Mango Season

GROUP MEMBERS V.YASOTHA S.KALIYANI FAKHRUL ZAKI BIN ZAINUN E.THILAGAVATHY D.SUMATHI D. PURNIMAH P.MEENA S.VICNESWAREE M.KALAIIVAANI J.KASTHURI P.KASTHURI FELICIA ONG

MANGO SEASON PRESENTERS,

PISMP GSTT TESL

QUESTION 1 (Sasi & Prema) What is the significance of the title 'The Mango Season'? Significant of the title is it is happiness and sorrows in this story which is represent at the mango which is has sweet and sour. So it is the same in the protagonist that is in Priya's life is double-sided; either she must fall to win the heart of her family or rise to win the heart of Nick, the American boy.

How about the title of the prologue, “Happiness is a Mango”? The title prologue to 'Happiness is a Mango' refers to Priya's memory when she was child. Eg: - the summer was a all about mangoes, rich, lush, ripe sweet mangoes with juice that would dribble down to her chin, hands & neck :- indeed growing up, Priya and her brother Nate called mangoes 'happiness' because young age without responsibilities gives them a period of happiness.

Why does Amulya Malladi constantly refer to mangoes, and how does this symbol resonate within the novel as a whole? The mango symbol coincides with the monsoons and the wedding season in India. This symbol represents passion, heat, emotion and happiness. In Priya's life, she goes through the same situation over her inability to blend her two opposite world. She instantly thrown into chaos as she must reconcile her passion and her parent's wishes and finally she goes by the dictates of her heart and gets her father's consent. So, the author constantly refer to mangoes because the protagonist in this novel faced trouble in the situation in which she must ultimately decide between dogmatic tradition and heartfelt emotion when choose her life, as well she also can recall her childhood memories which give her the period of happiness. This symbol resonate the novel as Priya go through two opposite world/situation in her life similar to the mango fruit which tastes sweet and sour.

QUESTION 2 (Zaki & Yasotha) How is the constant reference to food significant to the unfolding of the story? food is an integral part of Indian society wanted to show the kitchen dynamics and politics as well the lines between reality and fantasy blur and the end result is a beautifully written story

What does the inclusion of recipes add to the "flavor" of the book?

the inclusion of recipes in the novel before every chapter add 'flavor' to the book because recipes has many ingredients that contribute to the flavor, the writer put recipe because the complete ingredients can make the food taste good but if not it will vice versa. It is show that the complete ingredient of plot in the story make the whole story feel good and could end in happy ending

QUESTION 3 (Kasthuri & Thillaga) In which ways does Priya embrace America upon her arrival there? Which cultural traditions does she shun?

ANSWER Before Priya went to America, for her American people would have sex before marriage ,eat all kind of food , very socializing with others and independent. However, she was engaged Nick without inform her family and stay together before marriage with Nick. Her family want to stick on their culture and tradition but Priya was chose Nick as her life partner.

QUESTION 4 (Sumathi & Kasthuri) Contrast Priya’s relationship to her mother with those she has with her father and brother. Why do you think she finds it easier to relate to the males in her family? What sets Priya and her mother at odds?

ANSWER Priya versus Mother Priya gives more important to hygiene rather than her mother. For evidence: “While in the market, my mother even try making me eat a piece of dirty mango. A piece touched by the dirty merchant who looked like he haven’t bathed in a few days. I was repulsed.” Priya more likes to be fashionable. But her mother wants Priya to be looked as typical Indian girl look nice with long oil hair with fresh jasmine flower. Priya prefer with love marriage rather than her mother’s choice arrange marriage. Her mother wants to be a decision maker of Priya’s marriage life by bride seeing ceremony.

Priya versus Mother Priya gives more important to hygiene rather than her mother. For evidence: “While in the market, my mother even try making me eat a piece of dirty mango. A piece touched by the dirty merchant who looked like he haven’t bathed in a few days. I was repulsed.” Priya more likes to be fashionable. But her mother wants Priya to be looked as typical Indian girl look nice with long oil hair with fresh jasmine flower. Priya prefer with love marriage rather than her mother’s choice arrange marriage. Her mother wants to be a decision maker of Priya’s marriage life by bride seeing ceremony.

