For Mrs Sen, everything is there (in India).

What instances are there is these stories of exile, estrangement, displacement and marginality - both emotional and cultural? Intro: Jhumpa Lahiri expresses many struggles faced by Indian immigrants in foreign places through her collection of short stories book Interpreter of Maladies. Lahiri herself was from Indian descent and living in America, she is able to portray these characters from a very personal perspective. She shows the reader how these characters try to assimilate into their surrounding culture, many from Indian backgrounds, as well as trying to preserve their traditions and old habits, such as Mrs Sen, who finds it extremely difficult to let go of her past. Lahiri also shows us that these feelings of exile and estrangement from a place does not necessarily only happen in a foreign country, such as Boori Ma from A Real Durwan. However, not all of Lahiris stories gives us the negative aspect of migration. In A Third and Final Continent, Lahiri shows us that despite the struggles of exile, estrangement and displacement, a couple can still find peace in a foreign country as well as in their marriage, with a matter of time and patience. Mrs Sen's Lahiri shows us through Mrs Sen, the culture differences between two countries in India and America and how the wide gap in social practices affects her. Mrs Sen finds it extremely hard to adjust to the Western way of living, she feels compressed and isolated in her house in America compared to India. She always shares about her life in India with Elliot, the little American boy she babysits in her house. Some of the practices seemed so uncivilized and barbaric which alarmed Elliot, such as raising her voice to express grief or joy of any kind, making Elliot afraid that the neighbours would complain if she did so. Mrs Sen continues to practice her Indian way of marriage commitment, which was solemnly applying, with the head of a thumbtack, a fresh stroke of scarlet powder on her forehead every morning. She clears of Elliots curiosity of this daily ritual by comparing it to the western wedding ring culture, only with no fear of losing it in the dishwasher. Despite this devotional act she does, her marriage displays some estrangement, both Mr and Mrs Sen display an emotional distance with each other, even Elliot notices Mr Sen not kissing Mrs Sen when arriving home from work. What really makes Mrs Sen however as Elliot observes, was anything with the connection back to her home such as the letters from her family and eating fish, which only happens occasionally. Despite encouragement form Mr Sen and Elliots mum, Mrs Sen is reluctant to learn how to drive as it is extremely new and different as well as not being part of the Indian culture. Lahiri shows us how difficult a life can be in a foreign place without the will to change and interest to assimilate, it cannot only affect Mrs Sen but the others around her, putting her marriage in jeopardy. Her dependance on Mr Sen for transport increases his annoyance towards her, as well as making her frustrated with the things she cant do such as buying her beloved fish. Due to her lack of practice earlier and being overwhelmed by emotional conflicts, Mrs Sen meets an accident. With that, she loses her job of caring for Elliot as well as having the possibility of ruining her marriage by living in an estranged relationship with Mr Sen in the future.