Take a Lesson from the Bird, Pack Light.

Most of us stay in the area of our raising and anchor ourselves there before we get the chance to explore and see the world by buying cars and homes and others personal possessions that we think we cant live without, then you realize that “The things you own end up owning you.” (Fight Club the movie) Before you know it your married and have kids and you watch your dreams of exploring the world and experiencing adventures, thought only to exist in books, float away like balloons. That is why Jasmine, the main character in the book Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee, is free to do what she wants when she wants.



Jasmine in the absence of her family, not being a legal citizen and lacking large personal belongings enables her to leave one life for the next without much thought or remorse. It was Tyler Durden in the cult classic Fight club that said “It's only after you've lost everything, that you're free to do anything.” After Jasmine loses her husband does she gain the courage to travel to America and only after losing her innocence at the hands of her rapist/victim does she gain the experience that empowers her to make a life for herself in America.

Jasmine is a unique character because where ever she goes she seemingly leaves “a path of destruction behind” her (205). Jasmine leads many different lives and has had many different names. “I have had a husband for each of the women I have been. Prakash for Jasmine, Taylor for Jase, Bud for Jane, half face for Kali.” (197). These names are a result of her own inexperience to American life and the fact that she has no family or personal belongings to hold her down. Jasmine is literally like a plastic bag waiting to be blown from one place to the next.

I believe Jasmine's behavior is a result of her desire to truly be happy. But I believe every situation after the death of her 1st husband has been unfulfilling for her, Jasmine knew nothing else previous to that. But this desire for fulfillment in America, or the quest for the "American Dream", distances her from her old life, heritage and culture.

Many of us are so involved with our own daily struggle with self improvement and personal accent that we don’t ever take the time to enjoy the “climb”. Jasmine, because she has nothing, is empowered by it by being able to do whatever she likes when she likes.