A Choice of Accommodations
“A
Choice of Accommodations” is the third story in Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa
Lahiri. It explores themes of marital discontent, nostalgia, and the tension
between past and present relationships. The story follows Amit, a Bengali-American
man, as he attends the wedding of an old crush and reflects on his life,
marriage, and personal identity.
Structure of “A Choice of Accommodations”
1. Exposition
(Introduction to Amit’s Life & Background)
Amit,
a Bengali-American, reflects on his past at Langford Boarding School and his
admiration for Pam Borden.
He
and his wife, Megan, prepare to attend Pam’s wedding, leaving their children at
home.
2. Rising
Action (Journey & Arrival at the Wedding)
Amit
books a mediocre inn instead of the luxurious Langford guesthouse, symbolizing
his habit of settling for less.
He
feels nostalgic yet out of place among Langford’s wealthy crowd.
The
wedding stirs emotions about his past crush on Pam and his marriage’s current
state.
3. Climax
(Wedding Reception & Amit’s Emotional Detachment)
Amit
drinks too much, flirts with an old acquaintance, and neglects Megan.
Megan
feels abandoned and frustrated, leading to tension.
4. Falling
Action (Argument & Realization in the Hotel Room)
Megan
confronts Amit about his emotional absence, making him realize his neglect.
He
sees how he has been avoiding true emotional engagement in their marriage.
5. Resolution
(Subtle Reconciliation & Choosing Love)
Amit
and Megan share a quiet moment of physical intimacy, signaling an attempt to
reconnect.
The
story ends on an ambiguous yet hopeful note, showing that marriage requires
active effort and conscious choices.
Key Structural Elements:
Flashbacks
to Amit’s boarding school years deepen his character and show his lifelong feeling
of being an outsider.
Symbolic
settings (Langford vs. the hotel) reinforce Amit’s choices in life and
relationships.
Internal
conflict (nostalgia vs. reality) drives Amit’s transformation.
Subtle,
unresolved ending reflects Lahiri’s realistic storytelling style, leaving room
for interpretation.
This
structure emphasizes marital struggles, personal growth, and the importance of
being present in love.
Detailed Summary
* The Premise and Setting:
* Amit and Megan are attending the wedding
of Pam, the daughter of the headmaster of Amit's former boarding school,
Langford Academy. This return to his past environment is crucial.
Amit and his wife, Megan, leave their two
young daughters at home to attend the wedding of Pam Borden, a woman Amit once
admired while he was a student at Langford, an elite New England boarding
school. The wedding Is being held at Langford itself, bringing Amit back to the
setting of his youth.
Amit,
the son of Bengali immigrants, was sent to Langford as a teenager. His parents,
strict academics, believed that boarding school would offer him a better
future. However, instead of thriving academically, Amit mostly felt out of
place among wealthy, privileged students. During this time, he developed an
admiration for Pam Borden, the daughter of one of his professors, who was warm
and welcoming to him. He had a mild, unspoken crush on her but never acted on
it.
Now,
years later, Amit is in his forties, married to Megan, an American woman, and
leading a stable yet somewhat unfulfilling life. The wedding invitation gives
him a reason to reflect on his past, and he feels both nostalgic and unsettled
about returning to Langford.
Amit & Megan’s Marital Tensions
Before
even arriving at the wedding, Amit and Megan’s relationship feels strained.
Their interactions lack warmth, and there are signs of emotional distance
between them. Amit has started to feel disconnected from his wife, and their
marriage seems to have settled into a routine that lacks excitement.
They
check into an underwhelming inn instead of staying at Langford, reinforcing the
idea that their current life choices feel unremarkable. Amit had considered
booking a room at the luxurious Langford guesthouse, which would have been more
romantic, but he ultimately settled for something practical—much like his
approach to marriage.
At
the Wedding: Amit’s Nostalgia & Feelings of Inadequacy
At
Pam’s wedding, Amit is surrounded by reminders of his youth. He meets old
acquaintances from Langford, most of whom belong to privileged families. This
reignites his feelings of being an outsider, both back then and even now as an
adult.
Pam,
the bride, is friendly but distant. Although Amit had once fantasized about
her, she is now just another person from his past. He realizes that the longing
he once felt for her was more about what she represented—a life of belonging
and ease—than about actual love.
As
the night progresses, Amit gets drunk and detached. He and Megan have little
meaningful conversation, and the physical and emotional space between them
grows. Megan seems annoyed with Amit’s aloofness, and Amit becomes more
introspective, reflecting on how his marriage has lost its early spark.
Important Places
1. Langford
Boarding School
The
elite New England boarding school where Amit studied as a teenager.
Symbolizes
his past, nostalgia, and feelings of being an outsider among privileged
students.
The
wedding takes place here, forcing Amit to reflect on his youth and unrealized
dreams.
Represents
a world he was never fully part of but always admired from a distance.
