A Wife's Story

This story was very interesting to me. I liked how the Indian lady was watching the play Glengarry Glen Ross, because I already know what it is about. I wasn’t at first familiar with what a Patel is. I looked this up and found that it is A surname of Indian origin (Hindu and Parsi) from a Gujarati word meaning village headsman. In the play that the narrator was watching these Patel’s were degraded and put down. After the play she decides that she needs to write to the author of the play, David Mamet. For some reason when I was reading this play earlier I remember something about this controversy.

The narrator is married but living in New York City getting her PHD while her husband is still in India. She lives with an oriental woman who is a hand model. This story reminds me very much of my girlfriend. Her mother is Korean and moved to the United States when she was in her twenties. My girlfriend has told me many stories of her mother and also of herself and how difficult is sometimes is to be different. Her mother came and got an education and then married. But she has the mindset that her daughter must have a successful career to be considered a working member of society. This is a very different view from mine but I understand it. This story kind of shows this also. Because immigrants work so hard and are not treated right. On page 26 the narrator states “I don’t hate Mamet. It’s the tyranny of the American dream that scares me. First, you don’t exist. Then you’re invisible. Then you’re funny. Then you’re disgusting. Insult, my American friends will tell me, is a kind of acceptance. No instant dignity here.” This statement kind of sums up the way immigrants are treated.

The narrator’s husband comes to visit and is a completely different person than she remembered from india. Instead of the prudent and thrifty man he was there now he is out of his element. But he does seem to enjoy exploring the city. On page 33 the narrator shares “He looks disconcerted. He’s used to a different role. He’s the knowing, suspicious one in the family. He seems to be sulking, and finally he comes out with it. “You’ve said nothing about my new glasses.” I complimented him on the glasses, how chic and Western-executive they make him look. But I can’t help the other things, necessities until he learns the ropes. I handle the money, buy the tickets. I don’t know if this makes me unhappy.”

I see this as the woman kind of enjoying being able to play a bigger role than if she was in india. Here she is more important and he is confused and like a child. I can imagine how this must before for him. He is used to being in control of everything and now the roles are reversed. But he seems to accept it because he loves her. She takes him to see all the America has to offer and then she realizes on page 34 “There’s so much I already take for granted.” How much more true is this of us who are so used to the comforts we have every day.

To go along with this he seems to notice that his wife attracts other men. Maybe this isn’t true but he feels threatened because he doesn’t know what is going on. I tend to think that this would be how I would feel. I know that I like to be in control and never have to ask for assistance. We can see this everyday in watching the asian students around campus. Sometimes when they are in my classes they seem intimidated by the other students. But other times they seems to excel and thrive.

In my girlfriends case she has learned from her mother some very important lessons and I have too. Her mother has developed her own identity here and doesn’t care what others think about her.