Williamson 1 Betsalel Williamson ENG 115-BC41 Ms.

Keltz Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The meaning and value of clothes in Clothes

The story begins with Mita in her sari. A traditional Indian girl who is filled with apprehension. She is about to meet and marry a man she never met. Mrs. Sumita Sen ... rustle[s] uneasily in [her] mouth like a stiff satin thats never been worn (par. 15). Mita gets married to Somesh and transitions from India to live with her new husband in California, but she carries the baggage of her many saris. Living with her new husband she learns to love his tactful ways in which he mixes old culture with the new culture. Somesh Sen is both gentle and bold. He encourages her to step into a new American identity by buying her new clothes. This allows her imagination to envision a new lifestyle through her new American outfits. As she transitions from a sari, to jeans and a t-shirt (par. 34), a blouse and long skirt (par. 39), and then a nightie (par. 44) she starts to believe that she can be break away from her old traditions. With her new clothes she can go to college, work beside her husband in the 7-11, be American. Mita can have her own life. Her journey is tragically cut short when the Somesh dies in a burglary at the 7-11. She once again is placed back into a sari which is seductive-soft (par. 58). Mita is faced with the choice. To be a widow forever serving tea to to her in-laws and veiling her head, or make it on her own. [H]er eyes apprehensive yet steady. She wears a blouse and skirt the color of almonds (par. 64). She is ready to take the leap into a new world despite the upcoming remonstrations. As they say the clothes clearly make the man. Throughout the story Mitas clothes symbolize her journey into independence. Divakruni (the author) clearly believes that what someone chooses to wear is more than just cloth. The way we dress represents her heritage. It is part of her identity. (In the story she mentions in addition to the outfit is the colors that represent the emotions that we feel. The combination of color and outfit can allow us to wear our thoughts on our sleeves.)

Williamson 2 Works Cited Divakaruni, Chitra B. Clothes. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. 532-41. Print.