Attacking Easy Prey

Have you ever had to travel into a foreign place or land where you do not know a soul and you are forced into trusting people that you have never meet before?  Relying on the goodness of others to help you make it through the day?  Just looking for a little companionship in a world with no friends?  And without warning or any sings that could have prevented you from heading down that path, you have suddenly found yourself in trouble that you could have never imagined.  Things like this seem to be an all too familiar occurrence in the world of travel and tourism throughout the world.  People just waiting in the shadows for their next victim to wonder off the plane.  Afraid, alone and looking for a kind face to help them in this new and unfamiliar place. 

            In the novel Jasmine, by Bharati Mukherjee, the main character Jyoti finds herself in an all too similar situation during her first encounter with a new and foreign place.  During her first day in America, Jyoti comes in contact with a man that she calls by the name of Half-Face but is also known as Bubba.  This man took her into a part of the world where hit was “his turf.”  Knowing that Jyoti had no one to take care of her he did every smooth act to try and get her into his room as he stated, “Haven’t I been a perfect gentleman? Offering a ride, carrying your bag?”  After being pulled into his room she was trapped with no where to go.  It was then that Bubba was able to force the issue and take complete advantage of Jyoti when there was clearly no consent given as she said, “My husband was killed…Please don’t do anything to me.”  After being raped it can be fairly stated that she was driven toward killing Bubba for the actions that he had committed bringing another episode of death into a life that had already experienced its fare share of those fillings.

            One way that this scene fits in with the rest of the novel so far is that it is centered on the unfortunate theme of death that Jyoti has endured so far.  Her first experience with death came from her father Pitaji when he was attacked by a bull that he never saw coming.  The next person to die in her life was he first husband Prakash.  Prakash was blown up by a bomb left in their place by some members of the Lion gang.  He died while making sure that she would live.  All throughout the novel a common theme of death and unfortunate circumstances is just some of the problems that Jyoti has had to experience. 

            All of us have that one story where we were taken advantage of before we even new what was happening or could find a way to prevent it.  Whether it was a fraudulent mail scam or a donation to a charity that didn’t exist, there are always people out their that seek out the week and lonely as easy prey.  Although there is no easy way of stopping this, one must always walk around with a weary eye.  Always remember that trust is something that has to be earned and should not just be given away.