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Provoked 'And The Disappearance' By Jag Mundhra

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Some people believe in love at first sight, while others believe it takes time and effort to actually love someone. Yet arranged marriage is a bit different, In the arranged world, they say marriage comes first and love comes later. Sometimes it’s a perfect happily ever after and other times it’s a disaster. In both "The Disappearance" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Jag Mundhra's movie "Provoked" it shows how arranged marriage amongst other things is just a recipe for disaster, especially for the wives who plunge head first into the hole that is marriage. In the movie and short story, it concentrates on the clash of cultural values and the gender related double standard that comes from a cultural arranged marriage.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni …show more content…

Both women start off as an ordinary couple with a loving husband and a beautiful home yet eventually they feel trapped in a marriage they don’t want to be in. The are practically considered property to the man and he is to do whatever he pleases with her. When Deepak held the iron on Kiranjeet's Face, he says she is a worthless "cunt " she is less than anything and he can do whatever he wants . In "The disappearance " he gives her permission to go out and walk so that she can have "time for herself" (Divakaruni) He allows her to do such simple things and thinks of himself as a "honest man " a "good husband " He lets her choose the color, furniture and what places to go visit yet when it comes to things that aren't so materialistic both husbands forbid them, they don’t allow them to continue their education or dress in more westernized clothes or even get a job. The husband in "The disappearance " requested a smart wife, but when she asks to "go back to school " he says "NO" (Divakaruni) When Kiranjeet asked to continue her studies and fulfill her mother's dream about being a lawyer he beat her . They are both to follow their husband's wishes without any argument . These are the customs they are to follow …show more content…

Yet Kiranjeet Did not find freedom until she was locked up in jail. The wife from "The Disappearance '" did not find freedom until she ran away from everything, even her own son and faked her disappearance. She knew her son would be safe, but she haunted her husband for years to come when she took the jewelry from the bank and proved how big his pride really was. He knew she realized, but he couldn't tell anyone or he would be known as the man who can't control his own wife. She staged her own clever disappearance, but she made sure to let her husband that she left him. When Kiranjeet was locked up she got everything she ever wanted. Her cellmate was teaching her to perfect her English, she was making friends, she was learning to defend herself. Ten years of torture and Jail was the first time she was truly happy and

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