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Heralds of Departure: Foreshadowing in “A
Temporary Matter”
By Cecelia Lefgren
An essential element of a good story is foreshadowing. Though the ending of “A Temporary
Matter” by Jhumpa Lahiri comes as a shock on the first read-through, there are tiny warning
signs at every stage of the narrative, whether in Shoba’s actions past, her actions now, or in her
words.
One of the more subtle signs of Shoba’s intentions comes through actions of the past. Shoba
was always prepared. She bought clothing double and kept her own bank account, just in case
(6). She bought too much food and bottled or canned the excess (7). These preparations appear at
first to be simply in case of emergencies, but it is obvious that Shoba was always ready for a life
without Shukumar. She has a job, while Shukumar is still a student (3). It was she who provided
all the energy to gather groceries and cook (7). Her previous preparations served as an enabler
for her current plans. She had all the skills and, because of her personal bank account, the means
to do so. One of the biggest tells about this preparation is actually a line of narration about
Shukumar. “It hadn’t bothered him” (6). The use of the word “hadn’t” implies that the idea of
her preparation was fine in the past, but now, there was something about it that, whether
consciously or unconsciously, bothered Shukumar. There was a change that made him think
about it differently. It hadn’t bothered him, but now it did.
Shukumar recounts many of the changes in Shoba’s behavior. They are all linked to her grief
and portend to the separation. One of the changes is how Shoba treated their home. Before, she
was neat, tidy and cared about how her home was run. But by the timeframe of the story, she
“treated the house as if it were a hotel” (6). The word “hotel” draws some attention because of its
connotations. At first, it just means that she had a lack of regard for the space, just as you would
in a hotel; someone else is there to clean things up for you. But a hotel is also a temporary place,
transitory. Their home had become something short-term for Shoba. Her intent to leave is made
fairly clear in this statement.
Shoba’s increased distance from Shukumar also points to her leaving. She would leave the
house and stay out most of the day. As she did this, she kept finding reasons to stay out more and
more, “putting in extra hours at work, and taking on additional projects” (2). When she was in
the house, she was often proofreading anyway (8). Staying out of the house and bringing work
into the house when she had to be there are other signs of her desire to be separated from the
house, Shukumar and all that it represented.
Shoba’s words also hint towards her impending departure. She initiates the game as a way of
telling Shukumar (21), but well before that, she comments on the notice they were given. “It’s
good of them to warn us” (1). Warnings are appreciated, she realizes. She needs to warn
Shukumar before she is gone. This is what sets the whole idea and game in motion. The sentence
itself is a way of showing that some other sign must be given. It foreshadows the other
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developments, the hints she tries to give throughout their game, and finally, the official notice in
the form of the revelation of her apartment.
Foreshadowing, when done well, will be almost imperceptible the first time, but will come
clear when one knows the ending. The ending of “A Temporary Matter” comes as a shock, but
when examined more closely, it is not completely without warning.