Premium Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

In:

Submitted By Nikolic
Words 899
Pages 4
Written assignment 2: Essay - Dusk Over Atlantic Wharf

Arranged marriages are traditional in the Indian society and continue to account for the greater part of marriages in India. In the western world are arranged marriages not so widespread, and we do not see it so often. In the short story, ‘’Dusk Over Atlantic Wharf’’, by Susmita Bhattacharya, we hear about an Indian girl, Lata, who is in an arranged marriage. So the question is, can there really be love in an arranged marriage?
The story takes plays in Cardiff, which is the capital of Wales. In the beginning we are in Anuj’s and Lata’s apartment. The weather is grey and quite depressing: “The sky loomed large and grey over the chimney tops and television aerials. Lata missed the drama of colours played out in the sky. She observed it has been the same dull grey throughout the day.” (P. 1, L. 11-13). This description of the weather can also be used to tell us about Lata’s emotional state. She is having a tough time, where everything seems dark and grey, and she needs India’s drama of colors played out in the sky.
The main character in the text is Lata. Lata is originally from India, but has moved to Cardiff in Wales, because she has been given away to Anuj. She has only been in Cardiff for four months (P. 1, L. 30-31), so she is still struggling to fit into the new surroundings. Now she has to cook, clean and wash, which she normally had hired help for back in India. (P.1, L. 35-37) This also indicates that she did not come from a poor family. Lata is of course missing her old life in India. All her friends and family still live in India. This longing to India gets very clear during the movie in the cinema. She cannot focus on watching the movie, because it takes place in her old hometown and recall memories. (P. 3, L. 121-124) In general she has problems to adapt into her new life, and really enjoy it;

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf.

...Dusk over Atlantic Wharf. Summary of Dusk over Atlantic Wharf by Susmita Bhattacharya: The short story is about Anuj and Lata, you follow Lata in the story, whom has just moved from India to Britain. She has difficulty adjusting to her new environment and her husband Anuj. They are newlyweds and just getting to know each other. Lata doesn’t love Anuj, but is learning to do so. Lata had a very different life in India; she has never cooked and cleaned, they had people to do that back in India. She thinks a lot about her life in India and how her life is now, nearly comparing everything to her home in India. Lata and Anuj, go out to the cinema and watch a Bollywood movie, the whole time during the movie, Lata thinks more about the places in the movie, where she used to live, than actually watching the movie. Lata breaks down in tears after the movie. Characterize Lata and her relationship to Anuj: Lata has a high-class background in India, now she is an immigrant with nothing in Britain, she feels alone and doesn’t want to bother anyone, she is afraid of her accent and her clothes from India make her feel like an old lady comparing to what the British girls are wearing. She misses India and is trying to adjust. Lata doesn’t love Anuj, but she will learn to. She is adjusting to his company, but doesn’t try nearly as hard as Anuj dose to hers. It’s a difficult relationship with many differences between them. The ending: Lata breaks down. She feels...

Words: 486 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...Dusk over Atlantic Wharf 1. Write a summary of Dusk over Atlantic Wharf “Dusk over Atlantic Wharf” is about Lata, who is a young woman from India. She is forced into an arranged marriage with Anuj. They live in Cardiff, Wales in England. Anuj has lived there for six years, and Lata for four month. Lata misses her home in India, and she does not feel like home in Cardiff. Anuj and Lata are trying to make their marriage work. One night, they go to the movie, because Lata is bored, and they go to see a Bollywood-movie. While she is waiting for Anuj to buy some tickets, Lata sees a group of girls, dressed in different clothes than her. It makes her feel like she does not belong there. During the movie Lata dreams herself back to India, but when the movie ends, she is brought back to her life in an arranged marriage. 2. Characterize Lata and her relationship to Anuj Lata is an Indian girl, who has been forces into an arranged marriage. She is not happy in her marriage (yet), and having a hard time trying to find her place in England. She does not feel like home, she does not have any friends and she misses her home back in India. She does not want to talk Anuj about how she feels, and when he ask her if she is okay, she just brushes him aside. After the movie, she is crying in the car, and Anuj does not give her a hug or a kiss. It does not seems like they are have any deeply talks together. 3. Comment on the ending Anuj goes to buy tickets to an English film, but all the...

