Moushumi

Today in class, we discussed Moushumi's role in chapter 10.  We talked about Lahiri's main characterization of her as well as the reason why chapter 10 focused solely on Moushumi.  After I finished chapter 9, Moushumi made me so angry.  I hated her, and as I dove into chapter 10 I felt prepared to hate her even more.  However, at their anniversary dinner, Moushumi seems highly uncomfortable: "She feels a lump form in her throat, tears filming her eyes" (252).  I agree that both Gogol and Moushumi seem at fault for their unhappy marriage, and I do dislike Moushumi more than Gogol, but I cannot help but notice how often she focuses on small details or cries over trivial reasons in this chapter.  One morning before work, Moushumi wakes up early: "Being out at this hour already feels like an accomplishment" (254).  Again, her feeling of fulfillment at completing such a simple task worries me and enhances my belief of her clinical depression.  Early one morning, she wakes up and notices rain puddles in the apartment: "The sight of it makes her weep" (266).  She seems overly emotional and although I hate her affair with Dimitri, I think her depression leads to some of her awful actions.  Her suspected depression makes me hate her less and even though I still sympathize with Gogol, I think he should notice that his wife seems unhappy and take more actions to help the suffering Moushumi.