Analysis Of Escapism In A Temporary Matter

Escapism is a natural response to isolation and loss. Humans are able to escape from the horrific reality of broken relationships through music, movies, books, all which transport them to an alternate universe where they can control all variable of their existence. In the short story, “A Temporary Matter”, characters Shoba and Shukumar are trapped in a broken marriage. Neither of them are content with their lives, leading them to imagine a world where their mistakes do not exist. To create this world, they play a game in the darkness of their house, with the hopes that maybe their relationship will mend. In the short story, “Sexy”, Miranda attempts to escape the reality of her single life through taking on the role of a mistress. However, this

When the power is off, the house becomes dark, which they hide beneath, concealing their pain from one another. The darkness allowed them to become vulnerable by playing a game where they take turns confessing mistakes to each other. Shukumar hoped this would help to rekindle their relationship. He said, “The following day Shukumar thought for hours about what to say to her” (18). Shukumar imagined a world where the ways they disappointed or hurt each other would disappear, but as he would find out later it was too late, as Sobha has been planning to leave him all along. Since Shukumar and Shoba did not communicate the purpose of the game, Shukumar believed this would mend their relationship while Shoba believed it would give her the confidence and reassurance to leave her husband. However, the game did not go as Shoba planned, as it reintroduced a minimal amount of intimacy in their lives which only made it harder for Shoba to let go of Shukumar. In the end, they knew it was right for the both of them to separate. Shukumar explains, “They wept together, for the things they now knew” (22). Both Shukumar and Shoba understand it is for the best to separate as they have grown apart and communication has been sparse. For Shoba, the future she

He finds the intimacy he was looking for in Miranda, a single woman who is seeking affection. Through this affair, Miranda develops feelings towards Dev, causing her to imagine a life together. Miranda pictures, “ herself in the cocktail dress, and Dev in one of his suits, kissing her hand across the table” (93). Miranda and Dev’s forbidden love is actually lust, which is lost in the translation of the word “sexy”. The difference between lust and love is that love is a feeling of affection, while lust is a sexual attraction. When Dev calls Miranda “sexy” she reads into the word as if it were saying “I love you.” However, Dev believes the word sexy means “beautiful” and does not see a future with Miranda. The miscommunication between Dev and Miranda cause Miranda to fill the loneliness she felt as a single woman with ideas of what their life could be, but Dev does not envision the same future. It is not until Rhonin, a young boy Miranda is babysitting, explains the true meaning “sexy” to Miranda, that she realizes future is not possible. Rhonin defines “sexy” as, “loving someone you don’t know” (107). Miranda and Dev do not know each other. All they know is their affair. Dev became lost in the idea of a younger woman and Miranda became lost in the idea of filling her void of compassion. Miranda understands that although she would