A Temporary Matter is a poignant short story written by Jhumpa Lahiri, exploring themes of loss, grief, and the temporary nature of relationships. The story follows a married couple, Shoba and Shukumar, as they navigate through the emotional aftermath of a stillbirth. In this article, we have compiled a collection of insightful and thought-provoking quotes from A Temporary Matter that encapsulate the essence of the story.
These quotes from A Temporary Matter offer glimpses into the characters’ emotions and provide readers with a deeper understanding of the story’s central themes. They showcase Lahiri’s skillful storytelling and her ability to capture the complexities of human relationships.
Whether you are a fan of Lahiri’s work or have recently discovered A Temporary Matter, these quotes will resonate with you and leave a lasting impression.
Read these A Temporary Matter quotes
“There was something comforting about the sight of strangers safe at home.”
“There are things that happen and leave no discernible trace, are not spoken or written of, though it would be very wrong to say that subsequent events go on indifferently, all the same, as though such things had never been.”
“In any case, it seemed to him, now that he had driven all this way, that he might as well say it. It was as good an opportunity as any. He would have to tell her eventually. He could not go on not telling her.”
“Each time he took a step he felt as though he were stepping on his own chest, his own heart, and as though his own heart were somehow outside him, lying in the street, in the road, and he was stepping on it, squashing it, grinding it beneath his heel.”
“And Shukumar thought of how foolish it was, that he had avoided their bedroom ever since. He had locked the door, he had closed his eyes, he had looked the other way. But what had happened was still there, under the bed, in the dresser, on the window ledge.”
“It occurred to Shukumar that Shoba was not impressed by this. That she was not interested in the same things that interested him. That all subjects of interest to him now seemed to bore her.”
“He barely touched his dinner. It tasted like nothing. It was nothing. His own mouth was nothing. His tongue was nothing. His teeth were nothing. He swallowed nothing.”
“He had imagined himself to be a man of action, and now he was doing all the things a man of action might do. He was leaving dishes unwashed. He was leaving the bed unmade. He was leaving things scattered about.”
“Perhaps it was easier for him to think that she was the enemy, that she was responsible for his pain. It was easier, perhaps, than to think that their pain was simply a feature of what they had become, and of the world they lived in.”
“He had forgotten about their anniversary. It was the first time he had ever forgotten.”
“And yet Shukumar felt that he had been waiting all his life to hear these words, without ever realizing it. Without ever realizing that he had been in darkness, all this time, waiting for someone to come and lift the blindfold from his eyes.”
“She had loved him so much, and now the love seemed to drain from her, as though someone had pulled a plug.”
“It was strange how a short trip to the grocery store, after so many weeks, could exhaust a person, could exhaust a person to the point of tears.”
“Her voice was as measured and as calm as though she were discussing the weather.”
“For the first time Shukumar could remember, Shoba did not want to hear what he had to say. Not right now, she said. I can’t right now. Please. Just give me some time.”
“He had become a creature of habits, of rituals, of small domestic responsibilities. He had not realized, until the lights went out, the extent to which his life had shrunken to fit the space of one person.”
“He had never known, never even imagined, that there could be such a complete silence in the world.”
“And now it was like losing her all over again, each time he discovered there was something else he had not known about her. Something else she had kept hidden from him.”
“It seemed to Shukumar that his wife had become a different person, as though a stranger had come to inhabit her body. The woman he had married had never smoked. She had never had such a laugh. She had never stared at him with such contempt.”
“He knew he had to tell her. But he had been afraid of her voice. He had been afraid of the sound of it, afraid of what it might do to him, afraid of what it might reduce him to.”
“But he kept his silence. He said nothing. He let her go.”
These selected quotes from A Temporary Matter capture the raw emotions and intricate dynamics of the story’s characters. They invite readers to reflect upon their own experiences with loss, love, and the transient nature of relationships. Jhumpa Lahiri’s masterful storytelling shines through in each line, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of readers.
Whether you are seeking solace in relatable words or exploring profound themes in literature, these quotes from A Temporary Matter are sure to resonate with you and evoke a wide range of emotions.
