A Temporary Matter
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Guilt and Grief The Difficulty of Communication The Limits of Planning
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Shukumar Shoba Shoba’s Mother Shukumar’s Mother
Symbols
All Symbols Darkness Food
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Irony Mood Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
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A Temporary Matter

by

Jhumpa Lahiri

A Temporary Matter Symbols

Darkness

Darkness symbolizes interpersonal comfort and communication without vulnerability. When Shoba and Shukumar’s electric company informs them that they will shut off their power each night from 8:00-9:00 to repair a fallen power line, the…

read analysis of Darkness

Darkness Symbol Icon

Food

Food represents the former intimacy of Shukumar and Shoba’s marriage, and the nostalgia Shukumar feels for who Shoba used to be and the relationship they once had. Shukumar connects food to Shoba’s former preparedness…

read analysis of Food

Food Symbol Icon
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