A Study on Cross Cultural Analysis of the Mistress of the Spices
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Abstract
Divakaruni exposes the true flaws in the patriarchal Indian society that favors boys over girls. Being born with a swarthy skin is another curse for girls, and Indians also murder girls before or at birth. It is evident that while Indians condemn other civilizations for their prejudice against people of color, they also exhibit color bias toward their own people. The word "fair" is used for the girls in all Indian matrimonial ads. Regarding her fight against color discrimination in India, Usha Hariprasad adds that: "Changing attitudes and fighting mindsets is no easy task in a society where fairness is equated with being attractive". During her early years, Tilo also encounters prejudices based on gender and race. It is clear from summarizing The Mistress of Spices that the book has several situations and events that reflect both cultural and international characteristics. The main character, Tilo, who immigrated to America from India, reflects the two-part immigrant psyche of the populace. While the second portion depicts the lives of the migrated people, confronting the original culture, the first section deals with the life and culture of the home country. As a result, Chitra Divakaruni concentrates on the challenges faced by immigrant women as they adjust to a new culture.
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