ENG 1120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Schadenfreude, Samosa, Deeper Understanding
Document Summary
Born in kenya, raised in tanzania (east african indian) The effects of diaspora on ethnic identity. Many indians were brought to tanzania to build railways during the german occupation. Anthology of short stories set in dar es salaam over a period of 30 years. The characters and their relationships reflect the history of dar es salaam. The people are steeped in indian cultures and customs. Stories explore political and social change in the city. Use of symbolism as a means of depicting characters. The ball is sliced in half, similar to the narrator feelings of being divided between his ancestral land in india, and dar es salaam where he has lived his whole life. Hussain (the narrator"s father-in-law) is a curmudgeonly, crotchety man, a sense of schadenfreude. Short tempered, insults the children after they lose their ball. Underlying cynicism and bitterness about the protagonist. The narrator has regrets about his marriage to baby.