Words: 631 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...1. Write a summary of Dusk over Atlantic Wharf: The text Dusk over Atlantic Wharf is about an Indian woman, Lata who gets married off by her father, to a man who lives in wales in England. His name is Anuj and Lata does not know him well. Everything is new for her, in a new town where she does not know anybody. She got married to him because her father thought that she would get a better life in wales. She really misses her life in India, where she had her family and friends. It’s hard for her to get used to the new culture in the new country, but she is trying to. In the end of the story she is really sad because they went to see a movie, and the movie was filmed in her hometown so it brought back a lot of memories. But she ends up accepting her new life and that this is where her future is. 2. Characterize Lata and her relationship to Anuj: Lata is an Indian girl, who has just married Anuj, it was and arranged marriage, because she did not know him, and it was planned by her father. Her relationship with Anuj is not good, because she does not know him yet. Its hard for her, because he does not know what she is going through, she has just married a stranger and moved to a new country. She is missing India, her family and her friends. And its also very difficult for her to fit in, because it is different culture. (p.8, line 55) “Lata stared at Anuj, and then at her hennaed hands. It was true, she was his bride and wanted to love him desperately, but he made it so difficult...

Words: 779 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...Delprøve B Dusk over Atlantic Wharf 1. A summary of Dusk over Atlantic Wharf The short story, written by Susmita Bhattacharya , is about a young woman called Lata. She has been raised in India where she probably has lived all her life. She is in an arranged marriage with Anuj, who also has grown up in India. They live together in Wales, in a house in Cardiff. Anuj have lived there for six years, and he thought he was as British as the white people, but Lata has only lived there for 4 months. In the story Lata and Anuj decide to go to the cinema in Bay, to watch a movie. Anuj choose a Bollywood movie. Lata gets very delighted, because she can feel home again. During the movie she keeps telling Anuj, about the background and landscape. She does not concentrate about the action, only the background. In the end Lata realizes that there is nothing else to do than accepting her new situation and life. (155) 2. Characterization of Lata and her relationship to Anuj Lata has recently moved from India to Cardiff to live in a marriage with Anuj. It has been four months since she moved to Cardiff. It is hard for her to fit in and she feels homesick for India. ” Filled with strangers, not neighbors. She was too afraid to befriend them, not knowing if she would be welcomed, and not bothering to find out.” From this we know that Lata has not talked with her neighbors. She thinks of them as strangers and she does not seem to have the courage to make it change. Lata is afraid of them not...

Words: 830 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...Arranged marriages are traditional in the Indian society and continue to account for the greater part of marriages in India.(???) In the western world, arranged marriages are not so widespread, and we do not see it so often. In the short story, ‘’Dusk Over Atlantic Wharf’’, by Susmita Bhattacharya, we hear about the Indian girl, Lata, who is in an arranged marriage. So the question is, can there really be love in an arranged marriage? The main character in this story is Lata. She is originally from India, but has moved away, because she has been given away to Anuj.. The story takes plays in Cardiff, which is the capital of Wales. Lata has only been in Cardiff for four months. In the beginning of the story, we are in Anuj - and Lata’s apartment. The weather is grey and quite depressing: “The sky loomed large and grey over the chimney tops and television aerials. Lata missed the drama of colours played out in the sky. She observed it has been the same dull grey throughout the day .” This description of the weather can also tell the reader about Lata’s emotional state. She is having a tough time, where everything seems dark and grey, and she needs India’s drama of colors played out in the sky. Because of her being the external one, she is struggling to fit into the new surroundings. Back in India, she never did any cleaning, washing or anything like that, but with her new situation, this seems to be everyday work for her now. The fact, that Lata normally would have hired...

