The term romance is used to describe the expression of one's affection towards an individual in which both parties are involved in a reciprocal relationship. Throughout Ross Sinclair's "The Painted Door", the protagonist habitually displays her disapproval of her husband's inadequacy to demonstrate his romantic disposition. Similarly, "Lady from Lucknow" by Bharati Mukherjee, chronicles the sexual escapades of a woman who is dissatisfied with her husband's emotional detachment. Within both "The Painted Door" by Sinclair Ross, and Bharati Mukherjee's "The Lady from Lucknow", there exists romantic discontent between the female protagonists and their male counterparts. This dissatisfaction is caused by feelings of neglect, and isolation, and results in the utilization of infidelity as a means of escape from their displeasure.
To begin, throughout the literary works, "The Painted Door", and "The Lady from Lucknow", the chief male characters are primarily focused on their occupations, and therefore neglect their wives. Sinclair Ross' "The Painted Door", is an account of the sedentary life of a farmer's wife named Ann, as well as her husband John. One cold winter's day, John decides to aid his father with the daily chores, thus leaving his wife devoid of all human contact. Ann demonstrates her disapproval of John's neglect by stating, "Pay no attention to me. Seven years a farmer's wife-it's time I was used to staying alone" (Ross 177).
[...] Furthermore, James successfully exhibits feelings of appreciation towards Nafeesa, which contrasts her husband's physical detachment. Nafeesa explains, “When we were together, I felt cherished” (325). Within both Painted Door by Sinclair Ross, and Bharati Mukherjee's Lady from Lucknow”, the female protagonists participate in acts of infidelity as a method of escaping the discontentment in their intimate relationships. Throughout the literary works, Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross, and Lady from Lucknow” by Bharati Mukherjee, the main characters exhibit attitudes of dissatisfaction concerning the absence of romance within their marital relationships. [...]
[...] Although a sense of isolation is present in both Painted Door” and Lady from Lucknow”, the causes of isolation provide a point of contrast. Within Ross' short story, the character of Ann is isolated by her location, while in Lady from Lucknow”, Nafeesa is primarily isolated by wealth. Lastly, within the short stories Painted Door” and Lady from Lucknow”, both female protagonists resort to the act of infidelity as a means of satisfying their needs that their husbands fail to appease. [...]
[...] Similarly, the character of Nafeesa within Bharati Mukherjee's Lady from Lucknow”, is isolated by her husband's high profile occupation. Her higher class and constant relocation due to Iqbal's career acts as a source of both physical and social isolation: “because of [Iqbal's] work we have made homes in Lebanon, Brazil, Zambia and France” (Mukherjee 322). Without a stable environment, Nafeesa cannot successfully immerse herself within society, thereby further developing her sense of isolation. As Nafeesa states, have lived a life perched on the edge of ripeness and decay. [...]
[...] Exploring the Portrayal of Romance within Painted Door” and Lady from Lucknow” The term romance is used to describe the expression of one's affection towards an individual in which both parties are involved in a reciprocal relationship. Throughout Ross Sinclair's Painted the protagonist habitually displays her disapproval of her husband's inadequacy to demonstrate his romantic disposition. Similarly, “Lady from Lucknow” by Bharati Mukherjee, chronicles the sexual escapades of a woman who is dissatisfied with her husband's emotional detachment. Within both Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross, and Bharati Mukherjee's Lady from Lucknow”, there exists romantic discontent between the female protagonists and their male counterparts. [...]
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