I want to analyze the three important man Jasmine has lived with in the story, because I think each man changes her life a lot, also her name and identity. Jasmine's first husband is Prakash. They got married two weeks after they first met. She had already fallen in love with his voice, overheard during a conversation with her brothers. Prakash is not like the traditional Indian man that he is more open-minded and modern. He gives her a new name Jasmine, which also starts a new life for Jasmine. He asked Jasmine to call his first name, rather than the pronoun used in the traditional address between women and men, which creates a equality between husband and wife. He also planed to move to America, to look for his American dream with Jasmine. I really like this man and I think Jasmine does love him as well. Unfortunately, he was killed before the departure, which changed Jasmine's fate the first time. I feel this man is quite important for Jasmine that he pointed out a different life direction to her--to go to America.
The second, and maybe the most essential man in Jasmine's life is Taylor, who named her Jase. I feel that Taylor's love gave her an experience to feel the freedom. Under the free atmosphere of America, Taylor declared his love to Jasmine. In this relationship, I feel the most important thing is that Jasmine and Taylor are two independent person. As the article says, "Jase was a woman who bought herself spangled heels and silk chartreuse pants. Jasmine lived for the future, for Vijh and Wife,. Jase went to the movies and lived for today..." From this time period, Jasmine's self-identity become more and more obvious, because she can earn money for herself that she is not a girl who need to depend on parent or men. From Taylor, she did not only earn love, but her new life.
I guess Bud is a necessary character in the story, even though I don't like this man. After fate gave Jasmine a second-time destroy, Jasmine had to come back and began her life with Bud. This man is quite traditional, even not like Prakash. I don't think Jasmine actually loves him. What she felt about him is that she need to take this responsibility to be with him. In the end of the story, Jasmine struggled to leave Bud because she thought it's not the right thing. Taylor urged her to pull down the shade in her head and block out any thoughts that prevent her from utilizing her own free well. This time, Jasmine made her choice to leave with Taylor. She at last broke the last obstacle in her life, and began to make choice for her own.
I hold that these three men helped Jasmine to finish her transformation and rebirth. It also make me believe that people can really rebirth again and again. If you want, then you will find the chance to start over. I don't know what will happen to Jasmine in the future, but I'm sure she can get over it, because she is a new Jasmine, who will follow her own will.
PS: There is one interesting point is that Jasmine is a flower's name as well. And when I research on the characters of Jasmine, I find that Jasmine will flourish three times in a year, which is just like Jasmine in the book who can rebirth again and again.
stands for purity, respect and loyalty
Hey Yini,
ReplyDeleteYour blog post is very good. I agree with you that there are three important men in Jasmine's life: Prakash, Taylor, and Bud. Although, I agree that Bud is not that important compared to the other two men. Prakash is a very modern Indian man and he really changes Jasmine's life. For instant, he gave her a brand new name: Jasmine. Therefore, she was rebirth because of him. However, Prakash is not without fault. Although he tried to be modern, sometimes the traditional aspect of him showed. For example, he didn't let Jasmine work. He was quite controlling of Jasmine's actions. It is sad when he died though. Taylor is similar to Prakash I think. He also gave Jasmine hope. Hope is America. Which is the same as Prakash. This man is more liberal and he allowed Jasmine to be herself. The last man is Bud. Jasmine's relationship with this man is quite complicated actually. I am not sure she loves him or not. Sometimes, I feel like there is love. Sometimes, it is more like a duty to take care of Bud. Either way, they did spend a good amount of time together. I like how you talked about the three steps that Jasmine had to take in order to become fully transformed. It is also interesting to learn about the Jasmine flower. I really didn't know that Jasmine flower blooms three times a year until I read your blog. So it is good to know. It is also relevant in this story because Jasmine also did "bloomed" three times in order to be who she really wants to be.
I agree with Quan that Jane's feelings for Bud are complicated. Love, duty, gratefulness? I think he definitely represents something solid and steady for her, but she doesn't love him like she loves Taylor.
ReplyDeleteHey Sophie,
ReplyDeleteI like your analyze to the three influential men in Jasmine’s life. I think Prakash is the most influential man to Jasmine because he gave a new name to Jasmine. This is what Jasmine has been longing for so long. She wanted a new life. And Prakash provided exactly what she wants. I think there is more of thankfulness and less of love between Prakash and Jasmine. I agree with Quan that the relationship between Bud and Jasmine is really complicated. At first, I thought Jasmine really love Bud because she mentioned that the reason why she refused to marry Bud was because there is a curse on her. She doesn’t want to risk Bud’s life. In fact, Jasmine probably noticed that Bud only like the moderate exoticness of Jasmine. It is possible that Jasmine may feel not safe about what Bud likes about her since people change every day. I think the relationship between Jasmine and Bud is not love, but responsibility. I think Jasmine felt guilty that she indirectly causing Bud’s disability. Last but not the least, I think Taylor is someone that Jasmine love the most. Jasmine was excited every time she knows that Taylor is coming. I think the reason why Jasmine fall in love with Taylor was because Taylor actually took care of her. This makes Jasmine feel safe and be loved. I am not sure if Jasmine did the right decision to be with Taylor in the end after knowing that her curse had took one and a half life of the two men she loved.
I really enjoyed ready your blog. I like how you talked about the importance of each man in her life that contributed to her transformation. Each one helped her become who she ended up being. I agree with you and Quan in that her relationship with Bud was not the same as her relationship with Prakash and Taylor. I think she truly loved Prakash and Taylor and I think she felt obligated to be with Bud yet she never committed to him by getting married. She left her options open to move on which I thought showed a rebirth in her if you compared Jane with Jyoti/Jasmine as a younger girl. Through each event in her life, she changed a little more. She started as a nieve young village girl in India and ended up a more independent Americanized woman by the end. I found it hard to remember that she was only 24 by the time she left Bud. With all of her experiences, one would think that she would be much older. She had experiences in a few short years that most people don't have in a lifetime....not that most people would want to have her specific experiences i.e. murdered husband, rape, etc but the point is she had a lot of life experience in a few short years and just like the three main men in her life, each experience contributed her being able to "kill" off herself and rebirth herself into someone else...someone who she wanted to be versus who others thought she should be. I think Taylor was the best person for her because he truly seemed to love her and accept her for who she was. He in no way expected her to conform to him ideas of who he thought she should be..at least I didn't think he did. Well done on your blog.
ReplyDelete