Written Exam: When Mrs. Sen\'s PDF

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Written Exam for Mrs. Sen's...

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Mrs. Sen’s and Motherhood Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Mrs. Sen’s” contrasts motherhood and family dynamics between different cultures. Mrs. Sen is an example of how an immigrant housewife operates in the United States as she holds on strong to her native country and its culture. On the other hand, Eliot and his mother are primary examples of traditional American culture and the single-parent household which is not uncommon throughout the United States. Mrs. Sen, while she is not a mother, plays an important role in Eliot’s life as his caregiver and represents a new lifestyle that he would not have encountered otherwise. Through his experiences with Mrs. Sen, Eliot gained a new perspective about the traditional Indian household while creating a special relationship with both Mr. and Mrs. Sen. From the beginning, there is an interesting dynamic between Eliot, his mother, and their former sitters. Lahiri writes that Eliot, before Mrs. Sen, had a few sitters that did not necessarily fit in well with the family. Lahiri writes, “Abby received her degree and moved off to another university, while Mrs. Linden, was, in fact, fired when Eliot’s mother discovered that Mrs. Linden’s thermos contained more whisket than coffee” (109). This is an early indication of the clear differences between Eliot’s former caregivers and their habits and Mrs. Sen who eventually becomes more long-term in Eliot and his mother’s life. Lahiri allows readers to understand the importance of Mrs. Sen in Eliot’s life as she becomes a prominent figure. Mrs. Sen is an Indian housewife which makes her and Mr. Sen feel as if she is capable of providing care for Eliot, but her tendencies and habits are continuously showing Eliot a different idea of what motherhood might mean to someone who is not American. For example, Lahiri writes about Mrs. Sen wielding the knife that is prevalent throughout the story. Lahiri writes,

“While she worked she kept an eye on the television and an eye on Eliot, but she never seemed to keep an eye on the blade. Nevertheless she refused to let Eliot walk around when she was chopping” (112). Lahiri often portrays for readers a dynamic in which Mrs. Sen simultaneously treats Eliot like an adult and a child. While Eliot, an 11-year-old boy is likely capable of safely being around a chopping knife, Mrs. Sen does not allow it in order to ensure that she is being a responsible adult. On the other hand, Mrs. Sen often drives around with Eliot in the car while Eliot is aware she does not have her license and also understands that Mrs. Sen is not a successful driver. Here, she risks Eliot’s safety as if he has a choice between staying with Mrs. Sen and not. This foreshadowing of Mrs. Sen’s driving eventually leads to the downfall between Eliot and Mrs. Sen’s relationship. In the conclusion of the story, Lahiri makes it clear that Mrs. Sen is likely incapable of being a caregiver for an American child so long as she has not assimilated to American culture. While Eliot is interested and cares much about learning about the culture, there is a distinct difference between how Eliot’s mother chooses to raise him and how Mrs. Sen felt comfortable treating Eliot. Nonetheless, Lahiri’s story is an important representation of how cultural differences play an important role in family dynamics. Similarly, “Mrs. Sen’s” is an example of how one’s experience with another culture can ultimately shape the thoughts and actions of that individual.

References Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. Second Mariner Books....