Comparing Bharati Mukherjee's Two Ways To Belong In America

In a person’s head are thoughts unique to him or her, incomprehensible to others, that are cohesive to their specific mindset. Like the nucleus of a cell, the mind of an individual is the hub of their own universe, brimming with information and memories that fully define their cultural lens – how they perceive and respond to the world around them. Culture substantially informs the way one views the world and others. This is proven true by an assortment of short stories and personal essays, in which the authors or their characters express how they can relate to the central idea of having a culture that truly distinguishes them and their actions. The attitudes toward particular cultures plays an important role in someone’s view of the
In Two Ways to Belong in America, by Bharati Mukherjee, two immigrants have similar yet separate stances on certain subjects. Both are sisters raised in the same environment of their homeland, India. Before they left, they “expressed identical views on politics, social issues, love and marriage in the same Calcutta convent-school accent” (70). But their understandings became quite the opposite after they went to America. Bharati and Mira were on different sides of the issue over the status of immigrants. Mira in particular stands out. She did not take the easy path living in America and chose to maintain her Indian citizenship as a legal immigrant. Later on, Mira felt that America owed her something, since she obeyed all the rules and valued her work. Furthermore, Mira is dedicated to her cultural heritage. “I feel some kind irrational attachment to India that I don’t to America” (71). Her view of the world is constructed by the intricate pieces of her life in India. As an immigrant, Mira wanted to retain her identity by rejecting governmental constraints and being committed to her set of principles, unlike Bharati. Mira’s culture had a powerful impact on her view of the