Analysis part 1 Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian-American author, who addresses the difficulties of being a (second generation) migrant in her popular short stories. So do her two short stories “A Temporary Matter” and “Mrs. Sen’s”, which are the subject of this analysis. Lahiri approaches different topics for A Temporary Matter is about Shoba and Shukumar, who experience the problems of second generation migrants, whereas Mrs. Sen is a migrant, who struggles with assimilating to the American lifestyle. Shoba and especially Shukumar do not feel connected with India, nevertheless they mostly eat Indian dishes and feel the need to reconnect with India (Shukumar begins to study eastern cultures after the death of his father). They look like typical Indians, know the Indian culture, but they are members of the western/American society, which leads them into an inner conflict and a feeling of disconnection. Lahiri portrays the identity conflict second generation migrants like Shoba and Shukumar are conflicted with. Mrs. Sen however did not grow up in America and has major problems dealing with the culture clash. Her story is more about homesickness and nostalgia. Mrs. Sen wants to keep the Indian traditions in her life what leads her into the situation where she cannot adapt the American lifestyle because she clings too much onto her old life in India. Both stories deal with themes like the end of a marriage or/and the death of a loved one. Overall, a sad atmosphere and hardships characterize the two short stories. Lahiri’s stories are non-fictional and could happen just like this in real life, thus this realistic aspect has an even more depressing effect on the reader, because one can easily imagine being in the character’s skin. It could be Lahiri’s intention to show readers, who are not immigrants and have no migratory background how hard it can be to live in two worlds simultaneously and to have a feeling of cultural displacement. For non-immigrants it can be hard to understand the problems that immigrants face and by reading Lahiri’s short stories people who are not faced with those situation can show the immigrants understanding. This could also counter xenophobia and racism. For the immigrants, on the other hand, the stories can give them comfort and show them that they are not alone with their problems.