Effects of Advancing Social and Technological Changes

Mr. Bhowmick considers himself an expatriates and this makes it difficult for him to understand his daughter who has the immigrant mentality and has embraced the American culture. He believes in superstitions, embraces the worship of Hindu gods and works hard to practice his India customs. The setting and events in the story portray social changes that are evident in the lives of the characters and how they affect the lives of the characters especially that of Mr. Bhowmick. He grows to hate his wife and daughter who have learnt to conform to the American way of life. Bhowmick believes in and worships the Indian goddess Kali and he offers long prayers to her every morning. He is not open to the way of life in the United States and this can be seen in the constant prayers he holds prompting his wife to say “he wasn’t praying, she nagged; he was shutting her out of his life.

” He seeks to dominate his wife and remains superstitious. He is furious when he learns of his daughter’s pregnancy, initially because he viewed it as disgrace to his traditional Indian family and later because he finds out it is through artificial insemination. The citizens have to hide their special attributes and act like less than what they are in the name of equality. The beautiful ballerinas have to wear masks to hide their beauty and the strong have to carry weights with them everywhere. Intellects like George Bergeron have handicap radios in their ears to disrupt their thoughts and ensure they do not rebel. Vonnegut also expresses the impact of technology on the people. He uses the television to express the negative control it has and how the government uses it to enforce its agendas.