Isolation In Black Boy By Jhumpa Lahiri

In Richard Wright’s novel Black Boy and in Jhumpa Lahiri’s collection of short stories Interpreter of Maladies, the characters are many times alienated from society due to race, religion, cultural differences and even because of their health. However throughout each case of isolation, readers can clearly see how specific societies behaved. Throughout Richard Wright’s account of his life from the South to the North, Wright’s perspective and isolation helps readers to better understand the society that Wright grew up in. When Richard hangs around with other African American kids in Arkansas they discuss their perspective about white folks that live in the south. Most of the remarks that were made either criticized white folks or made the black …show more content…
Pirzada Came To Dine”, Lilia and her classmates are alienated from what is currently happening in the world. The Indo-Pakistan war, although a major event in the world, has no significant effect on Lillia directly. Born to Indian parents, Lillia still lacks awareness about the war involving her own country. This alienation from the rest of the world shows that people, specifically first generation children, lose their roots to their homeland. “QOUTE ABOUT FATHER ASKING WHAT THEY LEARN”. Her father criticizes the American educational system because it fails to teach Lillia about the current issue between India and Pakistan. Lillia is kept in the dark about it. It is clearer now that first generation children had struggles connecting with their homeland because of the new culture which was focused primarily on American ideas and issues. She feels alienated from both her family and school she attends. At home her father assumes that she knows what is going on in the world, and when she finally does no one in school seems to be aware of current …show more content…
Haldar is determined to keep Bibi away from his child because he fears that Bibi’s disease will spread to his child. “And so Bibi started to spend her nights in the storage room again. At the wife’s insistence Haldar even moved her camp cot up there, along with a tin trunk that contained her belongings. Her meals were left covered with a colander at the top of the stairs. (170)” They make her sleep in the basement and storage room. Haldar and his wife treat Bibi poorly and stop caring for her. They isolate her but society helps to take care of Bibi. They encourage her to stop living in the basement and go out to try and find a husband or man to marry. They also stop buying products from Haldar’s as a way to avenge Bibi. “To express our indignation we began to take our shopping elsewhere; this provided us with our only revenge. “(169). The community had understood that Haldar was mistreating Bibi and attempted to take action. However, Haldar refused to help even after they pleaded. “After dark she remained behind the tin door and did not come out for any reason.”(171). Soon Bibi became invisible in the community. No one disturbed Bibi, who also was not actively involved within the community. Soon they found her on her camp cot and she was pregnant. They again began to take care of Bibi and helped deliver the baby. This community