A Wife's Story by Bharati Mukherjee

From: Shakila B.

1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or character's?
Patels = It is a last name for a large amount of Indians.
Saree = An outer garment worn chiefly by women of India and Pakistan, consisting of a length of lightweight cloth with one end wrapped about the waist to form a skirt and the other draped over the shoulder or covering the head. ( Dictionary.com)
Lorries = Hindu word for trucks and buses.
Mangalsutra = A marriage necklace. It is like the symbol of the wedding band and wedding ring which means you are married.

The characters in the story are: Panna, Imre, Charity Chin, and Panna's Husband. Panna an Indian women who got a Small scholarship came to NYC and left behind her home, husband, to get a Ph.D. in special ed. As she is in NYC she meets Imre who she finds attractive. Imre is her friend, he's a refugee from Budapest. Charity Chin is her roommate and also the one she observes on love, lust and many different sex partners. Panna's husband lives in Bombay and is the vice president of Lakshmi Cotton Mills. Later on in the story he comes to visit her in NYC.

2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to Include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.

The main idea in "A Wife's Story" is that it was difficult for panna to leave her house, husband, and country for education in New York. As she lived in New York she experiences things that she never even once dreamt about. She learned and became knowledgeable. According to Bharati Mukherjee, "If I hadn't left home, I'd never have heard of the Wuchang Uprising. I've broadened my horizons." Panna is married and when her husband comes to visit her in NYC they go out and explore and enjoy their time together. They also enjoy the privacy, since panna's roommate went upstate, it left the apartment all to panna and her husband. "This is more privacy than we ever had in India. No parent's, no servants, to keep us modest.' As they are enjoying themselves Panna's husband mentions to her how all the guys look at her when they are out and he does not like it at all. he also mentions that he wants to take her back home. She says she cant and he gets upset.

3) Formulate a question for discussion. the question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.

The question I would like to formulate for discussion is: Why doesn't Panna's husband move to NYC since he misses her so much? Also is Panna having an affair with Imre? If she is Why doesn't she just file for divorce and get with Imre and the American way of life?