The Robin and Peacock

The Robin and Peacock

Shashi Deshpande who is of Indian decent gives insight into the Indian perspective on how culture conflicts can affect the mother-daughter relationship. The complex nature of the mother-daughter relationship is a theme presented in Deshpande’s short story “Why a Robin?”.  In using this theme Deshpande illustrates the complex emotions that a mother and daughter can undergo when they experience conflict. The conflict that is presented in this story arises because the traditional values that are supported by the mother and the modern values supported with the daughter ultimately clash. More importantly, it is through this theme that Deshpande shows how unwillingness to learn about another culture can lead to conflict.

The protagonist of the story, the mother, only knows her Indian culture and this conflicts with her daughter who is influenced by the new culture. The mother wonders why her daughter must learn about the robin for a school assignment because as she states “I know nothing about it”, she knows of the peacock, a bird she encountered in her youth (Despande, 26).  Therefore, the mother is worried how her lack of knowledge will impact their already strained relationship.  The mother already feels alienated from her daughter and is worried that her daughter will further distance herself. As the daughter dismisses the mother’s advice the mother sees how the daughter is influenced by the new culture and modern thinking.

Though the mother feels alienated from her daughter, she remains hopeful that they will find a commonality. The mother is “filled with hope and eagerness” because this assignment presents an opportunity for the mother-daughter relationship to improve (Despande, 27). The mother insists on telling her daughter about the peacock, a bird that is significant to her. She believes that if she tells her daughter why the peacock is significant, and the memory she has of them then perhaps they can understand each other.

However, the daughter, the antagonist of the story becomes adamant about only learning about the robin. Since the mother seemingly has no intellectual value, the daughter sees the mother as incapable and ignorant.  The mother feels hurt because her daughter’s “words, glances, lacerate” her (Deshpande, 26). Adding more injury to the mother, the daughter rebuffs her mother’s advice and seeks the father’s advice.  This action widens the divide between mother and daughter. The different perspectives of the mother and the daughter causes more strain on the relationship.