The Young Couple

“The young couple” an Analytical Essay

The story takes place in India, where the newlyweds, Cathy and Naraian, moved after a 5-year stay in England.

Cathy and Naraian live in a rented flat. The flat had been got to them through one of Naraian’s uncle’s influence (lines 8-9).

In the text, on page 1, line 10-11, it tells some things about the flat, one of which, is that the flat often gets very hot because of the sun beating down on them, and the other thing is that it’s very small too, and third most it is not in good condition, the text mentions... however Naraian’s parents’ house is very expensive and has brocade curtains, giant cushions, and solid furniture (page 2, lines 48-50).

Naraian refuses to work for his family, so they haven’t gotten much money yet, in which the lousy flat indicates...

In the text, you also get to know that Cathy, is an English woman and that she has blonde hair, on page 2, line 54. When Naraian is at work she wanders around in the flat or out onto the roof in her flimsy nylon nightdress with her long blonde hair hanging.

Cathy

As mentioned before, Cathy is from England, she is a blonde-haired lady, and, according to the family, she is kind and sweet. She does, however, feel a bit lonely sometimes, and at other times, she’s confused about many things… the future, whether Naraian is going to find a job, etc.

Naraian

Naraian is certain very certain about things including what he wants to work with/as, and this goes to show, on page 1. line 5-6, when he mentions exactly how he wants his job to be. We don’t really get a lot else to hear about Naraian... only that he comes from a rich and popular family (page 2. line 34-35).

In the novelle, written by Ruth Jhabvala, we’re hearing the story from Cathy’s point of view. As the story progresses on, we learn increasingly more about what’s going, and why things are happening for Cathy and her surroundings.

For example: At the start of the text, we hear that Cathy is talking about Naraian looking around for a job in which his skills could be properly used in the service of his country (page 1. line 5-6). At this point, we’re already introduced to what her husband's goal is, and Cathy lets him do his things, while she is at home in their flat.

Cathy, sometimes, struggle to find peace of mind. In the text, on page 2. line 55-58, she says that she doesn’t like feeling so much love from Naraian’s family. on the lines, 55-58, she says that she feels like she is drowning in love. Cathy’s family never gave her so much love, so she doesn’t know how to handle the affection she is given.

You could say that in general, throughout the story, she deals with a lot of confusing thoughts and decisions that she doesn’t know how to handle...

The significance of the title could be that these two young people are just now discovering what being together is like, and what comes with it, the responsibility, the up’s, and down’s, etc. They have a profound newfound love for each other, in the text, and that love, for each other, keeps on evolving as time passes by.

At the end of the novelle, it points out that they are kissing, and that the kiss was “delicious”. And that was mentioned, right after the event, where they are talking about how bad the flat is but, Cathy then mentions the view, as the only positive thing about the flat, at least that was what she could think of, for the time being, and Naraian pulled a “contemptuous face”, the texts mentions on line 180 p. 4.