When Mr. Pirzada came to dine, Jhumpa Lahiri made me feel welcomed. The authenticity of writing in first person helped me to relate to the narrator Lilia. As an American-Mexican, I understand the sense of displacement being between two cultures.
This idea of “double-consciousness”, that one can feel like an object and a subject, not belonging to one complete identity, is always a contemporary issue in America-everyone having immigrated at one point. It is in this way that Lilia feels connected to Mr. Pirzada, both being without country. One of the most admirable and unavoidable attributes to a good writer, is writing yourself into the piece. It was a very personal experience for Jhmupa Lahiri which is perhaps why she chose to write in a direct and personal first person.
In picking a child’s perspective, the writer can create an innocent point of view. The girl’s fascination with this dinner guest unfurls the curiosities of where her parents are from and of the war going on in Pakistan/India. While trick-or-treating, a neighbor comments on Lilia dressed as an Indian witch, making her more aware of her cultural differences. Also, Mr. Pirzada is uneasy when Lilia is unaccompanied to roam the streets at night. Lahiri’s choice to write in Halloween contrasts the protection of America versus the danger elsewhere. This is an appreciated technique to distinguish the use of realism and cultural identity.
Because of Lilia’s interest, we see how unsupportive American education is of our plentiful cultures and differences. Lilia is discouraged to learn anything other than American history. But, the natural assimilations of being ‘Americanized’ also show up in the story when this child begins to pray “never prayed for anything before, has never been taught or told to…” This could be American culture- “one nation under God”- or out of pure innocence. Either way, this choice still heightens the sense of displacement.
Knowing that Jhumpa Lahiri specifically wrote When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine for an American audience, I realized the simplicity in the language. In group discussion, we realized the lack flowery language in the writing. This helps the readers understand a delicate experience. It can also allow immigrants, not well-read in English, to comprehend the story as well. Every reader will take something different from the text whether it’s a third-generation American or an immigrant like Lilia’s parents.
This idea of “double-consciousness”, that one can feel like an object and a subject, not belonging to one complete identity, is always a contemporary issue in America-everyone having immigrated at one point. It is in this way that Lilia feels connected to Mr. Pirzada, both being without country. One of the most admirable and unavoidable attributes to a good writer, is writing yourself into the piece. It was a very personal experience for Jhmupa Lahiri which is perhaps why she chose to write in a direct and personal first person.
In picking a child’s perspective, the writer can create an innocent point of view. The girl’s fascination with this dinner guest unfurls the curiosities of where her parents are from and of the war going on in Pakistan/India. While trick-or-treating, a neighbor comments on Lilia dressed as an Indian witch, making her more aware of her cultural differences. Also, Mr. Pirzada is uneasy when Lilia is unaccompanied to roam the streets at night. Lahiri’s choice to write in Halloween contrasts the protection of America versus the danger elsewhere. This is an appreciated technique to distinguish the use of realism and cultural identity.
Because of Lilia’s interest, we see how unsupportive American education is of our plentiful cultures and differences. Lilia is discouraged to learn anything other than American history. But, the natural assimilations of being ‘Americanized’ also show up in the story when this child begins to pray “never prayed for anything before, has never been taught or told to…” This could be American culture- “one nation under God”- or out of pure innocence. Either way, this choice still heightens the sense of displacement.
Knowing that Jhumpa Lahiri specifically wrote When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine for an American audience, I realized the simplicity in the language. In group discussion, we realized the lack flowery language in the writing. This helps the readers understand a delicate experience. It can also allow immigrants, not well-read in English, to comprehend the story as well. Every reader will take something different from the text whether it’s a third-generation American or an immigrant like Lilia’s parents.
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