In the novel Jasmine, by Bharati Mukherjee, Jasmine is determined to become Americanized while at times displaying acts of desperation. Jasmine first expresses that she wants more of an education than what she had in India even though that is not her main reason for leaving. Coming to the United States would provide her that opportunity for an education. Once in America, Jasmine runs into very difficult situations and feels she needs to fit in with the rest of the Americans in this foreign land. She feels the need to find a lover and from there start a family. While Jasmine pursues these ambitions, she must face the fact that she is illegal to America, therefore forcing her into some acts of desperation.
Shortly before Prakash’s death, he and Jasmine talk about him going to Florida for an education. “One day in April, Prakash said, very casually, ‘Well, it came through. Your looking at a bona-fide student to be of the Florida International Institute of Technology’”(90). They then go on to discuss how to obtain a visa for Jasmine. Unexpectedly, Prakash is killed right in front of Jasmine. This triggers her to fulfill Prakash’s dream of gaining an education in the United States. “I turned everything over to my brothers,
. . .
Once they enter the hotel, Half-face begins molesting Jasmine and eventually rapes her. He pretends to be nice and helps her with her luggage to a run-down motel. I’m very exposed, I’m alone all day, I’m out in the park—”(189). This is Jasmine’s first act of desperation. I fell in love with his world, its ease, its careless confidence and graceful self-absorption. Now that Jasmine is in the United States, she is determined to make herself fit in as an American.
In all, the reason for many of Jasmine’s actions are because she is determined but at the same time desperate to be accepted as an American. One day Jasmine and Taylor are sitting at a park in New York. This was the place I had chosen to die, on the first day if possible. “It wasn’t hard to get pregnant, but it wasn’t very natural, either. I can’t come out and challenge him. She screams and Taylor offers to call the police.
Approximate Word count =
998
Approximate Pages =
4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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