Essay Questions

Why is Selin disappointed after Svetlana announces her new relationship with Matt?

Selin feels that her friend's worldview would be influenced by her boyfriend. Therefore, a third party would influence their competition for world views. Selin observes, "This boyfriend, or his successor, would restrict her activities, her thoughts. In a way, I had won, but it felt like defeat." Selin will be competing with world views influenced by a man. Selin would find it difficult to persuade her friend about the superiority of her worldview. Therefore, Matt is an obstacle to their competition over worldviews.

Analyse Lakshmi’s feelings about her relationship with Jon.

Lakshmi’s sentiments depict low self-esteem and an inferiority complex. She feels Jon will leave her because she is not as clever as him. Selin narrates, “Lakshmi still loved Noor but had started dating Jon, a senior who wrote fiction and had a short story in almost every issue of the literary magazine. I had never successfully read any of his stories. Lakshmi said that Jon was too good-looking and smart for her.” Lakshmi's inferiority complex makes her insecure. She fears Jon may start dating another girl with better looks and who is smarter than Lakshmi. The relationship cannot be solid when Lakshmi constantly fears being dumped.

Why doesn’t Lakshmi resist her arranged marriage?

Lakshmi's family is conservative; thus, it supports arranged marriage. Lakshmi's sister's marriage was arranged. Selin explains, "an arranged marriage meant that the husband was committing not to you personally but to thousands of years of tradition—to his whole family, as well as to yours. " Lakshmi believes that her marriage should be arranged because she has no choice. She understands her father's lofty expectations of her; thus would not want to disappoint him by choosing her husband. Notably, Lakshmi aims to retain her virginity until marriage because that is what traditions demand.