Words: 368 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...Dusk over Atlantic Wharf Characterization Lata Lata is a young woman, who had just moved to Wales with her new husband. She is young, probably in her early twenties, which is the age of when Indian women marry when so is arranged. Lata is a young and cheerful woman, who is missing her own culture. She has only been living in Cardiff for 2 months and she is already tired of where she is living. The weather doesn’t suit her while she is used to living under bright clouds and the burning sun. She misses her friends and family while she is trying to convince herself that her father was right for choosing where she lived and with whom she is living with. Although she comes from a rather wealthy family, her father thought that is was the best for her to go to the UK. Her family had money for maids, they had money for washing their clothes and they also had money for something rather expensive, sending their children to college. India is a very poor country and very few have the funds to do so. That was one of the main reasons why Lata was so confused and did not understand the decision her father made. But even though her father had never set a foot outside of India, he believed that the ideal option for her was to move to Wales. The profession of her husband was never told in the short story, so there is no way of knowing whether he is wealthy or not. In the culture of India it is very normal for the parents to arrange with whom their child is marrying. Because of that, it...

Words: 1143 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...Dusk over Atlantic Wharf Nowadays a lot of media talks about integration and how immigrants handles to change from one culture to another. The reasons for emigration can be many things. For an example Afghanistan. Afghanistan is plagued by war. A lot of people from Afghanistan tries to emigrate from Afghanistan to the western countries, so they might get a better life. But not all emigrating people emigrates because of war. Some people does it because of love and marriage. Other people does it because their family told the to. This very example happens in Dusk over Atlantic Wharf. Lata is an Indian woman, who comes from India. She emigrates from India to Wales to get married with Anuj. The Marriage is not just some ordinary marriage with love, moving together and then married by love. This marriage is arranged by the couples families. This tells that Latas father or mother might be the only one who have met Anuj and she have never met Anuj. If you do not know a person it is even harder to love them. But Latas father told her that he would the best for her and that she would learn to love him. He also tells her that she will get a very good future if she marries Anuj. Lata has only lived in Cardiff for 4 months and already finds the day dull. Therefor, Anuj decides to take her to the cinema. Anuj has found a Bollywood movie. On the way to the cinema Lata is getting scared by all the culture differences between Wales and India. Some girls outside a club is not dressed up...

Words: 702 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...Dusk Over Atlantic Wharf The main theme of the story is culture adjustment, since in the story Lata, the main character, can’t get adjusted to the new culture in Wales, she only wants to do things that are familiar to her, and when she does get out, she gets overwhelmed by it, the title could also refer to this cause when she goes to Atlantic Wharf she truly realises how different the two cultures are, and longs after her home. Other themes of the story could be; arranged marriage and relationship problems, since Lata have become married to Anuj by arrangement of her father, and how they are having a tough time agreeing with each other since they both accustomed to two different cultures, Lata is of course accustomed to the Indian culture since she have lived there for her entire life, and Anuj, having lived in Wales for 6 years, has adopted the Welsh culture. Lata is a young woman probably in her 20s; at least I suspect she is due to the behaviour/thoughts she has and the fact that she has just gotten married to Anuj. She was raised in India and has lived there till she recently moved to Wales to get married to Anuj. She is not very fond of the British culture, which is seen in the story; she doesn’t bother to befriend the neighbours, and immediately thinks about how she almost knew everyone living around her in India. Also she turns down Anuj’s offer to her about eating at a Welsh restaurant. In Atlantic Wharf Lata truly realises how different the two cultures are, and it...

Words: 1375 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

The Dusk over the Atlantic Wharf

...Summary: “Dusk over Atlantic Wharf”, written by Susmita Bhattacharya, is about a young woman from India called Lata, and here husband, by arranged marriage, Anuj. They are both born in India, but now they live in a house in Cardiff, Wales in England. Anuj has lived there for six years, and Lata for one year and five months. Lata is not felling familiar in her new town, she misses her home in India, and she and Anuj are trying to make their marriage work. The story begins when Lata finds the day boring and wants to do something else. Anuj takes her to see a Bollywood-film. While waiting for Anuj to buy the tickets, Lata sees some young girls, dressed different then her self, and she fells like she doesn’t belong. The Bollywood-film take place in Latas old town in India, and she is completely engrossed the whole movie. But when the movie ends, Lata is brought back to the reality of her new life, and she gets upset. Analysis (characters, setting, narrator, themes): Lata: She is i young girl, born in India, who has moved to England, Wales, one year ago, to marry Anuj, by arranged marriage. She is insecure about her new life with Anuj, in a world that is totally different then the one she was used to. Lata is a clever girl, but she is very humble towards her husband, because she really wants him to like her. Yet she does not love him, but she is trying. Anuj: He is also born in India, he moved to England five years ago. He is a calm and affectionate husband, but...

