Mrs. Sen's

Fish and its preparation symbolize tradition and family. Eliot watches Mrs. Sen prepare fish and vegetables every day for Mr. Sen. The fish that Mrs. Sen carefully takes apart and cuts into filets is one of the only physical connections that she has to India. She tells Eliot that in India she ate fish twice a day. Fish is important to Mrs. Sen’s life, and it reminds her of living in India, where she felt connected to family, friends, and community. When Mrs. Sen complains to Eliot that the fish in America isn’t as fresh and doesn’t taste as good as fish from India, she reveals how much she misses her previous life and how dissatisfied she is with her current life. The symbol of fish supports the theme of Alienation from Community that pervades the story.

The Sens’ car symbolizes the inequality of their marriage and the labor that Mrs. Sen offers to Mr. Sen—she makes sacrifices to cater to his wants and needs. Eliot often sits in the car with Mrs. Sen when she practices driving because it makes her nervous, and his presence seems to calm her.