Guest Blogger: Kristine B.

Response for the Prompt from Feasting, Fasting

Sometimes when two people from different cultures interact with one another, cultural differences cause conflict. The passage from Anita Desai’s Feasting, Fasting is a perfect example of a cultural clash. Arun, the main character, is a foreign exchange student living in America with his host family. In this passage the host family decides to go to the beach. Several literary techniques are used to show how this experience is awkward for Arun as he struggles with the unfamiliar American customs.
To start with, the third person limited point of view used mostly throughout the novel shows how Arun is clearly not comfortable going to the beach. The first two lines are, “It is Saturday. Arun cannot plead work.” (Line 1) The short syntax and simple diction used in these two sentences gives a sense of the hopelessness that Arun feels as he struggles to find a way not to go to the beach. He wildly tries to find excuses (Line 5) not to go when he sees Melanie, a member in his host family, dressed only in her bathing suit and a large shirt. Arun feels awkward with Melanie’s American way of dressing. Later while walking in the forest to the beach readers are let into Arun’s mind to find that he dreads going to the beach so much that he and Melanie are competing on whom can lag behind better. The fact he is trying to delay the arrival to the beach clearly shows that the going to the beach is an uncomfortable situation for Arun. Finally, readers find out that Arun does not understand, “Why must people live in the vicinity of such benighted wilderness and become a part of it,” (Lines 46-47). Arun states that he prefers the small town and the shops that probably remind him of his home back in India. The third person point of view used in the passage allows readers to see that Arun is obviously uncomfortable with going to the beach by allowing readers to see what Arun is thinking throughout the whole experience.
Vivid imagery combined with negative connotation shows what Arun thinks of his surroundings and adds to his negative experience. While preparing to leave for the beach Mrs. Patton packs “equipment” (Line 15) for the trip. The use of the word equipment gives the sense of Arun getting ready for battle instead of a pleasant trip to the beach, demonstrating Arun’s reluctance for the beach trip. Later, one typically pictures a walk though a forest as peaceful and relaxing, Arun only hears the shrilling of cicadas and the shrieking of birds, “… the ugly jarring note that does not vary.” (Line 37). The houses in the woods “intrude” and, “… the hair on the back of his neck begins to prickle,” (lines 43-44). The negative use of speech paints the gloomy image that Arun sees further exemplifying his treacherous experience of going to the beach.
A trip to the beach is typically thought as a fun and relaxing experience in America. However, for Arun and his cultural back ground, a trip to the beach is an awkward experience for him. Desai uses many literary techniques throughout the whole passage to characterize Arun’s overwhelming experience of going to the beach, as he steps out of his comfort zone and tries to involve himself in American customs.