Love and Ignorance

    A good short story must have a captivating plot or storyline, good characterization, and vivid imagery, among other things, to be successful and draw any reader in. Every short story has a similar recipe for success and Jhumpa Lahiri follows this recipe in "A Temporary Matter" quite well. The characterization, point of view, and imagery in this short story is phenomenal and intrigues the reader quickly. This story Lahiri has crafted a unique tale involving love, denial, and ignorance that is something one won't forget.
    The main characters in this story, Shoba and Shukumar, are young and married but deeply unhappy. After giving birth to a stillborn, their marriage has been miserable and the two simply avoid each other daily. The characterization that Lahiri includes about each of them is pivotal to the development of the story because the reader is able to see the underlying issues in the relationship and understand why the couple is in the place they are after the pregnancy. Shoba is a busy woman who takes pride in her work, however, she allows this and exercise among other tasks to consume her after giving birth. She neglects to converse with her husband and avoids him at all costs, they say a couples of sentences to each other each day.In addition, it is revealed that Shoba is a planner and organizer which plays a large role in the story line. She created and designed a nursery for their baby ahead of time and this lead to resentment for herself and Shukumar because of the stillborn. On the other hand, Shukumar has dropped out of graduate school for the time being and stays home all day doing nothing because he is so upset; sometimes, he doesn't even bother to brush his teeth or get dressed. He is clearly depressed and has no motivation in life after the stillbirth. This characterization is key in the development of the story because it guides the reader while the plot continues and becomes more intriguing.
    The point of view in this short story is very important to how the reader views and understands the plot and events that take place. If this was told from the perspective of Shoba, it would be completely different and the reader would feel the opposite emotions towards the characters. The reader finds out later in the story that Shoba has been planning her departure from her marriage, however, it seems as though the marriage is being saved up until this is revealed. This irony is due to the story being told more from the perspective of Shukumar. He believes that with the lights out, his wife is able to connect to him again and that their marriage can be salvaged, however, she is only leading him on in these feelings. All along, Shoba knows that she is going to leave Shukumar and is simply preparing herself and making sure that she is making the correct decision in doing so. If told from her perspective, the story would be about a women preparing to leave her lazy and hopeless husband and toying with his emotions to lead him on, quite a different plot.
    Lahiri also uses imagery as a vital addition to the success of this short story, allowing the scenes in darkness to be more intense and revealing of the characters, especially in regards to what they are thinking and feeling. When reading about the power going out and the actions that occur between Shoba and Shukumar, the reader is able to view in the purest sense the relationship between this married couple. Lahiri describes the scenes so well that the reader can easily picture exactly what is happening and the precise expressions on each of the character's faces. This vivid description of the events and conversations taking place also builds the idea that everything between the couple will work out to their mutual benefit which is not exactly what happens. This makes the story and plot that much stronger and more powerful for the reader as everything slowly unravels.
    "A Temporary Matter" is a superb short story that is skillfully crafted and has a unique and intriguing plot. Lahiri has a clear talent for stories with great attention to detail and a unique perspective of writing. With such an uncommon topic of a stillborn birth and the married couple affected by it, this story is automatically interesting for many people; the story's well-written plot and characterization are simply bonuses for the reader. It is rare to find a piece of literature that is both well-written and captivating, however, "A Temporary Matter" is just that.