"Swimming Lessons" by Rohinton Mistry is a poignant and thought-provoking short story that explores themes of family, identity, and cultural differences. The story is narrated by a young Indian boy named Nariman, who is struggling to come to terms with his own cultural identity and the expectations placed upon him by his family and society.
The story begins with Nariman's mother, Coomy, enrolling him in swimming lessons at the local pool. Nariman is hesitant to participate, as he is self-conscious about his body and feels out of place among the other children at the pool. However, he eventually decides to go through with the lessons and begins to enjoy the feeling of freedom and accomplishment that comes with learning to swim.
As Nariman continues to attend his swimming lessons, he becomes friends with a boy named Yezad, who comes from a different cultural background. Yezad is also struggling with his own sense of identity and belonging, and the two boys bond over their shared experiences and challenges.
Despite their friendship, Nariman and Yezad are constantly reminded of the cultural differences that separate them. Nariman's family is traditional and conservative, and they have high expectations for him to follow in his father's footsteps and become a lawyer. On the other hand, Yezad's family is more liberal and encourages him to pursue his own interests and passions.
As the story progresses, Nariman begins to question the expectations placed upon him by his family and society, and he starts to wonder if there might be other paths in life that would bring him more happiness and fulfillment. He also grapples with the idea of cultural assimilation, wondering if he should try to fit in with the dominant culture or if he should embrace his own cultural identity.
In the end, "Swimming Lessons" is a powerful and thought-provoking story that touches on important themes of family, identity, and cultural differences. It highlights the difficulties and challenges that can arise when we try to balance the expectations of others with our own sense of self and our own dreams and aspirations.
Swimming Lessons Critical Essays
For example, with regard to respecting elders, Kensi engages in conversation with Mr. He is candid about his erotic urges as he describes spotting two women sunbathing in bikinis beside the parking lot and his attempts to get a closer look. This section contains 1,035 words approx. Kensi himself states that water imagery is common in his life. As such, the process of overcoming loneliness and forming a new identity assisted Kensi in rewriting his life script and succeeding in Canada as an author. Bombay Greater Bombay, of which the southernmost part is the island of Bombay, was formed into a metropolitan municipal organization in 1957, when it was officially renamed Mumbai. The last date is today's date — the date you are citing the material.
Rohinton Mistry's "Swimming Lessons": A Study Guide from Gale's "Short Stories for Students" (Volume 06, Chapter 16)
Indian troops defended the former princely state, which drew the Pakistani army into the conflict. The principal languages spoken are Marathi, Gujarati, and Hindi. The second is the date of publication online or last modification online. Trust the experts: Thomson Gale--and "Short Stories for Students. Like, Kensi, many immigrants experience discrimination, some find it difficult to connect to the new mainstream culture, and some struggle with adopting new values. As each season changes Kensi experiences new encounters and opportunities to learn from his social interactions; one such encounter is the swimming lessons he takes at the local high school. You can search by Subject e.
Swimming Lessons
Some of the messages Kensi received as a child influenced his behaviour as an adult. Both reviewers discuss the final story, probably since the American edition retitled the collection, Swimming Lessons and Other Stories from Firozsha Baag. Big-boned Pesi becomes leader of the rowdy boys. But he never mentions the last story. Quebec nationalists, provincial premiers, and, more recently, feminists and aboriginal leaders have sought and sometimes won major victories as Canadians have attempted to transform their constitution and move from a commonwealth based in British law to an independent republic. He also developed a new identity in Canada by recounting his past to move forward with his new life. The maharajah fled to Delhi, where he signed papers giving Kashmir to India.
At the same time, the interactions Kensi has with other occupants of his building also help him develop a sense of belonging, a sense of community; which is a pillar to overcoming loneliness, as reduces the sense of loneliness. No guarantees are made as to accuracy of prices and information. Turn to "Short Stories for Students" to get your research done in record time. Why choose "Short Stories for Students"? Burjor Mody, his wife, and son Pesi move into C Block in Firozsha Baag. The descriptive text, humour, setting, narrative point-of-view, and the recollection of the past permit reader to have a thorough understanding of Kensi's struggle in forming a new identity, overcoming loneliness, and rewriting his life script to succeed as a new immigrant. Fundamentals of Social Psychology Custom Edition for Centennial College ed.
He is seen as he displays himself and also as his parents see him from halfway around the globe. She went on to spend roughly ten years of her life at the Provincial Training School, during which she was sterilized without consent. See eNotes Ad-Free Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Need to cram for a test? Narrating from the first-person point-of-view, Kensi recounts his experiences living in Toronto while corresponding with his parents who live in Bombay. Mistry is imitative of Indian novelist Anita Desai in his depiction of sudden and grotesque incursions of violence into the community, but he has the habit of predictably and rather portentously foreshadowing these events a splat of betel juice on a white cloth prefigures a murder; a rat bludgeoned with a cricket bat precedes the bludgeoning of a starving servant and in general there is a tendency toward heavy-handed symbolism. Throughout the story, Kensi recounts his childhood memories and describes his experiences as a new immigrant in a humorous manner.
