Hello Ophelia, my name is Moushumi

                Moushumi and Ophelia come from two very different worlds. They grew up in different circumstances and underwent countless experiences that are far from similar. Not to mention that there is an incredible difference in time periods, between the two women.  However, just for fun, let’s toy with the idea that the fabric of time was bent and played with in such a way that the paths of Moushimi and Ophelia cross and they were able to have a conversation. Perhaps Moushimi could have had quite the positive influence on Ophelia. There is a lot we can say about the cheating wife from Jumpa Lahiri’s novel, the Namesake: she is selfish, dishonest, deceiving, careless and also ungrateful. Never the less, she holds her good qualities: independent, clever, intelligent and experienced. Ophelia, of Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, has been raised to be obedient, innocent, and naïve, and could easily benefit from the advice of a modern woman such as Moushumi.

Moushimi may not be deserving of the “mother of the year” award but she could still offer some advice to Ophelia regarding the men in her life, as female influence. Obviously the time gap presents many differences between the two, but those differences give Moushumi more of an advantage than Ophelia. Ophelia is a young girl living in a time where her virtue and obedience holds her value. This idea is not only reinforced by the society in which she lives but also her two care takers; Laertes, her older brother and Polonius, her father. To them she has a obligation to save herself until she will be a dutiful mother and obedient wife. Because of this she is warned countless times about Hamlet; she is told he will trick her into loving him, but only break her heart and ruin her for anyone else.  The problem really arises when Hamlet begins to act as if he has lost his wits because of Ophelia’s rejection for him. It is unclear whether or not Hamlet did truly love Ophelia, but in her heart she swears that he did, but being the “Yes father, yes brother” girl she is Ophelia is torn between the guilt of torturing Hamlet’s psyche, and obeying her caretakers.  Moushumi, on the other hand, grew up in a very different time and place. She has full freedom over the decisions she makes for herself, whether it is what job she wants, or what man she wants to be with and when she wants to be with him. However she does still have an understanding of parents who want to control her marital decisions due to the family and cultural background. Now add the fact that Moushimi has her sense of independence, and a vast experience with men from all walks of life. Whether it has been an affair, a long term relationship, a fling, a marriage or a failed relationship she has experience. Considering this, I believe that Moushimi would offer some very helpful advice to poor Ophelia, who is torn between the confusion men in her life are causing her.

                Clearly Moushumi and Ophelia have some differences, but if there is one thing that the two have in common it’s their emotional turbulence. After a failed engagement Moushumi suffered a nervous breakdown, leading her to overdose on medication. Ophelia’s mental state began to deteriorate after contradicting emotions towards her family and Hamlet finally took hold of her. This eventually caused her to be drown in a river. It is still debated whether or not Ophelia’s death was intentionally self-inflicted but one thing is clear; Moushumi survived and was able to see her life improve. Shortly after her life was saved by close friends and modern medicine she explored her freedom and enjoyed her independence in Paris. This is quite the touchy subject, but it could be fair to say that if Ophelia had the influence of another woman who had been through times troubling as hers perhaps her fate would have been different. Moushumi could have let Ophelia know that although the confusion, the guilt, and pressure seems unbearable to her at that moment her life will eventually unfold to the point where she is happy, with where she is and who she has become. 

It is unfortunate that some sort of bizarre time murmur could not have taken place, or that the worlds of these two stories could not have somehow overlapped, because Moushumi could have put her experience and good qualities to use. It is true that she has made some devastating mistakes in her life but in face of all of the calamity she walks out on her own two feet. That being said, despite Moushumi's tragic flaws she would have made a good confident for young Ophelia in her most confusing of times.