Priya versus Father Priya’s father had a great love for her He always concern of Priya that she stay out of troubles Priya felt more comfortable with her father to share her feelings. (about Nick)

Priya versus Brother Natarajan Same young generation - siblings Nate able to understand Priya’s feeling very well. Nate would accept whatever Priya did because of the trust and family bondage. Same thinking or choice of life. Evidence: “My brother Nate was going through the Brahmin ritual. Nate doesn’t even want to go through with the whole Brahmin tradition.”

QUESTION 5 (Meena & Kaliyani) Do you think that Priya should have told her family about her engagement right away, perhaps even before her arrival in India? Why doesn’t she? What larger problems does her reluctance to discuss her romance indicate about Priya’s relationship with her family?

ANSWER Yes Generation Gap -Her family couldn’t understand her feelings because of the generation gap between Priya and her family. (p 135- line 9) Example - In typical Indian culture a girl shouldn’t wear revealing clothing. -Priya preferred to wear a pair of shorts to ward off the tremendous heat (p 8) -The younger generation should respect the elders and be obedient for them. - When Thatha resisted her decision to marry Nick, she bravely said that she would leave the house at that time. -She fought with her mother occasionally. So Priya Knows and understand well about her family that they will not accept her relationship with Nick.

Typical Indian family -Priya’s grandfather is a typical narrow minded Indian. (p35 -line 13) -Every family member in her family follows his wish. - ....Thatha was not such a chauvinist, or so old fashioned... (p 54line 24) - Her family not allowed anybody from their family to marry a person from other cast. -Even thought Priya well know that but she still engage with a foreigner (Nick) Culture -Cohabitation is prohibited in typical Indian culture. -Priya cohabits with Nick which is wrong and cannot do in Indian culture. -...i was living in sin with the foreigner I intended to marry..... (p 17line 4) -Before Priya move to foreign her family advised her to not having friendship and living together with foreigners. - In Indian marriage the women or even man cannot choose their own life partner, arrange marriage is given important by the in Indian culture.

QUESTION 6 (Felicia & Vicky) What is your impression of Nick through Priya’s rendering of him via her memories and their e-mail correspondence? What characteristics are appealing about him? Loving, can take care of her and loves her very much When Nick dropped me off at the international terminal he made sure I had my papers and passport. Careful, caring Accountant Nick! (pg3) I miss you. The house feels empty without you. I slept on your side of the bed last night. I think I’m getting sappy in my old age. (pg18) Read Nick’s e-mail on pg102 & 225 But there’s nothing to hide… I mean he’s a good man. He loves me, he takes very good care of me. (pg212)

Responsible, wanted to follow her to India and meet her family He wanted to come with me to India. “To meet your family, see your country,” he had said and I gave him a look reserved for the retarded. (pg3) And he wanted to be here, he didn’t want to do it this way. I want you to know this is on me. I made the mistake. (pg212) Does not understand Indian language and culture but tries I had lost count of the times I’d translate something to Nick and he’d sit there with a wrinkle on his forehead, unable to comprehend the Indianness of what I was telling him. But I needed more from a relationship than the understanding of a joke or an Indian cliché. I needed Nick. (pg148) Considerate, even though he lives in San Francisco and the wedding will take place there, he still wants to invite Priya’s family and become closer to them

Close to his family, and they accept Priya As it was, Nick’s family was wonderful. Whenever we went to visit them in Memphis, they were all hugs and acceptance. (pg70) A good candidate for Priya to marry, if he wasn’t an American He was well educated, came from a good family, made good money – if my parents were to arrange my marriage, it would be to someone like him, only he would be Indian and a Telugu Brahmin. (pg31) Is not a racist and can stand up for his own opinions “And how do you know this?” I asked, unable to completely submerge my instinct to get on my antiracism soapbox. Nick would love to be in on this conversation, I thought. (pg79)

QUESTION 7 (Kalaii & Purni) (a) What are Nick’s fear about Priya returning to India? Nick scared because Priya’s parents wont accept him as their son in law and he scared that Priya’s parents will look “nice Indian boy” for her. (b) Why does he want to go with her? He want go with Priya because he think he can explain about their love to her parents and convince them for their marriage.

(C) How are his worries borne out? He often mail Priya to clear his worries and get know what’s going on there

THANK YOU