The Householder Novel By Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Introduction
The Householder is a novel written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala in 1960. It is a story about a newly married couple, Prem and Indu, who are trying to find their way in their new life together. The novel is set in post-independence India and explores the cultural differences between the East and the West.
Plot Summary
Prem and Indu are a young couple who are still trying to figure out their place in the world. They are both from different backgrounds, with Prem being a traditional Indian man and Indu being more Westernized. They get married, but their marriage is not the fairy tale they had hoped for. Prem is struggling to provide for his family, and Indu is not sure if she wants to be a housewife.
Things start to change when Prem's mother comes to live with them. She is a traditional Indian woman who believes that a woman's place is in the home. She tries to teach Indu how to be a good wife, but Indu is resistant to her teachings. Indu starts to rebel against her mother-in-law's ways and starts to explore her own identity.
As the story progresses, we see the couple struggle with their marriage and their cultural differences. They try to find a way to make their marriage work, but it seems like everything is working against them. When Indu becomes pregnant, they both realize that they need to make some changes in their lives if they want to provide a good life for their child.
The novel comes to a climax when Prem is accused of stealing and is arrested. Indu is left to fend for herself and her unborn child. She realizes that she loves her husband and wants to help him, but she doesn't know how. The novel ends with Prem being released from jail, and the couple trying to move forward with their lives.
Themes
The Householder explores many themes, including cultural differences, marriage, identity, and tradition. The novel shows how difficult it can be to navigate these themes, especially when they clash with each other.
The main theme of the novel is the clash between tradition and modernity. Prem represents tradition, while Indu represents modernity. The novel shows how difficult it can be to reconcile these two worlds, especially when they are so different from each other.
Another theme of the novel is marriage. The novel shows how difficult it can be to make a marriage work, especially when there are so many cultural differences involved. The novel also shows how important it is to communicate with your partner and to be willing to compromise.
Conclusion
The Householder is a novel that explores the cultural differences between the East and the West. It is a story about a young couple who are struggling to find their place in the world. The novel shows how difficult it can be to reconcile different cultures and traditions, especially when they clash with each other.
The novel is a great read for anyone who is interested in exploring cultural differences and the challenges that come with them. It is a timeless classic that is still relevant today.