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
world or the people around them. For instance, Everyday Use by Alice Walker revolves around the idea that Dee’s culture was a stark contrast to her family’s, and how much she changed because of it. Dee changed her name to Wangero, saying, “I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me” (62). This indicates how much she despised her upbringing and shows her view of her family. Dee ends up assimilating to a new culture to fit her own individual needs, by dressing, acting, and living differently than her family. However, Maggie has a cultural perspective that is unalike than that of Dee’s. She doesn’t view objects as items of display or pieces of art. Not only that, Maggie expects to have nothing ever reserved for her, signified by her actions around Dee. When Dee insisted on having the old quilts for herself, Maggie accepted it. “This was the way she knew God to work” (65). It almost seems like that Dee is the one who deserves all the possessions and valuables of the family; her culture has been established and she thinks she is entitled to see people based on how she was raised and the opportunities given to her. There are many factors that contribute to a person’s strong cultural perspective of the world.
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
world. For some, the impact of culture on one’s perception of the world and others reaches beyond just a single person. Santha Rama Rau wrote a memoir called By Any Other Name that explains her experiences at an Anglo-Indian school with her sister, Premila. The parts of their lives intertwines with life at the school. “I was very sleepy after lunch, because at home we always took a siesta” (37). One can look at this scenario and realize that even as something as simple as a schedule is a prevalent aspect in cultural viewpoints. This shows that Santha isn’t adjusted to changes and prefers to do the things her culture tells her to do. Also, Premila is older than Santha and comprehends the “social structure” involved at her school. At the end of the story, the two girls leave the school because of cultural conflict. “She said it was because Indians cheat…So I don’t think we should go back to that school” (39). After being accused by her teacher, Premila defends her Indian culture, which affects her little sister, even if Santha might not fully grasp the meaning of the incident. People try to change each other all the time, but they see the world their own way by the standards of culture. As you can see, there is a general commonality among these stories. These sisters can relate to each other: whether you are involved with family or defending a culture, cultural standpoints are one the most important aspects of everyday life. The ways they were fostered influences their future actions. Although people see each other and the world in surprisingly different ways, they all reach conclusions based on their beliefs. They value certain aspects of everyday life that is a part of them and their community. The next time you see somebody, remind yourself that your culture plays a significant function in the system of your perspectives towards the world around you.