Question

Read the following passage from "Once in a Lifetime." Identify the culture that each of the characters represents. How does Hema's American culture blend with her Bengali culture? How does this passage reflect Jhumpa Lahiri's personal beliefs or perspectives? "You're going to get sick, Kaushik, always wandering outside like that,” my mother said. She continued to speak to you in Bengali, despite your consistently English replies. It was your mother who came down with a cold, using this as an excuse to stay in bed for days. She refused the food my mother made for the rest of us, requesting only canned chicken broth. You walked to the minimart a mile from our house, bringing back the broth and issues of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. “Go ask Parul Mashi if she wants tea,” my mother said one afternoon, and I headed upstairs to the guestroom

Answer 1

Answer:

Hema’s mother, despite living in the United States, still retains her Bengali culture. She tries to ensure that Hema never forgets her roots, but Hema does her best to blend in with the American culture. Hema’s mother attempts to reach out to Kaushik’s Bengali culture, but he too wishes to blend in with the American culture, as is evident when he replies in English, despite her speaking to him in Bengali:

She continued to speak to you in Bengali, despite your consistently English replies.

Unlike Hema’s mother, Kaushik’s mother wants to embrace American culture, which is evident from her food and reading preferences:

She refused the food my mother made for the rest of us, requesting only canned chicken broth. You walked to the minimart a mile from our house, bringing back the broth and issues of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

Jhumpa Lahiri’s own upbringing was similar to Hema’s. She was born in London and moved to the United States at a young age. She too considered herself American, even though her mother attempted to ensure that she kept in touch with her Bengali heritage.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer and Explanation:

Hemas mother was said to have a strong connection with her Bengali culture as well as the culture of being amother .

She speaks to Kaushik in Bengali but she also has the compassion and care a mother has for her child or children which is universal in all cultures. Kaushik also has a mix of Bengali and American culture in which she understand Hemas mother when she speaks to him in Bengali but replying in English.

When Kaushik goes to the market he brings back the broth as well as magazines that are popular in American culture.

Therefore this passage shows how Jhumpa Lahiri's life is a mixture of cultures that integrate with one another. Her roots are Indian culture but was raised with American culture which was said to intertwines with her ancestors culture.

Hema’s mother, despite living in the United States, still retains her Bengali culture. She tries to ensure that Hema never forgets her roots, in which Hema as well does her best to blend in with the American culture.