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Shiva's Arms
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Shiva's Arms (2010) (edit title/settings)

by Cheryl Snell (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Is there a happy medium between Hindu tradition and American style, or does the battle of wills between a mother and daughter-in law for the love of the man caught in the middle trump all else? When Alice marries Ramesh, she is plunged into a battle of wills with her mother-in-law. Amma... read more

Summary edit see section history

From a seemingly simple clash of cultures between in-laws, Shiva’s Arms evolves into an exploration of cultural identity, the power of reconciliation, and the meaning of home. Written in a lyrical style studded with startling imagery, the author uses South Indian myths and customs to explore... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

From a seemingly simple clash of cultures between in-laws, Shiva’s Arms evolves into an exploration of cultural identity, the power of reconciliation, and the meaning of home. Written in a lyrical style studded with startling imagery, the author uses South Indian myths and customs to explore questions of belonging--national, cultural, linguistic--as well as class and ideology. Life is breathed into very different characters, giving them each the space in which to tell their story.

Alice marries Ramesh, a man from a tradition she can’t fathom. Ram aspires to the modern way of life. Alice, eager to belong, embraces the culture her husband is trying to leave behind. At the beginning, even her wardrobe is like a costume--“She jangled an armload of gold-painted bangles…Her eyes were lined with kohl… Every time she took a step, an ankle- bracelet of little bells tinkled.” Alice is an "insider" who wants out; an "outsider" to the West, Ram wants in.

Alice is the outsider in her mother-in-law’s mind. The old woman will protect family traditions at any cost, whether in India or on US soil. Alice’s authority in her own home is constantly challenged. Amma re-decorates at will, imposes Hindu rituals on the household, and since a child belongs to the whole family, indoctrinates her grandson, Sam, with Indian traditions. As the namesake of the god of creation and destruction, Amma Shiva both embraces and repels, emotionally destabilizing the fragile Alice, who takes refuge in illness.

Also in Alice’s world is Ram’s sister Nela, a brilliant, beautiful woman rendered unmarriageable by a romantic indiscretion. When she makes her bid for freedom, Amma disowns her, and forbids the extended family to ever speak her name again. Alice keeps up with her anyway, by telephone and mail. “She writes to me often, with news of the boy and my brother, always with plans for a trap for my mother,” Nela explains to Nigel, her longtime lover, as they sift through the latest photos of Sam.

The boy has grown up believing his aunt is dead. When he discovers the truth, he storms out to go to Nela, and shifts the power between Alice and the old woman. Amma’s health fails, and stripped to her essence, she must depend on Alice to look beyond their problems and give her what she needs. With the help of the dishonored daughter, Alice does her duty with tenacity and ingenuity.

“Samsara,” is a word that builds resonance throughout this book. This domestic sea, part of the endless cycle of birth and death, means different things to each of the characters: to Ram and Nela it is a trap, to Alice and Amma, community. But the struggle between the religious and the secular, the traditional and the modern is best exemplified by Amma Shiva, who sets the tone for a household in which relationships mean everything. That is what ultimately draws Alice in. In Shiva’s Arms, the theme of religion shows how one family uses it to care for one another in an unpredictable world.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Alice: Wife, mother, daughter-in-law, artist, depressive. It's not until she learns the meaning of reconciliation that she finds her place in her extended family.
  • Ram: The husband who runs away from his Hindu culture as fast as his wife runs toward it. He tries to accommodate both his traditional mother (the namesake of the god of destruction) and his wife. The quintessential man in the middle.
  • Amma: Matriarch of a Brahmin joint-family, she must reconcile herself to the culture clash with which her son has presented her in the form of the unsuitable American bride. She will protect the ancient traditions at any cost.
  • Sambashivan: father of Ram, husband to Amma. He supports the idea of a love match for his son long before it happens. “You must marry soon,” he says when Ram goes off to graduate school in America. “Otherwise, marriage will be for companionship only.”
  • Nela: the disgraced daughter, ostracized for a small romantic indiscretion. She has gone on to become a math professor, and only returns to the family fold when Amma is stricken with a stroke.
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Quotes edit see section history

