging the composite culture of the East and the West.
undergoes the trauma of cultural conflicts and confrontations Her imaginative insight enables her to adjust to an
she does not behave is an eccentric way whereas, Dimple alien country like the US. The traditional values of the East
does. Her psychological eccentricity is evident right in her and the common features of the land, the people, their
own country when she skips her way to abortion. She traditions and customs are reflected in Jasmine‟s life prior to
justifies herself by telling that she cannot afford to take her departure to America. In her novel Jasmine by Bharati
any „relics‟ from her old life to America where she Mukherjee, the protagonist is portrayed to be embodying the
hoped to begin a new life. The height of her psychic realistic shape of human spirit who has attained
eccentricity is stabbing her own husband to death. empowerment as well. Not only she but her actions and
Mukherjee in her novel rightly names her as „Dimple‟ reactions equally affected the Americans whom she
which means “any slight depression” and this is a interfaced or came into contact with. By way of her writings,
symbolic representation of the depression within her Mukherjee is able to take on a positive viewpoint on the idea
character. of transition from one set of surroundings or cultures to
Dimple wants to break through the traditional taboos another.
of a wife. This novel tells the story of Dimple, a seemingly At the same time, this perspective allows immigrant
docile young Bengali girl who, as any other normal girl, is readers to remain hopeful about their involvements and
full of dreams about her married life and so she eagerly and ambitions. Deepika Bahri in her essay “Always
impatiently waits for marriage. She marries Amit Basu. Becoming: Narratives of Nation and Self in Bharati
She visualizes a new life for herself in America where Mukherjee‟s Jasmine” captures the interrelationship of
Amit is expecting to immigrate. She is expected to play the women, America and movement by applying the narrative
role of an ideal Indian wife, stay at home and keep the of dislocation and cultural hybridity, but she also does not
house for the husband. Her frustration is built up take in to account the major role played by cultural
gradually by the circumstances. One such way is here factors and forces in determining the course and
including a miscarriage by skipping herself free career of these women protagonists.
from pregnancy, which she views as a Basu‟s property even The author has created a fine line between the
in her womb. But herself-identity is avoided by characters of Jyoti and Jasmine in India and other identities
marriage. She aspires for self-recognition and dreams enveloping her protagonist based in America. The book
fulfilled. But Basu behaves in a different way. He wants becomes an amalgamation of two sub-stories or cultures from
her to be docile and submissive. So Dimple hates Basu two different worlds. Taking the discussion forward, it would
and his behavior. He needs her only for sexual be acceptable to argue that the India part of the novel is about
enjoyment. She feels it‟s a sort guilty. Finally, in her Jyoti‟s survival under the scrutiny of old-fashioned patriarchy
mentally upset state, she kills Amit in act of self- and associated customs or values ranging from tradition to
liberation and eventually commits suicide. An important modern, whereas, the America part of the book talks about
concern of the colonial literature is related to place and the cultural dilemmas she faced in an alien western country.
displacement. The self may have eroded either because She rebels against the blind beliefs and superstitions
of “dislocation” or “cultural denigration” Beyond their prevailing in her small village and argues against the fate
historical and cultural differences, places, displacement, and which is adumbrated by the astrologer. It was in the US
a feature common to all postcolonial literature in where she felt at loss with her identity more powerfully than
English. Displacement frequently leads to alienation of vision anywhere else.
and crisis in self-image. During the flow of the story as reflected in the
novel, Jyoti acquires many new names and identities, each
requiring a newer role and expectations that highlighted the
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International Journal on Future Revolution in Computer Science & Communication Engineering ISSN: 2454-4248
Volume: 4 Issue: 9 25 – 28
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various phases in her transformation towards should not lead to violence or corruption. It is necessary to
“Americanisation” or, more particularly, cultural assimilation move beyond the frontiers of race, religion, class
in her case. Notwithstanding the trauma and aftereffect of and, nationality to understand the significance of cross-
rape on her very first day in the white environs of the US, cultural relationships. It is essential to adopt a view that will
with the affectionate moral aid of certain well-intentioned embrace global proportions. The promotion of the positive
people in America, she completely transforms herself from global view is necessary to promote cross-cultural relations.
an ignorant, vulnerable migrant to a self-assured confident
working woman. She confirms her various identities by Workcited
observing, “I have had a husband for each of the women I [1] Mukherjee, Bharati., 1980. Wife, Penguin Books (India),
have been. Prakash for Jasmine, Taylor for Jase, Bud for New Delhi.
Jane. Half-Face for Kali” (175). [2] Mukherjee, Bharati., 1990. Jasmine, Penguin Books (India),
New Delhi.
At each phase of her transformation from Jyoti to
[3] William Kornblum (31 January 2011). Sociology in a
Jasmine to Jase and from Jase to Jane, one comes across a
Changing World. Cengage Learning. pp. 191–192; 195, 197,
different woman in her, more adapted to the western world. 205. ISBN 978-1-111-30157-6. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
She is reflected to be a born fighter. The shift in her identities [4] Jonathan H. Turner (1 September 2005). Sociology. Prentice
is suggestive of the death of one person and an Hall. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-13-113496-6. Retrieved 14
emergence of a new and she notes, “Indianness as a fragile January 2013.
identity to be preserved against obliteration, now it is seen as [5] Alexander Grewe (17 October 2005). "I'm sick to death with
a set of fluid identities to be celebrated” (3). Through the you..." or External Character Conflicts in Fawlty Towers.
novel, the author also brings out her anguish against the third GRIN Verlag. p. 10. ISBN 978-3-638-42885-9.
Retrieved 14 January 2013.
world when she highlights that Jasmine needed to shift to
[6] Jonathan H. Turner (1 September 2005). Sociology. Prentice
America to achieve something significant in her life.
Hall. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-13-113496-6. Retrieved 14
According to her, she faced only despair and loss in the third January 2013.
world. Jasmine has emerged to be a novel of emigration and [7] Margaret L. Andersen; Howard F. Taylor (1 January
assimilation on physical as well as psychological aspects. 2012). Sociology: The Essentials. Cengage Learning.
Having gradually assimilated both the cultures in herself, she p. 72. ISBN 978-1-111-83156-1. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
even allows herself to become an unwed mother and a hasty [8] Michael Fellman (19 April 1990). Inside War: The Guerrilla
lover of sorts, an otherwise unsociable norm in the Indian Conflict in Missouri During the American Civil War.
society back at her village. Jasmine‟s subsequent days in Oxford University Press. p. 15. ISBN
978-0-19-506471-1. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
America transports her to a new lifestyle notwithstanding the
problems created by a new culture she was now part of.
The initial impression she left on the natives was
that of a certain someone, coming from somewhere in the
eastern part of the world, with blackish skin, speaking a
native language. In her initial attempts, she found it difficult
for herself to share with strangers the finer details about her
life and identity which she left back in India.

II. CONCLUSION
The cross-cultural relations depend on the
recognition of uncertainty and unfamiliarity of interactions
with others that belong to another cultural set-up. In case of
mirroring of multiple cultures, the most appropriate
illustrations are to be found in what is branded as diasporic
literature. The diasporic writers like Bharati the stages of
adaptation are noticed in the journey of the protagonist. She
is required to undertake from the center to the periphery and
then again from the periphery to the center. The sense of
alienation, the phase of adaptation, the stage of
reconciliation, the process of assimilation and the destination
of acculturation are the progressive steps which end in the
cross-cultural shift. Bharati Mukherjee desires that the novel
wife and jasmine describe that cross-cultural encounters
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