Only
Goodness
“Only Goodness” is the fourth story in Unaccustomed
Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. It explores family expectations, sibling relationships,
guilt, and addiction through the perspective of Sudha, a Bengali-American
woman, and her troubled younger brother, Rahul.
Introduction:
Sudha’s Role as an Older Sister Sudha is a responsible and successful
Bengali-American woman who has always met her parents’ high expectations.
She has a younger brother, Rahul, who was once bright
and full of promise but struggles with alcoholism.
Growing up, Sudha introduced Rahul to alcohol during
their teenage years as an act of rebellion against their strict Bengali
upbringing.
Over time, this small act spiraled into a
life-threatening addiction for Rahul, leaving Sudha with guilt and regret.
Sudha’s Life in Adulthood
Sudha is now in her early thirties, living
independently in London, and engaged to Roger, a British man.
She has distanced herself from her family’s
traditional Bengali expectations and enjoys a more Westernized lifestyle.
However, she still feels a deep sense of
responsibility for Rahul and wants to help him.
Rahul’s Decline and Family’s Denial
While Sudha has built a stable life, Rahul has become
an alcoholic, unemployed, and directionless.
Their parents refuse to acknowledge the severity of
his addiction, believing that he can still turn his life around.
Unlike Sudha, who was always expected to succeed,
Rahul was given more leniency as the younger son, despite his downward spiral.
The Wedding:
A Hopeful Attempt at Reconciliation
Sudha, hoping for a fresh start, invites Rahul to her
wedding in London.
He arrives seemingly sober and composed, giving Sudha
hope that he is recovering.
Their parents are also present but remain emotionally
detached from Rahul’s struggles.
The Turning Point: Betrayal &
Heartbreak
One night, Sudha and Roger return home to a shocking
scene:
Rahul is drunk and unconscious in their bathtub while
holding their infant son, Neel.
The horrifying image of her brother, intoxicated and
endangering her child, shatters Sudha’s trust forever.
Roger, furious, demands that Rahul leave immediately.
Sudha is devastated—she had hoped Rahul was changing,
but this incident proves otherwise.
The Final Break: Sudha’s Decision to Cut
Ties
This event destroys any remaining faith Sudha had in
Rahul.
She realizes that she can no longer help him and that
his addiction will continue to bring pain.
Sudha decides to cut Rahul out of her life
permanently—choosing her new family (Roger and Neel) over her brother.
Resolution: Lingering Guilt &
Reflection
Sudha reflects on how she once introduced Rahul to
alcohol, feeling a deep sense of guilt.
She also acknowledges that, despite her efforts,
Rahul’s self-destruction was beyond her control.
The story ends on a melancholic yet realistic
note—Sudha moves on with her life, but the emotional scars remain.
Key Themes & Analysis
Family Expectations & Gender Roles
Sudha was pressured to be perfect, while Rahul was
allowed to fail—highlighting the different expectations placed on men and women
in immigrant families.
Their parents’ denial of Rahul’s issues reflects the
cultural stigma around mental health and addiction.
Guilt & Responsibility
Sudha feels guilty for introducing Rahul to alcohol,
but ultimately, his addiction was not her fault.
The story explores how much responsibility siblings
should take for each other and when to let go.
Addiction & Its Consequences
Rahul’s alcoholism destroys his potential, damages
relationships, and puts lives at risk.
His parents’ refusal to acknowledge reality prevents
him from getting help.
Breaking Family Ties
Sudha’s final decision to cut Rahul out of her life is
both painful and necessary.
Lahiri suggests that sometimes, the only way to
protect oneself is to walk away from toxic family members.
Conclusion
“Only Goodness” is a powerful exploration of
addiction, guilt, and the limits of family loyalty.
Sudha learns that love alone cannot save someone who
refuses to change.
She chooses her own well-being over endless hope and
disappointment.
The ending leaves readers with a bittersweet
realization—family bonds are strong, but they are not unbreakable.
This story is one of Lahiri’s most heartbreaking and
realistic portrayals of sibling relationships and the cost of addiction.
Important
Characters in Only Goodness
Sudha (Protagonist)
A responsible, successful Bengali-American woman
living in London.
