Tiger by Nalini Jones - Essay Example

Tiger Tiger by Nalini Jones is a story that deals with many aspects of life in the modern world where individuals tend to live great distances from their families and rarely see them. It is a story which reveals Essie’s desperation to be with her daughter and granddaughters for a little while longer during their vacation in India so that the emptiness that she has come to occupy her life can be brought to an end, even though briefly. Therefore, this is a story of self-discovery because it shows a woman’s determination to keep her family close to her so that she can be able to protect them from whatever circumstances that might hurt them. Tiger shows how, in the modern world, as individuals get older, they want their children close, while at the same time their children wish to live their own lives independent of their parents. In this story, Essie is depicted as a mother who wants only the best for her daughter and she does all that she can to ensure that Marian not only marries an Indian man but also settles down close to her (Jones 2). However, this does not happen and Marian instead ends up marrying Daniel, a man from far off America who Essie does not approve of because of his mild demeanor as well as his not being Catholic. This is a scenario which is often played out in many families as mothers, believing that they know what is best for their children, tend not to approve of their choices in life and instead choose to interfere in their lives. This creates a situation where it is difficult for mothers and these children to get along because it seems that each is living firm in their own beliefs. Such an incident has taken place in my family where an aunt of mine did not approve of her son’s choosing to marry a woman from another country and his decision to settle in his wife’s homeland. This situation brought a lot of friction between my aunt and her son and it has gone on for more than a decade now with none of them becoming flexible in their position. My aunt took an instant dislike to her daughter in-law and whenever they visited, she all but ignored her. However, despite my aunt’s dislike for her son’s wife, she adores their three children to such an extent that she would do anything for them. She always waits anxiously for them to visit every year so that she can spend her time with them. It is these children who have ensured that the connection between my aunt and cousin does not die because their being born made it possible for the latter to at least live on good terms for their sake. In Tiger, Essie is depicted as being an extremely religious woman and a staunch Catholic who would like for her family to follow in her steps. Her disappointment in her son in-law, Daniel, is profound and this is not just because he is American, but also because he declares that he is “not exactly Catholic” (2) when he is introduced to her by her daughter. Furthermore, her religious nature is shown when, after Marian and her family return to the United States, Essie, on a phone conversation with Marian reminds her to make sure that her grandchildren do not forget to read their bibles (20). In addition, when it comes to her initial disapproval of Daniel, the people to whom she ends up complaining are parish priests, a sign that her entire life is dedicated in one way or the other to religion. One will find that this situation is not uncommon especially when in a family context where the older generation, being more religious than the younger one, tends to be highly critical of a lack of religious dedication of their children and grandchildren. In my own family, my grandparents are extremely religious individuals who not only attend religious services, but take all of these services very seriously. However, my cousins and I have been raised in a different environment where religion is not given much priority and religious obligations are only observed when it is absolutely necessary. This lack of dedication to religion tends to be a great irritant to my grandparents because they feel that the younger members of our family are losing their way through not being dedicated to our religious duties. In most cases, it is our parents who are blamed for our laxity, our grandparents declaring that it is our parents’ fault that they did not raise us in a religious environment. In the story, Essie is a woman who is completely dedicated to her family and will do anything to ensure that they are kept safe from worry. An instance of this dedication can be seen through her tolerating Daniel, her daughter’s husband, despite her dislike for him. Furthermore, Essie allows her granddaughters to feed some stray cats even though she believes that these cats are not clean and does not want them in her house (5). This creates a situation where when the time comes for them to head back to the United States, Essie attempts to keep them around for a little while longer so that she can spend more time with them (11). It can even be suggested that as she is aging, Essie increasingly sees a need to have her family with her because in the modern world, unlike previously, children more often than not live and work in places that are distant and do not live with their parents like in the past. Personally, when I first left home to live in a city some four hundred miles away, my parents had a difficult time adjusting themselves to this new situation and whenever I visited, they often insisted that I stay for just a little longer so that I could keep them company. The loneliness that accompanies their children’s departure tends to be a lot to bear for some parents and this is exactly what happened to my own parents. My parents’, especially my mother, attempting to find reasons for my staying longer with them can be compared to Essie’s situation where the lump in her breast becomes a perfect excuse to at least keep Marian at her side. As a result of my not being present at home over long periods, to such an extent that I only visit once or twice a year, my mother often calls on a daily basis to find out how I am as well as inform me about all about the events that have been taking place in the neighborhood lately. I have come to notice that these calls and details concerning affairs at home is a sign of loneliness among my parents at a time when they are aging and would like to have their families with them. In conclusion, Tiger is a story dedicated to family and the way through which this institution is falling apart in the modern world. Instead of being close-knit as they previously were, families are currently breaking apart as individuals choose to forge their own destinies away from their families. However, despite these splits, Tiger shows that love between family members still prevails and that older individuals will do anything to ensure that their children and grandchildren are protected. Work Cited Jones, Nalini. “Tiger.” One Story, 10.1 (2011): 1 – 30. Read More