Greener Pastures

   Greener Pastures

    In the novel Jasmine, author Bharati Mukherjee tells of her life altering experience moving from third world India to the affluent United States.  While much of the book describes the setbacks and despair of daily life in her native country, I believe that chapter 10 alone gives the reader a good indicator of her seemingly chaotic life in India.  Additionally, the chapter makes it more apparent as to why the main character and narrator Jasmine seems to embrace many facets of American culture upon her stay in the United States.  With her journey out of India into the United States, it seems as though Jasmine is not only trying to escape India, but also totally recreate her life.

            “Pitaji died in the hottest month, when the topsoil is so dry it grays and crumbles like ash.” (Mukherjee, p. 63)  With the recent death of her father, and her description of the local Indian landscape, India seems like a pretty disparaging scene.  More importantly, life itself at that moment seems to be pretty bleak.  On top of that, her brothers seem obligated to quit school, and their family property is then sold to a Canadian farmer who in turn finds agricultural success with his new acquisition.  Additionally, the political sector of India seems to be out of control, with religion fueled radicals terrorizing the area, mowing down innocent townspeople.  Jasmine is also more than eager to find a fitting mate, although it does not seem to be working out for her.  To make matters worse, her mom is so grief stricken by the death of Jasmine’s father she decides to mutilate her self and shave off all of her hair. 

            From the happenings of chapter 10, it is not hard to figure out why Jasmine seems to enjoy herself in the United States.  First off, she seems to have no problem finding men, as she has much attention from the male crowd.  Although I have never been to Iowa, I could imagine the landscape and terrain to be easier on the eyes when compared to what she’s accustomed to in India.  I don’t think that anyone is making buffalo dung patties and plastering them onto the wall of her home in America.

            As prophesized to her by the old man in the beginning of the story, Jasmine sees her life in India as a catastrophic event, with failure and grief in her imminent future.  Because of this, Jasmine seems to be running from her past in India, and hiding from her possibly unfortunate future.  Although the fortune telling old man ensures her that her bleak future is unavoidable, Jasmine travels to America to seek refuge.  As each day adds on, I have the feeling that Jasmine starts to be increasingly convinced that she can avoid despair and failure. 

            Although much of the book consists of the contrast between life in India and life in America, chapter 10 definitely provides the reader with a strong source through which to view the different lives led by Jasmine.  From one thing to another, the trouble never seems to stop for Jasmine and more importantly those around her.  While in America, life definitely doesn’t seem so rough, as her more trying problems really aren’t comparable to the ones she faced while in India.  It might not be such a bad idea if she never went home again.

(Chorus from "My Way Home", performed by Lonne Rashid Lynn, Jr. aka Common)

Might not be such a bad idea if I never, never went home again
I'm on my way home
I left three days ago
But no one seems to know I'm gone
Home is where the hatred is
Home is filled with pain and it
Might not be such a bad idea if I never
Never went home again.