Words: 357 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf

...''Dusk over Atlantic Wharf'' is a short story about the indian woman Lata and her husband Anuj, Lata recently moved in with Anuj in Cardiff, Wales, because her father thought it would be a wise decicion for her to get married with Anuj. Lata and Anuj decides to go to the movie theather, where they watch a bollywood movie, that is filmed in the home town of Lata, Dubai. When Lata and Anuj gets in the car and are ready to drive home, Lata bursts into tears. The relationship between Lata and Anuj, Was arranged by Lata's father, who thought it would be a ''Good future'' for Lata. Because of that it is not a relationship of love, and it is not involving a lot of feelings, Anuj has been living in Cardif for 6 years, and Lata has only been there for 4 months. Anuj is trying desperately to make sure that Lata gets settled in Cardiff and forgets her old life, for example when Lata brings up a memory from when she was back in India, Anuj replies:'' This is your home now. Cardiff is home. That is India, your parents' home. You must adjust as soon as you can, my dear. Otherwise things will be more difficult for you, isn't it?''. Anuj wants Lata to feel good about being in Cardiff and not ''her parents' home'', he wants her to start a new and happy life with him. But Lata is clearly showing that she misses her home, ''The sky loomed large and grey over the chimney tops and television aerials. Lata missed the drama of colours played out in the sky.'' Lata is feeling uncomfortable when going...

Words: 713 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf Summary

...Dusk over Atlantic Wharf 1. Summary of Dusk over Atlantic Wharf: Dusk Over Atlantic Wharf, is a short story about a young Indian couple named Anuj and Lata, who lives in Cardiff in Wales. Anuj has been living in Cardiff for Six years, and his wife, Lata, have just arrived to Cardiff for few months ago. The beginning of the story takes place in their apartment, where we meet the two main characters Anuj and Lata. Anuj are laying on the carpet, when Lata asked him to visit a new Indian restaurant so they can do something together. He decides that they should go out, and see a film. The film is filmed in Lata´s home town. She gets so exited when she sees the streets of her childhood, that she forget to see what actually was happening in the film. She starts to comment about the places and stores in the film, which annoys Anuj. When they walk over the road to their car, after the film is over, Lata gets sad and begin to cry because the film reminds her about how much she miss India and all her good memories with her family and friends. 2. Lata and her relationship to Anuj: The relationship between Anuj and Lata is complicated, because they don´t have known each other for more than a few months. It´s an arranged marriage, which is quiet normal in the Indian culture. They don’t know each other well, but they both hopes, that someday they will fall in love with each other. Lata is missing her home town in India, because her friends and family is back in India. I get the...

Words: 333 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Wharf by Susmita Bhattacharya, 2006

...Dusk over Atlantic Wharf by Susmita Bhattacharya, 2006 “IT’S SUCH A DULL DAY. Let’s do something exciting,” Lata switched off the television and looked at Anuj. He was lying on the carpet, solving the Times crossword. "What do you want to do?” he asked absently. “Twenty – one across… Strong and wiry copper arresting teacher in retirement.” “I don’t know… let’s go out for dinner or something.” Lata’s eyes brightened. A new Indian restaurant had opened in Mermaid’s Quay. She had read the review in the Western Mail and it was not the usual chicken tikka and curry, but authentic recipes from the Malabar Coast. “Only if we don’t eat Balti,” Anuj chewed on his pencil. “Want to try Welsh? The Armless Dragon is good. Had a meal there once with the department.” “No. There’s food in the fridge.” She walked to the window. The sky loomed large and grey over the chimney tops and television aerials. Lata missed the drama of colours played out in the sky. She observed it had been the same dull grey throughout the day. Just like those bed sheets back home — after they came back from the dhobi. Ma had been livid. She had screamed at the poor man, threatening never to give him linen to be washed again. Afraid of losing this job, the dhobi had promised to wash Ma’s linen free of cost for a whole month. Lata smiled at the memory, and gazed out. She scanned the street, hoping to find some movement. Maybe catch a glimpse of the people who lived on her street. The narrow terraced houses...

