Mother-in-law

by Jean Arasanayagam

In this poem, 'Mother-in-law' Jean Arasanayagam unveils the traditions and behaviour patterns prevalent in the Hindu Society and how as a young woman wholly westernised gets subjected to tremendous, unpleasant behaviour patterns quite foreign and peculiar to her.

Getting frustrated listening to the ancestral procedure inherited by the traditional Hindus. Refusing to accept new changes. Rejecting the truth they cling on to the Faith and Traditions of their ancestors.

"I find there's nothing new to learn from their arrogance and their stories of the past" - refusal to admit to the truth of anything accept change, feeding the crows with balls taken from her plate before she eats the first mouth..." and their chutzpah expecting everyone to follow their traditions. The young daughter-in-law hates to see her mother-in-law chasing away the golden orioles giving priority to crows.

"... taken from her plate before she eats the first mouth,

lurching unsteadily into the garden staggering on the pebbles,

the golden orioles fly away, the crows pursue."

She takes pleasure in condemning other cultures

"You people are all gulping down your food,

first before thinking of the gods,

it is our custom to give the first mouth to the gods

the crows are the "vahanam of Sani" she says."

The mythical belief rooted in the old woman

The poet has specifically emphasised the old woman's mentality and the young woman's attitude towards mythical belief rooted in her mother-in-law in an ironic manner.

"Look the crows are coming right into the kitchen."

The mother-in-law's traditional vegetarian food style does not please the young daughter-in-law and her attitude towards non vegetarians treating them as 'flesh eaters.'

"You are all flesh eaters," she says with disdain.

The mother-in-law's attitude towards 'flesh eaters' reflecting her hatred for such people.

"Flesh eaters. I, said flesh eaters?" Those are people who eating human flesh no. In

Africa they are called cannibals."

The mother-in-law self pitying unable to continue her argument further compels them to send her to a 'Home for the Aged.'

"Beggars, I am old dog. No use to anybody."

"If you all can't keep, put me in the naki madama, I will go there very good, very good" and her young family members treating her words as a joke.

... wait and see, in six weeks.

They will chase her away," chuckles with ironic glee..."

Jean Arasanayagam has revealed clearly and in picturesque manner, the rooted beliefs and social behaviour patterns and the insincerity in modern perceptions.

In spite of her being old, feeble and helpless the old mother-in-law trying to dominate the whole family is emphasised in logical manner and her attempt to bring before the readers the usual conflict between an old-mother-in-law and a young daughter-in-law, alien and indifferent to old Hindu traditions.

The mother-in-law's relentless ambition to dominate the entire family by the power of her words. The poet, depicting clearly and descriptively the outcome of evil attitudes and false superiority in effective and dramatic manner.

"They said wait and see, in six weeks

they will chase her away," chuckles with

ironic glee, that the prophesy has not been

fulfilled does not move to her on whit."

The poet's diction style, simple and direct and appropriate wording keeping the images created whimsically alive.

Mrs. C. Ekanayake,
Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng.