Colonization In Salman Rushdie's 'The Courter'
Colonization caused a fall in many cultures leading to a superiority complex amongst English cultures against others. As shown in Salman Rushdie’s “The Courter”:
“‘Your husband,’ said the first Beatle, showing his teeth in a frightening way, and raising his voice on notch, ‘damaged the goods. Do you hear me, Queenie? He damaged the fucking goods.’ ‘Mistaken identity, fleas,’ said Certainly-Mary. ‘Many Indian residents in Waverley House. We are decent ladies; fleas’” (Rushdie, 1274)
Though the women claim to not be associated with the Indians in the Waverley House, the Beatle boys ignored them because of their mindset of superiority. The Beatle boys began to use negative connotations towards their culture by insulting the ladies; calling them …show more content…
Each family has their differences with culture. Maxine’s parents, Gerald and Lydia, give freedom to their daughter to live with unkempt habits representing freedom of America. Moushumi’s affair represents the lack of trust Americans have with “family”. Ruth symbolizes the American tradition of dating whomever someone has interest: Gogol did not know much Ruth, but in the heat of the moment started to date her. Gogol, being Indian-American, denotes the culture clash. As Gogol is socializing with other families he realizes what he is unable to do around his own family:
“At times, as the laughter at Gerald and Lydia’s table swells, and another bottle of wine is opened, and Gogol raises his glass to be filled yet again, he is conscious of the fact that his immersion in Maxine’s family is a betrayal of his own” (Lahiri, 141).
Gogol immerses himself with American culture while accepting his parent’s obvious disapproval. He is a mediator between Indian and American culture, as his name suggests. Gogol symbolizes Russia on the world map as it is between India and America. The name, “Gogol” even originated from the famous Russian author Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol. Therefore Gogol’s purpose throughout the novel was to define the differences between each culture. Gogol is essential for defining why both cultures cannot
“‘Your husband,’ said the first Beatle, showing his teeth in a frightening way, and raising his voice on notch, ‘damaged the goods. Do you hear me, Queenie? He damaged the fucking goods.’ ‘Mistaken identity, fleas,’ said Certainly-Mary. ‘Many Indian residents in Waverley House. We are decent ladies; fleas’” (Rushdie, 1274)
Though the women claim to not be associated with the Indians in the Waverley House, the Beatle boys ignored them because of their mindset of superiority. The Beatle boys began to use negative connotations towards their culture by insulting the ladies; calling them …show more content…
Each family has their differences with culture. Maxine’s parents, Gerald and Lydia, give freedom to their daughter to live with unkempt habits representing freedom of America. Moushumi’s affair represents the lack of trust Americans have with “family”. Ruth symbolizes the American tradition of dating whomever someone has interest: Gogol did not know much Ruth, but in the heat of the moment started to date her. Gogol, being Indian-American, denotes the culture clash. As Gogol is socializing with other families he realizes what he is unable to do around his own family:
“At times, as the laughter at Gerald and Lydia’s table swells, and another bottle of wine is opened, and Gogol raises his glass to be filled yet again, he is conscious of the fact that his immersion in Maxine’s family is a betrayal of his own” (Lahiri, 141).
Gogol immerses himself with American culture while accepting his parent’s obvious disapproval. He is a mediator between Indian and American culture, as his name suggests. Gogol symbolizes Russia on the world map as it is between India and America. The name, “Gogol” even originated from the famous Russian author Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol. Therefore Gogol’s purpose throughout the novel was to define the differences between each culture. Gogol is essential for defining why both cultures cannot