In “clothes” Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni portrays the changing identity of Sumita through the symbolism of her clothes and their colors. The clothes that Sumita wears in certain situations reveal their hidden symbolic meaning. When she argues “about …[the] ...sari” (1) that she is supposed to wear. This alludes to the fact that she begins to fight against the strict standards of women in her homeland culture. Sumita chooses to wear a “blouse and skirt”(7) instead of a sari, implies that she is committing to the progressive lifestyle of women in America. The implications of her changing clothing style reveal that she has transitioned from the strict standards of women in her Indian culture to the more freeing standards of women in American culture.
Big hair, bright colors, and denim helped to establish the time period the play was set in. Each actress’ outfit gave the audience an idea of her character’s personality. For instance, Clairee wore pant suits and looked the part of a sophisticated, classy former mayor’s wife. On the other hand, Ouiser wore comfortable clothes; often sporting a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt over a t-shirt showing her practical and simple lifestyle. The use of jackets and scarves portrayed the change in season and helped establish the different time frames from scene to scene. The costumes reflected each character well and were fitting for the time in which the play was portrayed.
When presented with a strange story with uncertain reasoning behind several actions of the characters, and in this story, it is revealed through the symbolism of their attire. Understanding that clothing symbolizes a false identity and an open heart and open love is the taking off of clothes gives a second story behind her reasoning for this story. Although clothing might not be a common symbol for fake identities versus true beings, almost all love stories have a symbolism to represent the open trustful
This theme is evident in the doubling of stockings with the girl’s natural black legs. The red stockings, which represent sexual, material desires, are contrasted with the natural, elegant beauty of the legs of the black girl. The stockings highlight only the legs, separating them from the girl as a whole and allowing for easier objectification, specifically by young white males. However, the girl knows this, as she has put the stockings on and is being told so by the narrator, who represents the black community. The narrator also clearly recognizes the girl’s beauty, and her beauty is further highlighted in the fact that she is clothed in silk, which relates to royalty and comfortability.
Eloisa wants a dress to go to church in Chiloe because she “‘just need[s] someone to notice [her], that’s all’” (Jara 221). Her mother barely gives her any attention, and it is certainly not positive; therefore, Eloisa craves attention from the men in the city. She lusts after attention, thinking that “‘somebody, will have to notice [her], if only because of the dress’” (217). Instead of having confidence in herself, she places the solution in wearing a feminine article of clothing to attract a man. The significance of this is exemplified when “[she] was standing there, embracing the blouse as if it were a man” (221). This helps develop the idea that since she now has nice looking clothing, she can get a man to marry her.
In the short story “Chrysanthemums,” Elisa Allen is a woman who is unhappy and lonely in her marriage. Her husband is regularly attending to the cattle and the farm, Elisa is left alone with her chrysanthemums. Elisa is described as not caring too much about her appearance because she feels no one will pay attention anyway. , “Her face lean and strong…Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, a man’s black hat pulled low” is an example of Elisa’s appearance and how it seems to be rugged for a woman...
In chapter five of Suitably Modern, Mark Liechty discusses the action of “doing fashion” and how it affects the middle class and consumption in Kathmandu. Chapter five poses the question; what is new and what is not? This concerns the class distinctions and if modernization is actually occurring. The middle class in Kathmandu is claiming its own domain through clothing and ostracizing themselves. The author deems this action as adornment he defines it by stating, “It is used to set individuals and groups apart from some and to signal sameness”. Adornment can be a class distinction but also a gender role distinction. Women practice adornment to be indifferent in their relationships with men. For example women can chose to use flashier make-up which can distinguish a married woman from an unmarried woman. Liechty associates fashion with freedom. Film coming to Kathmandu quickly generated the modernization of fashion and consumption. Films exposed the residents to different types of fashion. Ultimately, the middle class wants its own cultural zone; through fashion and consumption it hopes to completely fit in with one another and still be distinct from other classes.
