Born Confused
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Emily Buettemeier
Author: Tanuja Desai Hidier
Humanities II
Title: Born Confused
Period 2
Genre: novel
1-20-05
Pages: 500 Ð- first quarter
Born Confused is a coming of age story of Dimple, an American-born Indian girl. During the summer before her senior year of high school, Dimples parents decide it is time for her to find a “suitable Indian boy” to marry. Dimples mother chooses for her daughter, Karsh, the son of her best friend. Karsh acts the part of the perfect Indian gentleman, which of course turns off Dimple. The first turning-point occurs when Dimple finds out that Karsh is the DJ at a dance club on the NYU campus. Suddenly Karsh, the DJ, seems much more appealing than Karsh, the suitable Indian boy. Unfortunately, Dimples best friend, Gwyn, also finds Karsh to be appealing. A crisis occurs when Gwyn and Karsh form a friendship based on their mutual interest (learning to be a DJ) and exclude Dimple. When Dimple confronts Gwyn and accuses her of stealing her boyfriend, Gwyn breaks off their friendship. Dimple finds life difficult without her best friend and initiates a conversation with Gwyn. Gwyn then reveals that she and Karsh have broken up. This news frees Dimple to reveal her true feelings to Karsh. The resolution occurs at the dance club where Dimple was first attracted to Karsh.
Setting
Most of the story takes place in New Jersey and Manhattan. The atmosphere is laden with teenage angst. Initially the tension is between Dimple and her parents, but then shifts to tension between Dimple and Gwyn. Through it all, Karsh is the center of the conflict, without even doing anything to initiate the conflict. The Indian culture of her parents contrasts sharply with the setting of university club life. I believe the author choose this setting because she is familiar with the geographical location and it reflects her personal experience.
Form, Structure
This story is told in the first person, by Dimple. The 44 chapters are organized chronologically and are humorously titled. A nostalgic look through a photo album triggered flashback memories of Dimples grandfather. A visit to the temple with her father prompted another flashback of spending time with her father when she was little. This flashback reminded Dimple to spend more time with her family and share her problems with them and listen to their advice. Flashbacks to childhood memories provide insight into Dimples upbringing which formed her personality.
Characters
Dimple Lala is the 17 year old protagonist of this story. She is an American-born Indian girl, who considers herself to be an ABCD, which stands for “American-Born Confused Desi. Like many ABCDs, she finds herself struggling to fit in. She feels as though she doesnt quite fit into the Indian culture of her parents nor is she comfortable in the American culture. “I tell whether Im Indian or American half the time. I dont know how Im supposed to act, who Im supposed to relate to, where I fit in. I dont know how to bring anything together” (Hidier 395). Dimple is extremely shy and often confused.
Gwyn Sexton is Dimples best friend and the antagonist. She is a fair-skinned, blonde, attractive 16 year old. Gwyn is the polar opposite of Dimple, out-going, confident, perky and thoroughly American. As described by Dimple, “diva of the dramatic entrance swinging up, lunchbox purse in one hand, shades atop a shiny blond chignoned head, and sleek blue mini turning purple as her fishnetted legs slunk around underneath, activating its iridescence” (Hidier 6).
Karsh is a student at NYU and is initially described by Dimple as “the most unsuitable suitable boy between the Hudson and the Ganges” (Hidier 115). He displays two different personalities. Alone with Dimple he is caring and sensitive, whereas on the job as a dance club DJ he is wild and crazy.
Title
The title Born Confused comes in part from the ABCD term as described above. The significance is both literal and symbolic. At the beginning of the story, Dimple relates that her mother described her has being born “holding my head in my hand . . . like Rodins Thinker sculpture” (Hidier 1). Dimple goes on to say “But I think that was just a polite way of saying I looked like I didnt get it. Born backwards and clueless. In other words, born confused” (Hidier 1).
Memorable Quotations
“it really taught me what it means to seize the day and know