When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

by

Jhumpa Lahiri

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When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine Symbols

Candy

The candy that Mr. Pirzada gives Lilia represents the possibility for human connection despite people’s differences, even across vast distances or stretches of time. Every time Mr. Pirzada comes to Lilia’s house for dinner, he…

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TV

TV represents the violent reality of revolution and war. The TV is almost always on in Lilia’s family home—as political conflict in East Pakistan intensifies, Lilia’s parents and their regular dinner guest Mr. Pirzada

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Watches

Watches represent the idea that rituals and shared time allow loved ones to connect with one another, even from a distance. While Mr. Pirzada, an East Pakistani man, eats dinner with Lilia and her…

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