  • ““Shame! This is your fault only!” Amma yelled, shaking her fist. “You goddess girl, you have weakened my family, my son’s caste lost, because of you! “You’re the one! You won’t be satisfied until you’ve destroyed everything, smashed it to bits with your tiny bare feet!” Alice pointed Amma’s brown toes. Amma looked down and flexed them, the war suspended for a second until she ran to the kitchen. Pulse throbbing at her temples, Amma snatched a pair of pliers to her heaving chest, hiked up the hem of her sari and scurried upstairs.”

First Sentence edit see section history

When the Sambashivans ordered the unsuitable bride and family black sheep back to India, the couple had to obey, tumbling from their brass bed on the appointed morning to dress in love beads, tie-dye and peace sign jewelry.

Table of Contents edit see section history

In reverse order, and from Amma's pov --

25 There is medicine for diseases, but is there any medicine for fate?
* 24 She who is ever active is never moved.Nela's return.
* 23: While Alice helps Amma recover, Ram realizes Every man hath his own planet .
* 22:Nela's sacrifice. Since the letters of fate are on your head, will your fate leave you because you shave your head?
* 21 Though one weeps, will the fate written be removed ? Amma's stroke draws family close.
* 20: Sam goes to Nela. If you are noble you will find the world noble.
* 19:The ox pulled to the shore, the buffalo pulled towards the water. Family secret revealed!
* 18. Nela and Nigel. Mary and Sam.Though dirt may be got rid of, inherited fate will not expire!
* 17: There is neither cotton nor thread, yet weavers are fighting.Alice's secrets.
* 16 If the mother-in-law breaks it, it is a mud pot. If the daughter-in-law breaks it, it is a golden pot.
* 15: Sam forgets to translate Amma for Alice. Alice punishes him.It is like a cat drinking milk with eyes closed.
* 14 Amma’s first visit to US as a widow. God's justice and love smite with one hand, and embrace with the other
* 13 - Samba's passing. Amma gives Alice Ganesh necklace.The invisible God is made to shine by the revealed God.
* 12 Amma disowns Nela for sleeping with English.Ram says it is using a Brahmaastra weapon on a sparrow. Correct?
* 11. Festival of Golu. Amma must teach Alice. What does a monkey know of the taste of ginger?
* 10. Amma takes no orders! Lentils still in the market and the Brahmin is beating his wife.
* 9: Ram says no to Amma. Excessive familiarity causes disrespect.
* 8: Amma does not take permission for baby-naming ceremony.One should not show his diamonds to a greengrocer!
* 7: Amma does not forget how to fight for family, Education in childhood is like the letters in a sculpture.
* 6. There are only two castes: the ones that give, and ones that don't.Alice demands her baby back.
* 5. The child belongs to the whole family! Amma takes little Sam to India while Alice sleeps in hospital.
4. What is the use of crying when the birds ate the whole farm? Amma helps the with baby, Alice suffers hysteria.
* 3. Alice fell from the sky and got stuck in a date palm! She is depressed, but baby Sam arrives!
* 2. Fat desire, thin throat! Ramesh in Samsara.
* 1: love match -The Elephant Must Not Marry The Mouse

Glossary edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • cultural identity: exemplified by the national cuisine. Recipes included in the back
  • the power of reconciliation: Alice uses the Christian ideal of reconciliation to step back from her relationship as adversary to give Amma the care she needs to recover.
  • the meaning of home: in a cross cultural landscape,this novel shows the reconfiguration of one family

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Best Novels Set in India. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Cheryl Snell (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: The Writer's Lair Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: March 15, 2010
ISBN: 978-0615340814
Page Count: 209

Classification edit see section history

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Rescuing Ranu: a novel by Cheryl Snell (Volume 1)
  • The Namesake
  • Arranged Marriage

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