Sunday, November 14, 2010
Maxine
The other day while working on my data sheet, I thought back to Gogol's life with Maxine. While I read those chapters, I honestly did not particularly hate Maxine as much as I hate Moushumi, but looking back, I wonder why she did not bother me as much. At the beginning of their relationship, she seems great: "Maxine has a way of focusing her attention on him completely" (129). The attentive indirect characterization of Maxine enhances Gogol's feeling of acceptance and I felt relived as it seemed like Gogol finally felt happy. The fascinated diction such as "focusing" and "completely" creates an immersed tone, which also emphasizes the joy Gogol feels at the beginning of their relationship. After Gogol and Maxine date for a while, Gogol learns that "[she] is open about her past" (137). Maxine's direct characterization as "open" foreshadows the controlling nature she will soon employ in their relationship. Things turn south when, after Ashoke's death, Maxine tells Gogol, "'You guys can't stay with your mother forever'" (182). The didactic diction such as "can't" creates a controlling tone, which indirectly characterizes her as inconsiderate. She, a grown woman, lives with her parents, and her obnoxious and hypocritical direction to Gogol bothers me so much. Why can't Gogol find happiness?
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After reading your post I went back to think about my opinion about Maxine and I realized that Maxine and Moushumi have more similarities then I first realized. The major and interesting difference that Lahiri creates between them revolves around who's perspective she uses to describe the character. Lahiri never includes a chapter from Maxine's perspective so we never get her opinion of the relationship which contrasts Moushumi. I believe that this creates part of the major difference in our opinions about Moushumi and Maxine.
ReplyDeleteI had never thought of Maxine's statement regarding her dissatisfaction with Gogol's care for his mother in that hypocritical way before, and I completely agree with your opinion. It seems extremely ironic for a grown woman living with her parents to judge her boyfriend for wanting to spend time with his mother after the death of his father. In fact, it indirectly characterizes Maxine as extremely rude and self-absorbed, traits I had not previously seen in her. I now lack the respect I had for Maxine, but I still give her more respect than Moushumi.
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