Helen Sajan

The theme of mother-daughter relationship is focused in the story. The conflict between mother and daughter could also be seen as the conflict between "mother culture" and culture of daughter (American). The ways in which mother culture is constantly present in these novel is through language, small little family rituals etc. Moreover we could also see the reinforcement of'American Dream' through the character of mother. It also portrays the theme of parental expectations, assertion of one's identity, cultural differences.