Words: 2001 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Dusk over Atlantic

...Dusk over atlantic wharf (section b) Summary: The story ”Dusk over Atlantic wharf” are about an Indian girl his name is Lata, who lives in Cardiff. However, she is not happy on being in Wales as she has only lived there with her husband Anuj for about two months. As the story begins, she finds the day dull. Thus, Anuj takes her to the cinema in order to watch a Bollywood film. There, she is somewhat confronted with Welsh culture as she spots both young Welsh girls and a diverse Welsh population in the cinema hall. As Lata and Anuj watch the movie, the division between the couple becomes increased. She is quite attentive when she discovers places within the film which she knows from her life in India. However, Anuj does not find this thrilling. When the couple leaves the cinema, Lata finally bursts into tears as she realizes that Cardiff is now her new home. Characterization of Lata and her relationship with Anuj: When one faces an unfamiliar culture, one may become unconscious about one’s appearance and future life. The description above somehow indicates what Lata is going through when facing her new existence. “She walked to the window. The sky loomed large and grey over the chimney tops and television aerials. Lata missed the drama of colors played out in the sky. She observed it had been the same dull grey throughout the day. Just like the bed sheets back home after they had. The ending: The story ends in the parking lot in front of the cinema, where Lata is crying...

Words: 318 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Analysis and Interpretation of Susmita Bhattacharya's Short Story "Dusk over Atlantic Warf"

...Analysis and interpretation of Susmita Bhattacharya's short story "Dusk over Atlantic Warf" The short story “Dusk Over Atlantic Warf” is written by Sismita bhattacharya in 2006. The Story “Dusk Over Atlantic Warf” takes place in Cardiff the capital of Wales, which the narrator informs us about. The story is taking place in the present time, because movie theaters, nightclubs, high school, Hollywood movies and Jennifer Lopez are mentioned in the text. The social environment in the text, is much as it is today in Cardiff, with nightclubs and movie theaters. The text start in Medias res, and the narrator is from a reliable third person narrative. The story is about Lata and her husband Anuj. Lata is married off by her father, to an Indian man named Anuj. The Indian couple is living in Cardiff. Anuj has lived in Great Britain for six years and Lata has been in Great Britain for 4 months. One day she is looking out of the window and thinking about her neighbors. She finds the day dull and she want to do something exciting. Lata and Anuj were going to the Atlantic Wharf theatre and watching a Bollywood movie. Lata is fascinated of the movie because it is an Indian movie and therefor recorded in India. Instead of watching the movie, Lata is telling about the things in the background. After the movie she is sad and crying. Anuj is overwhelmed and ask her if she is alright. She said that she is alright and wants to go home. Lata is the main character in the short story....

Words: 963 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Dusk over Atlantic Warf

...Dusk over Atlantic Warf. 1: Summary. Lata and Anuj is married and lives in Cardiff. Both of them are from India. Anuj has lived there for six years and Lata has been in England for 4 months. She looks out the window and think about its neighbors. She is afraid to talk to them. At the beginning of the text, they discuss what to do tonight. They were on their way to Atlantic Wharf theater and watch a Bollywood movie. Lata is fascinated by the movie because it's about India, and she misses her home so much. After the film, she is sad and crying. Anuj is overwhelmed and ask her if she's okay. She said that she is fine and wants to go home. She needs to accept his new way of life. 2: Characterization of Lata and her relationship with Anuj. When one faces an unfamiliar culture, one may become unconscious about one’s appearance and future life. The description above somehow indicates what Lata is going through when facing her new existence; “She walked to the window. The sky loomed large and grey over the chimney tops and television aerials. Lata missed the drama of colours played out in the sky. She observed it had been the same dull grey throughout the day. Just like the bed sheets back home - after they had come back from dhobi”. From this quote, one gets the impression that the Welsh weather acts like some kind of metaphor. Thus, it gives the reader an insight in Lata´s feelings and uncertainness about her new life. She is neither used to being a Welsh wife, nor...

Words: 915 - Pages: 4