Unaccustomed Earth - Introduction to the Book, No Spoilers Please (September 2012)

[William]

The folder is open, Sophia is leading the discussions.

[Sophia]

The title story takes its theme from a brief quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Custom-House."

Human nature will not flourish, any more than a potato, if it be planted and replanted, for too long a series of generations, in the same worn-out soil. My children have had other birthplaces and, so far as their fortunes may be within my control, shall strike their roots into unaccustomed earth.

What is the relevance of this epigraph, not just to the title story, but also to the collection as a whole?

In some stories the children do successfully “strike their roots into unaccustomed earth” Others find they unable to establish roots. Their feelings of restlessness and insecurity often stem from growing up in two cultures, but they also experience other more universal problems.

In what ways does their lack of attachment to a place or culture reflect a more general trend in society?

[Daniel]

I always struggle with epigraphs like this. Usually, I soak up some intended theme or concept, say, "Ah, so that's what she intends with the title and direction," then move on. If I dwell for too long on the quote, I start wondering how closely the author intends to keep with the original context, which always gets me into rather unnecessary mental convolutions.

In this instance, for example, Hawthorne's underlying concern was that an ancestor's reputation can define and even overshadow an individual. When people remember the trunk of the family tree, you become nothing but "the topmost bough." Hawthorne also had much reason to consider his soil "worn-out," with his grandfather the only judge from the Salem trials to remain unrepentant, and his great-grandfather remembered for having Quakers whipped in the streets (Hawthorne even added the "w" to his name to distance himself from casual linkage).

So in Hawthorne's case, "unaccustomed earth" has more a feel of escaping the shackles of historical reputation, of refusing to be defined by one's ancestors. This novel is not so much about the negative connotations, but there is definitely a sense of escaping the old and refusing to be defined by heritage, of casting off the ancestral ties that would otherwise prevent them from flourishing in this new world.

In both Hawthorne and Lahiri's work, it is the worn-out soil that defines them as writers, and which provides them with the rich material upon which to hang universal stories. By defining what they are not, or what they struggle with in their attempts to create themselves anew, they have found a deep vein of inspiration that is accessible to everyone.

I've written more than my fair share here, so I'll leave the second part of your post for another intrepid commenter to break ground...

[Deborah]

Daniel, don't censor yourself. Especially not when you're putting forth well thought out and intelligent points.

You have to take up the slack for those of us who think in impressions and sound bites.

[Sophia]

Daniel wrote: "This novel is not so much about the negative connotations, but there is definitely a sense of escaping the old and refusing to be defined by heritage, of casting off the ancestral ties that would otherwise prevent them from flourishing in this new world."

Oh, absolutely. If one is to flourish in new soil then new roots are called for.

[Sophia]

Deborah wrote: "Daniel, don't censor yourself. Especially not when you're putting forth well thought out and intelligent points."

Hear, hear. If only I could make such lucid points. (sigh)

[Sophia]

I think Hawthorne’s concerns about an ancestor’s past defining and “even overshadowing an individual” do set the tone for this collection - even if his preoccupations differ.

But are potential difficulties of restlessness and insecurity exacerbated when growing up in two cultures? Here in the UK many Eastern European children face these potential difficulties on a daily basis. Even so I know several Russian children who are proud to be Russian yet have experienced few – if any - difficulties in becoming assimilated.

Why do some children successfully “strike their roots into unaccustomed earth,” whilst others find themselves unable to establish roots?

Are there particular problems when “the worn-out soil” is Asian and, in particular, Indian?