Moushumi

Lahiri shows us different attitudes to marriage through Moushumi’s character.Moushumi

generally feels disconnected from Bengali culture and she resents it because she sees it as
limiting and takes away her freedom as an individual. Her need for independence is
greater than her sense of commitment to family and marriage. Moushumis views of
marriage are also influenced by her friends Astrid and Donald as she is constantly
comparing her own marriage to theirs, she envies Astrid and Donald's western lifestyle. In
the book Astrid tells Moushumi that she “can't see her with an Indian guy” which worsens
the situation and makes Moushumi further believe that marrying a Bengali man is weird
and degrading , this makes Moushumi think that her marriage makes people perceive her in
a different light.

Gogol
Lahiri shows us different attitudes to marriage through Gogols character. He views his own
parents marriage as something limiting and not meaningful but views the Ratcliffs marriage
as something that has more meaning andBecause Gogol has used the Ratliffs as an escape
from his past for so long