In the beginning we are introduced to Jasmine by an astrologer as a someday widower. When I first read that I was really rather intrigued, and I don’t believe in astrology or fortunes one bit. I’ve always thought of life as you make your own luck, and create your own future. I would never ask anyone of my fate, because to me it all seems so unpredictable.
But once again, I’m an American who lacks serious spiritual beliefs. I have one God, and He is the only one I pray to. (And I certainly don’t do it as much as I should.) But Jasmine I suppose is someone believing in many spirits and customs I don’t understand. Such as, who else would have believed Jasmine had a third eye out of which she saw an entirely different world? I was never raised or taught to believe such almost fairytale situations, but hey like I said I am a boring American all of the way. (Or so it seems.)
Then the story continues and Jasmine actually loses the love of her life, which was rather sad. They were married two weeks after they met and it all seemed so romantic. The way they described it seemed to be a real love at first sight kind of love. Which again, I don’t really believe in but there is always the possibility it could actually happen to someone else simply somewhere else.
I used to call my friend Jason “Jase” all of the time. It was a fun nickname, complete with the Jase the chase catch line. Which is kind of like Jasmine, she always seemed to be on the go. But maybe that is because if I were Jasmine I would have been a widow and kept to myself. But she just kept moving on, into American and into new loves. Which, I know that Jasmine seems strong but at the same time don’t we all only have one great love? If she is so dependent then I am not sure why she is living with these strange men.
When my husband dies I won’t fall in love again, or so I don’t plan to. I feel like once you love someone, and it’s real, your heart is never back to give it away again. But maybe she was just lonely and confused, so she wanted to pretend or believe she could love again. I feel like her relationship with Bud may have been just that. It didn’t seem like she really wanted to leave him. Maybe she knew somehow, someway, she needed these men in her life to somehow get back on track.
I think some of us cope by laughing when we really want to cry. Or going outside when we just want to dwell in our beds. I think we do anything we can just to fight it, because if we don’t fight it we start to lose all feeling. When we lose someone we love it cuts deep. We want to bury ourselves and I guess Jasmine experienced this pain on the inside. Maybe that is why she seems rather complicated to me.
Here are the lyrics to the song by the way:
Here's to the good life or so they say
All those parties and games that all those people play
They tell me this is the place to be
All these beautiful people and nothin' to see
Sometimes I feel like something is gone here
Something is wrong here, I don't belong here
Sometimes I feel like a stranger in town
And I've lost what I found, it'll all turn around
[CHORUS]
In a little while I'll be thinkin' about you
In a little while I'll still be here without you
You never gave me a reason to doubt you
In a little while I'll be thinkin' about you baby...I'll be thinkin' about you baby
On the other side of a coin
There's a face there's a memory somewhere that I can't erase
And there's a place that I find someday
But sometimes I feel like it's slippin' away
Sometimes I feel like something is gone here
Something is wrong here, I don't belong here
Sometimes I feel like a stranger in town
And I've lost what I found, it'll all turn around
[REPEAT CHORUS]
Some things are lost some left behind
Some things are better left for someone else to find
Maybe in time I can finally see
I just wonder, wonder if you think about me
Sometimes I feel like something is gone here
Something is wrong here, I don't belong here
Sometimes I feel like a stranger in town
And I've lost what I found, it'll all turn around
Here are the lyrics to the song by the way:
Here's to the good life or so they say
All those parties and games that all those people play
They tell me this is the place to be
All these beautiful people and nothin' to see
Sometimes I feel like something is gone here
Something is wrong here, I don't belong here
Sometimes I feel like a stranger in town
And I've lost what I found, it'll all turn around
[CHORUS]
In a little while I'll be thinkin' about you
In a little while I'll still be here without you
You never gave me a reason to doubt you
In a little while I'll be thinkin' about you baby...I'll be thinkin' about you baby
On the other side of a coin
There's a face there's a memory somewhere that I can't erase
And there's a place that I find someday
But sometimes I feel like it's slippin' away
Sometimes I feel like something is gone here
Something is wrong here, I don't belong here
Sometimes I feel like a stranger in town
And I've lost what I found, it'll all turn around
[REPEAT CHORUS]
Some things are lost some left behind
Some things are better left for someone else to find
Maybe in time I can finally see
I just wonder, wonder if you think about me
Sometimes I feel like something is gone here
Something is wrong here, I don't belong here
Sometimes I feel like a stranger in town
And I've lost what I found, it'll all turn around
Hey Jessica,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is rather intriguing this week. I think you somewhat dislike Jasmine and I can see where you are coming from. You analyzed details in the story to find Jasmine's fault, which is very interesting. I agree with you that throughout the story, Jasmine's character is somewhat contradictory. For instant, Jasmine was supposed to be a very traditional and dependent girl. However, after Prakash's death, she changed. She went to America all by herself. She sought new loves. She was quite independent in fact. But I think that is understandable because she actually was rebirth after Prakash's death. In the book, there was a part where it mentions that Prakash gave birth to a new life named Jasmine when he gave Jyoti a new name. I agree with you that sometimes it is better to not love anyone else when your spouse die. Everyone can only have one "great" love. The second and third are usually used for one to run away from reality. I can also understand the situation from Jasmine's stand point. She was only seventeen when Prakash died. I guess if she chose not to love anyone else, her love life would have been wasted. She was too young to be thinking about being faithful to her dead husband. Again, she was rebirth. Therefore, the faithful person she used to be was murdered by her new self. This was only the beginning because she transformed three times in order to reach her ultimate transformation.
Jessica:
ReplyDelete1. You're not boring.
2. Jasmine is definitely a complex, multifaceted character. I've read the novel many times, and learn something new about her each time.
3. Prakash died when Jyoti was what--17 years old? I don't think I would spend the rest of my life alone, personally, if I were widowed so young.
Hey Jessica,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is interesting to read this week. I can see that you dislike Jasmine a lot. However, if you try to see things on Jasmine’s perspective, you probably will change your stand point. First of all, I do not believe in spirit world too, but I do not deny its existence as well. It was not until my aunt shared with me her experiences with the psychic that I start to think that spirits could exist in our world. This is one reason why scientist can’t explain everything yet. Anyway, I think Jasmine doesn’t believe in spiritual world not until her first husband Prakash’s death. She ran to America to hopefully to get rid of the curse. Then she met Bud, and they fall in love for a short while. The reason why I said “for a short” while is because I am not even sure if Jasmine actually loves Bud or not. I think the reason why Jasmine stays with Bud just because she felt guilty for Bud’s disability. At least she took good care of Bud. One thing I think Jasmine was somehow selfish is when she decided to be with Taylor. I know she like Taylor very much, but she should have known that the curse could pass to Taylor too. If she insisted to be with her, there is a high possibility that Taylor will be the next victim. I mean, I do not criticize on her choice since Taylor loves Jasmine too, but I just feel bad to Taylor.