Indifference

Lahiri’s short story, “A Temporary Matter”, details the end of the marriage between a young married couple who recently lost their only child during childbirth. The story is portrayed from the husband’s perspective and is told in a depressed, indifferent tone.

Since the death of their child, the couple has been trying to come to terms with what happened, especially the husband’s absence during the hospital visit. His reflections over this time and their happiness beforehand are overshadowed by his indifference to life. However, as much as he feels he will never be able to cope with their loss, Lahiri subtly emphasizes the message that all experiences, such as pregnancy, marriage, and grief are only a ‘temporary’ experience and just as their electricity will eventually return, both he and his wife will move on from their past traumas.

Firstly, Lahiri uses very descriptive imagery to convey the sadness in their lives. Most of the imagery is with them in the dark, trying to avoid each other and their own lives. The husband’s lethargic attitude further pushes this claim that both are attempting to find motivation and happiness in their lives, but cannot seem to find this courage in each other. The dark surroundings are further noticed by the initial use of birthday candles, which emit very small amounts of light. Overtime, however, this tone shifts as more and more light is used, until eventually they have full power.

The tone is also developed through diction. Many of the words that Lahiri chooses are, while not morbid, not positive either. She instead finds words that are so neutral, they become bland, again expressing the character’s indifferent attitudes toward many of the areas of their lives. Each word, sentence, and paragraph appears monotonous. All of the tasks and routines that the couples must perform feel burdensome to the reader. The small chores that they enjoyed to do have lost their luster. Their living condition eventually becomes unbearable, and both struggle to find a purpose in their lives.

However, this indifference is only temporary as shown by two important events. The first of these is their lack of electricity for one hour every evening. The event, another temporary dealing, causes them to spend some time together when nothing else in their house can distract them. Instead of ignoring their pain any longer, they are forced to look into each other and see the pain therein. The second event is the wife’s choice to move out and start a new life without her husband. This decision shows that she is choosing not to give up on life and is instead searching for a way to bring back meaning. While this action is hurtful to the husband, it is also the first hopeful tone in the story. This small change in attitude on Lahiri’s part greatly emphasizes the fact that all things must end, even the mournful tone.