Secrets And Lies

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English 102 February 14, 2012 Secrets and Lies: " A Temporary Matter" The truth is everyone has a few secrets. Although I do not believe that a secret is the same thing as a lie, I do believe that secrets are the cause of most lies. A secret can be defined as not disclosing information while a lie is creating false information. There are many reasons why people decide to keep a secret or tell a lie. We are afraid of many things. In close relationships, people keep secrets because they are embarrassed or fearful of a partner's hostility and possible rejection . It is often in one's interest to keep some things private, especially when partners are likely to respond poorly to the truth. | In "A temporary Matter" by Jhumpa Lahiri, Shoba and Shukumar were the two main characters. The story revolves around the death of Shukumar and Shoba’s baby. Lahiri describes the couple after f the child’s death but also during pregnancy through flashbacks. We find out the couple lives in a nice area with a “quiet tree-lined street, within walking distance of a row of brick-faced stores and a trolley shop.” Their great life was interrupted when the pregnancy goes wrong. After the death of their baby, they spend as much time away from each other as they possibly can. Shoba and her mother blame Shukumar for the child’s death since he was not there during the birth. Lahiri shows changes in both characters by describing them as how they were and how they are now. Now the characters seem unmotivated. Shukumar talks a lot about how Shoba used to amaze him and overwhelm him with her beauty, but now he seems disgusted by her. Shoba still has not overcome the baby's death, and she is delusional. She mentions the baby in memories that never happened. It is only when there is no electricity and in the dark when they play the “telling” game. This game allows
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