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The Old Lady and House Opposite
Shorts stories are one of the captivating and most read by different readers from various genres. Generally, most of the short stories are in a fiction form that focuses mainly on a self-contained incident or a series of many incidents. Writers usually make sure that their short stories are evoking a certain mood of the readers. Examples of short stories include “The Old Lady” and “House Opposite.” As a result, “The Old Lady” is a short story that was written in 1958 by Jhabvala. On the other hand, “House Opposite” is a short story that was written by Narayan in 1985. Additionally, it is one of the short stories of “Under the Banyan Tree and Other Stories.” Therefore, the following paper will compare between “The Old Lady” by Jhabvala and “House Opposite” by Narayan.
Notably, the characters in both short stories have a problem adapting to the new culture. From the short story “House Opposite” by Narayan talks about the life of a man who struggled with his spiritual culture and the temptations that he encountered in his spiritual life (Narayan). The man grew up in an Indian lifestyle, which includes the spiritual aspect. He believed that he was a holy man, and he was not supporting to mingle or be conformed with the ways that did not resemble a holy life. Despite his choice to live a holy life, he tends to find himself attached to the ways of the world, which affects his spiritual part. Similarly, the short story “The Old Lady” by Jhabvala shows how people in western countries are different from people who live in Eastern countries (Jhabvala). Indians have a different way they live, and most of it is composed of the spiritual aspect. It becomes hard for an Indian person to live in western countries such as Britain and the United States at the same time, practice their culture. The western culture is known to change people’s lifestyle because of its influence. Jhabvala’s short story shows how people from India tend to be affected by western culture, such as Britain, which tends to make people seek to escape from the world of spiritual leaders. As a result, both short stories have a great perspective on the importance of believing and focusing on one’s culture despite the temptation to embrace a new culture.
Additionally, both stories have different themes that explain the stories’ view of the audience. In the case of the short story “House Opposite” by Narayan has a main theme of Irony. The thematic aspect in the short story explains what sin is and how it can affect the life of spiritual people (Narayan). The short story shows how sin has been used as a corrupt aspect that tends to change one’s perspective and give them the option of not following what they used to believe as wrong. The story shows how the holy man was struggling to do the right thing according to his religion, but he found himself affected by the temptations that sounded him. In contrast, the short story “The Old Lady” by Jhabvala has the theme of culture. Culture has been known to be a learned behavior that tends to affect the identity of people (Jhabvala). In western countries, people tend to see another culture as something that is wrong and needs to be corrected. The short story “The Old Lady” by Jhabvala shows how people, especially from India, tend to be affected by western culture. In India, the name for culture is called “Sanskriti.” As a result, culture is a great aspect of Indian society because it defines the identity of someone. This culture involves ritual performance, which acts as a process of refinement. One has to go through the refinement process to become [art of the Indian culture. However, going against the Indian culture will make one an outcast, and they become a slave to the culture they pick. As a result, the themes presented both short stories show how people tend to be affected by the choices they make in life and different perspectives that define their identity.
Correspondingly, the plot of both short stories is different. In the case of the short story “The Old Lady,” the author tries to show how a conflict between the East and the West. The characters in the story are a target of satire, where an Indian girl is termed as silly in Britain because of her culture (Jhabvala). This happens when the Indian girl Nalini chooses to go to British University for the purpose of having a literal love affair with Norman Greaves. This shows how two cultures tend to have different perspectives on many things that, when narrowed down, show the identity of a person. In contrast, the short story “House Opposite” talks about the war between spiritual and sin. Religion is known to be one of the most influential cultures in the world today (Narayan). Religion has made people leave their culture and follow another culture that fulfills the spiritual urge. As a result, the story shows how a holy man chose to live a holy and spiritual lifestyle that he believes will have great rewards in the end. However, despite him having a strict rule of living a spiritual life, he tends to meet temptations that affect his way of life. Generally, the story shows how it is hard to live in a world that has many options that make someone live what they believe to be their survival. Many people who have chosen to lie a spiritual life believe that religion is the survival; thus, they are willing to do anything to live.
In sum, the short stories “The Old Lady” by Jhabvala and “House Opposite” by Narayan show how people in the society tend to be affected by cultures they are not used to. Changing one’s culture is known to be an abomination, and the victim remains to be a slave to the new culture. Two stories have similarities and differences that define the identity of their characters. The perspective from both stories shows how it is important for people to believe in their culture and lifestyles. Both stories tend to focus mainly on the Indian cultures and how they are perceived in the western world. The authors used different ways of writing and imaginary aspect to show how characters from both stories tend to have a hard time adjusting to new cultures and how those cultures affected their perspectives.
Works cited
Jhabvala, Ruth Prawer. Like birds, like fishes: and other stories. WW Norton, 1963.
Narayan, R. K. “House Opposite.” Grand Street 4.2 (1985): 7-10.