2. The
Langford Guesthouse
A
beautiful, luxurious place where wedding guests stay.
Amit
considers booking a room here but ultimately does not—mirroring his tendency to
settle for practicality over romance in life.
Symbolizes
what Amit could have chosen (a more engaged, intimate approach to life and
marriage) but didn’t.
3. The
Small Inn Where Amit & Megan Stay
A
mediocre, forgettable hotel that lacks charm.
Reflects
Amit’s uninspired choices in life and his complacency in marriage.
A
missed opportunity for reconnecting with Megan—they could have stayed somewhere
special but didn’t.
4. The
Wedding Venue (Langford’s Dining Hall & Surroundings)
The
site of Pam Borden’s wedding.
A
place of reunion and reflection where Amit encounters old acquaintances and
confronts his past feelings.
Amit
feels both included and excluded, highlighting his lifelong identity struggle.
5. The
Wedding Reception (Dance Floor & Bar Area)
Where
Amit drinks too much, neglects Megan, and flirts with an old acquaintance.
Represents
his emotional detachment and avoidance of real issues in his marriage.
A
turning point—Megan feels abandoned, and Amit is forced to recognize his
neglect.
6. The
Hotel Room (Final Scene)
Where
Amit and Megan argue but ultimately reconnect.
Represents
their struggling but still-existing bond.
A
place of realization—Amit understands that he must make an effort in his
marriage rather than take it for granted.
Symbolic Meaning of Places
Langford
Boarding School = Amit’s past, privilege, and the life he never fully belonged
to.
Langford
Guesthouse = A better, more romantic choice he didn’t take (both in marriage
and life).
The
Small Inn = His tendency to settle for what’s easy rather than meaningful.
Wedding
Venue = A moment of reckoning, forcing him to face his past and present.
Hotel
Room = The reality of his marriage, where love still exists but needs
nurturing.
These
locations shape Amit’s journey, revealing his inner conflicts, regrets, and
ultimate realization that love is a choice he must actively make.
Important Characters
1.
Amit:
* Complex and Contradictory: Amit is portrayed
as a man grappling with his past and struggling to reconcile it with his
present. He is intelligent but emotionally reserved, often unable to articulate
his feelings.
* Nostalgic and Yearning: His return to
Langford Academy triggers a wave of nostalgia, fueled by memories of his youth
and his infatuation with Pam. He is drawn to the past, indicating a sense of
dissatisfaction with his current life.
* Emotionally Distant: He exhibits emotional
distance from Megan, particularly during the wedding festivities. His
preoccupation with his memories and his lingering feelings for Pam create a
barrier between them.
* Alcohol as a Catalyst: Amit’s consumption of
alcohol acts as a catalyst, loosening his inhibitions and allowing his buried
feelings to surface. It reveals his vulnerability and his inability to control
his emotions.
* Conflicted and Vulnerable: His confession to
Megan, though painful, reveals his vulnerability and his struggle to come to
terms with his past. He is not malicious, but instead a person that has let his
past control his present.
* Passive: Amit tends to let things happen to
him, instead of actively steering the course of his actions.
2.
Megan:
* Observant and Perceptive: Megan is portrayed
as an intelligent and perceptive woman who senses Amit’s emotional distance.
She is aware of the unspoken tensions in their marriage.
* Patient and Restrained: Despite her
frustration and hurt, she maintains a degree of restraint, attempting to
understand Amit’s behavior. She displays patience in the face of his emotional
withdrawal.
* Vulnerable and Hurt: She is vulnerable to
Amit’s emotional detachment and his confession about Pam. She feels the
intrusion of his past into their present.
* Seeking Connection: She desires emotional
intimacy with Amit and struggles to bridge the gap created by his preoccupation
with the past.
* Resilient: Even after the confrontation, she
engages in physical intimacy with Amit, suggesting a desire to salvage their
relationship. She shows a degree of resilience in the face of emotional
turmoil.
* Independent: Megan shows that she is a
person that can stand on her own, and that she is not fully dependent on Amit.
3.
Pam:
* Symbolic Figure: Pam serves as a symbolic
figure, representing Amit’s youthful ideal and the allure of the past. She is
not a fully developed character but rather a catalyst for Amit’s emotional
turmoil.
* Object of Admiration: She is portrayed as a
figure of admiration and perhaps even unattainable love, embodying the “what
ifs” that haunt Amit.
* Peripheral Character: Pam remains a
peripheral character, primarily seen through Amit’s nostalgic lens. Her own
thoughts and feelings are largely unexplored.
* Representing the Past: She represents the
past that Amit is unable to let go of, a time of youthful idealism and
unfulfilled desires.
* Innocent: Pam is shown to be innocent of the
effect she has had on Amit.
4.
Headmaster (Pam’s Father):
* Figure of Authority: He represents the
authority and tradition of Langford Academy.