The color of clothing that the women wear is an important element because it helps to show the women’s power and privileges. The color of clothing a woman wears reflects how much freedom she will have. Th...
In the 19th century play, FASHION, Anna Mowatt develops the character plot as a contrast and comparison between being “natural” and “artificial in a world becoming preoccupied with fashion, and being fashionable. In the head notes, it was stated that Daniel Havens said FASHION is “the ugly image of the American Dream gone sour.” (Watt and Richardson) Fashion has a complex definition. The word ‘fashion’ can mean anything from the type of clothes you wear, how you communicate with others, the place you live, how you present yourself, or who you associate yourself with. In FASHION, Mowatt took a comical yet sober look at the definitions of “fashion,” applied it to real life in 1845, and through her characters, provides a mirror with which an audience/reader can evaluate themselves. I do not believe updating this play would be difficult because America has continued down the fast and destructive path in an effort to keep up with the “fashions” of the day.
One day she wore a denim miniskirt with green stockings, and crawling up one leg was a parade of enamel ladybug and butterfly pins.” (Spinelli, pg. 10. The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid afores This evidence could spark relatability for readers through self-expression in style, otherwise a form of non-conformity. Regardless of how others might perceive her style, it shows Stargirl’s resilience and courage to dress in a way she feels comfortable and content.
Sydney White Mrs. Lawrence 4th Period 1302 21 April 2024 B Essay Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s “Clothes” follows Sumita as she meets her new husband and travels to America. Sumita is obligated to an arranged marriage resulting in her moving to America with her new husband Somesh. Sumita moves in with her inlaws and her husband, who runs a store, as she is left to reflect on her old life. As she stays longer she becomes more accustomed to her new life and has a growing urge to be independent and help out in the shop. Somesh starts to have to work late nights and one night a robber ends up killing him.
The short story “Clothes” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is about a young Indian woman, Sumita, and her cultural transition to America that is symbolized by her clothes and the color of her clothes. The traditional Indian attire for a woman is a sari and each one has its own purpose. Her clothes also indicate her progression from daughter, to wife, to woman.
Fashion is a major way one can physically represent themselves, having the power to show emotion, personality, and culture. Fashion allows one to get a sense of who one is, just by looking at them and their personal style. In early America, this very personal way of expression was stolen from women. Ultimately women were told what was acceptable in society, and expected to follow these beliefs. These expectations of how a respectable women should dress really affected woman mentally and physically. This unthinkable barrier women had to face eventually helped push women to fight for their natural born rights, often violated by
In The Invisible Man, H.G. Wells both demonstrates and criticizes. man's tendency to become moral or immoral with the acquisition of power. Like many books of the same era, he uses science as the instrument of retribution for the social crimes that have been committed. Through invisibility, the Invisible Man gains triumph over science. and from this, great power; he can steal, kill, and abuse anybody without.
Clothing has always been an important part of society, with evidence from the earliest human civilizations. In history, climate, religion and political factors played a role in the fabrication, styling and even color of the garments that people wore. Today, the fashion industry is multi-faceted, and while climate and religion are still some factors in how we dress, there are many more influences in what we choose to wear. Time and time again, designers reference historical styles and push them into modern trends. Subcultures illustrate how a particular way of dressing can transform into a lifestyle. Ethnic fashion ties in with a specific culture’s values and beliefs. By looking at clothing in other societies around the world, as well as the many global subcultures, we can learn a lot about the depth and complexity of the members that make this world colorful and diverse.
Westernization has the power to bring about many positive as well as negative changes in a society. In the case of India, it’s culture has been negatively affected through the adoption of western centric ideologies, which have led to a rapid loss of rich Indian culture. Some notable effects of westernization in India are its adoption of a parliamentary system, and the acceptance and incorporation of western technologies and clothing into their lives. Clothing in India, with the exception of traditional vestments such as the Dhoti, Kurta, and Indian Sari, has never been about the aesthetically pleasing look of clothes. Up until the modern era, Indians had clothes recycled from older, more worn clothes.