1. Discuss the significance of the letter in "Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter"?
Dr. Pruss's question regarding Alice Walker's "Everyday Use":
2. How does Dee's mother's dream of the television show reveal Dee's character? How
about the way Dee read to her family while she was growing up? What does that tell us about Dee?
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1.) To many, the letter Mrs. Dutta writes may only signify just any ordinary letter. But if you look beyond the text, you may find that the letter doesn’t only signify what it objectives. In my opinion, the letter serves as a symbol. It signifies a sort of realization Mrs. Dutta had with her inner self. When Mrs. Dutta first moved in with her son (family) she had this whole image planned out in her head that she was going to live a wondrous life in America, and that everything was just going to be fine. Throughout the story it is seen that Mrs. Dutta is restraining from becoming American. What I mean by this, is that she still keeps her own Indian (Calcutta) ways. She doesn’t seem accustomed to the American lifestyle yet. It is also seen that various times in the story Mrs. Dutta seems to find the most happiness when she pleases others such as her son (cooking dishes, washing clothes, etc.). However, at the end the story, it is only then when writing the letter, Mrs. Dutta realizes and faces the reality of her well-being. Instead of putting up a fake smile, or a forcing herself to be content when she is not, Mrs. Dutta is her truest when writing the letter to Mrs. Basu. In this letter she pours out her true feelings about how she feels in America. She writes “I am no longer sure I know what happiness is. All I know is that it isn't what I thought it to be. It isn't about being needed. It isn't about being with family either. It has something to do with love…” This exemplifies/signifies the reality transmission Mrs. Dutta goes through to make her final decision to come back to Calcutta, India, where she finds herself most happiness at heart.
ReplyDelete2.) Dee’s mother’s dream signifies that she and her daughter do not have a close relationship that the mother wished they had. The mother states “I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program….” She mentions a man like Johnny Carson shaking her hand telling how great of a girl Dee is, Dee then embracing her with tears, and pinning an orchid on her dress (a flower in which Dee hated in real life). The mother wishes all these things but has a hard time accepting her daughter for the girl she is not. The mother then states that she is a “big-boned woman with rough man working hands…” This TV dream of hers is only a desire for the mother about a relationship Dee and her daughter do not have. This shows that even though the mother loves her daughter with all her heart, Dee’s character does not fit her standards. Or simply put, she is not satisfied with her daughter. This also show when Dee reads to her family.
-Tahliah M. Davidson
I appreciate your effort, Tahilah. Good interpretation!
ReplyDeleteKeep an eye on some your spellings :)
You meant "transformation" instead of "transmission". It is good to keep your sentences simple. Good job nonetheless.
1.The significance of the letter in “Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter” is that Mrs. Dutta has finally come to the realization that she is not happy in America with her son and his family. By writing the letter to her friend back in India she is accepting that she is not satisfied with her new life in America and doesn’t fit in with what she is expected to be. Therefore by writing the letter is shows that Mrs. Dutta wants to go back to India.
ReplyDelete2.Dee’s mother’s dream about the televisions reveals that Dee is not very accepting of her mother and that Dee is very into looks and how others view her and her family. This told us that Dee thought she was better and smarter than her mother, and didn’t think highly of her even though her mother did a lot for her to succeed.
~Nicole Treschitta~