* Host: He is the host of the wedding, and is
a representation of the setting of the story.
* Indirect Influence: He is an indirect
influence on the plot, as his daughter’s wedding brings Amit back to the
school, triggering his emotional turmoil.
* Represents the past: He, like the school he
runs, is a representation of Amit’s past.
These
character sketches highlight the complexities of the characters and their roles
in the story’s exploration of nostalgia, marital dynamics, and the weight of
the past.
* Symbolism and Themes:
* Nostalgia and the Past: The story explores
the seductive power of nostalgia and how it can interfere with present
relationships.
* Communication and Honesty: The lack of
open communication between Amit and Megan is a central conflict. The story
suggests that even painful honesty is necessary for true intimacy.
* Unfulfilled Desires: Amit's lingering
feelings for Pam represent a sense of unfulfilled potential and the "what
ifs" that can haunt a person.
* Marital Dynamics: Lahiri masterfully
portrays the subtle shifts in power and emotional distance within a marriage.
* The Weight of Secrets: The story shows how
unsaid feelings can create a heavy burden within a relationship.
* The Ambiguity of Resolution: The ending is
intentionally ambiguous, leaving the reader to contemplate the future of Amit
and Megan's marriage. It highlights the complexity of human relationships and
the lack of easy answers.
* Lahiri's Writing Style:
* Lahiri's prose is characterized by its
quiet elegance and precise observations.
* She excels at portraying the inner lives
of her characters, revealing their emotions through subtle gestures and
unspoken thoughts.
* The story's power lies in its restraint
and its ability to evoke a sense of emotional depth without resorting to
melodrama.
In
essence, "A Choice of Accommodations" is a deeply resonant
exploration of the human heart, capturing the complexities of marriage, the
allure of the past, and the enduring power of unspoken desires.
Themes & Analysis
1. Marital
Distance & The Illusion of Choice
The
title, “A Choice of Accommodations,” is symbolic. Amit’s decision to book a
mediocre hotel instead of a luxurious one reflects his approach to life—he
settles for what is easy rather than what is meaningful. His marriage, too, has
fallen into a similar state of complacency.
Amit
realizes that in relationships, choosing comfort over passion can lead to
emotional distance. The question is whether he and Megan will make a conscious
effort to bridge that distance.
2. Nostalgia
vs. Reality
Amit’s
longing for Pam Borden was never about her as a person but about what she
symbolized—a life of belonging, ease, and privilege. However, returning to
Langford makes him see that this nostalgia is empty.
The
contrast between what we think we want and what we actually need is a key theme
in the story. Amit’s real life—with Megan and their children—may not be
perfect, but it is real.
3. Cultural
Identity & Feeling Like an Outsider
Amit’s
experience at Langford mirrors that of many first-generation immigrants who
grow up feeling caught between cultures. His Bengali parents expected success
from him, but he never felt fully comfortable in the elite American
environment.
Even
in adulthood, at Pam’s wedding, he still feels like an outsider—someone who is
present but not truly belonging. This reinforces his insecurity and his
tendency to detach emotionally from people around him, including Megan.
4. Marriage
as a Work in Progress
Unlike
the idealized romance Amit once imagined with Pam, his relationship with Megan
is flawed but real. The story suggests that marriage requires constant
attention, choice, and emotional investment.
Amit’s
realization at the end is subtle but significant—love is not about nostalgia or
longing for the past but about making conscious choices in the present.
Key Quotes & Their Significance
•
“He had entertained the idea of staying at
Langford, of surprising Megan by booking one of the pretty, colonial-style
guesthouses. But in the end, he had not.”
· This
reflects Amit’s tendency to settle for less in his choices, including in his
marriage.
·
•
“He had been flattered by Pam’s
invitations, by the way she had included him in her life, and now he was
attending her wedding as another guest.”
· Highlights
his misplaced nostalgia—Pam was never truly interested in him in a romantic
way.
·
•
“Megan was furious. He had left her,
ignored her all night, and now he was expecting things to be normal.”
· This
moment forces Amit to confront his neglect in his marriage and realize that
relationships need active effort.
·
•
“It was the sort of thing one took for
granted when first falling in love, that things would always be this way.”
· Reflects
how initial romance fades and how people must work to maintain love over time.
·
•
“In the end, he put his arm around her
waist and held her.”
·
A simple but powerful action—showing that
despite their problems, he is still choosing to stay.
Conclusion
“A
Choice of Accommodations” is a story about marital stagnation, nostalgia, and
the need to be present in relationships. Amit’s journey at the wedding helps
him realize that his marriage is not doomed, but it requires effort, attention,
and a conscious choice to engage.
Instead
of dwelling on what could have been, Amit must learn to appreciate and nurture
what he has. Lahiri masterfully captures the quiet tensions that build in
long-term relationships and the small but crucial moments that define whether
love endures or fades.