Introduced her younger brother, Rahul, to alcohol as a
teenager, which later leads to his alcoholism.
Feels guilty and responsible for his downfall.
Eventually cuts ties with Rahul after he endangers her
child.
Rahul (Sudha’s Younger Brother)
A once-promising student who becomes an alcoholic and
struggles with life.
Loved by his parents despite his failures, while Sudha
was pressured to succeed.
Shows moments of hope but ultimately betrays Sudha’s
trust by drinking while holding her baby.
Sudha’s Parents
Traditional Bengali immigrants who had high
expectations for Sudha but were lenient with Rahul.
Refuse to fully acknowledge or confront Rahul’s
alcoholism, believing he can still recover.
Their denial and cultural stigma around addiction
prevent them from taking action.
Roger (Sudha’s Husband)
A British man who supports Sudha but loses patience
with Rahul.
Furious when Rahul endangers their child, making it
clear that he wants him out of their lives.
Represents pragmatism and the necessity of boundaries
in family relationships.
Neel (Sudha & Roger’s Baby)
The infant son of Sudha and Roger.
Rahul is found drunk while holding him, leading to the
final break between Sudha and Rahul.
Symbolizes Sudha’s new life and priorities, which
Rahul’s presence threatens.
Important
Places in Only Goodness
Sudha & Rahul’s Childhood Home
(America)
Where they grew up under strict Bengali parenting.
The place where Sudha first introduced Rahul to
alcohol.
Represents family expectations, guilt, and the origins
of Rahul’s downfall.
London (Sudha’s Adult Life)
Where Sudha builds her independent, Westernized life
with Roger.
Symbolizes freedom from traditional Bengali
expectations and her attempt to leave the past behind.
Sudha & Roger’s Home in London
Where Rahul arrives for the wedding, seeming sober and
changed.
The place where he drinks and endangers Neel, leading
to Sudha’s final break with him.
Represents the fragile balance between past and
present, family ties and personal safety.
Rahul’s Apartment (Implied but Never Fully
Explored)
Rahul lives in unstable conditions, reflecting his
chaotic and self-destructive life.
Represents his isolation and failure to integrate into
a stable adulthood.
Symbolic
Meaning of Places
Childhood Home = The roots of their upbringing, strict
yet flawed.
London = Sudha’s new life, Western independence, and
attempt at moving forward.
Sudha’s Home = A place of hope, betrayal, and final
realization that Rahul cannot change.
Rahul’s Apartment = His separation from family,
symbolizing his downfall.
These characters and places define the emotional depth
of Only Goodness, highlighting the tragic consequences of addiction, guilt, and
family expectations.
Important
Quotes
On
Sibling Relationships & Guilt:
“It had been just a joke at first,
just a bit of fun, a piece of rebellion against their parents, against their
heritage—the first time Sudha had slipped her brother a little sip of beer.”
→ This quote
highlights Sudha’s regret for introducing Rahul to alcohol,
which she initially saw as harmless but later realized had devastating
consequences.
On
Family Expectations & Cultural Pressures:
“She had been the one expected to
succeed, the one required to excel. Rahul had been indulged, allowed to drift.”
→ Shows the double
standard in their Bengali-American upbringing—Sudha was pressured to
be perfect, while Rahul was given leniency despite his failures.
On
Parental Denial:
“Her parents still spoke of him as
if he were merely lazy, merely confused, as if he were going through a phase.”
→
Illustrates the parents’ refusal to acknowledge Rahul’s
alcoholism, a common theme in immigrant families where addiction is seen as shameful
rather than a real illness.
On
Rahul’s Alcoholism & Self-Destruction:
“He was capable of quitting, she
believed, if only he wanted to.”
→ Sudha
still holds hope for Rahul, even though the reality is that
addiction is not just about willpower.
On
Betrayal & the Breaking Point:
“She and Roger walked into the
bathroom and found him in the tub, passed out, clutching Neel to his chest.”
→ This is
the turning point—Rahul’s drinking has crossed a line,
putting an innocent child at risk. It marks the moment Sudha realizes
she must cut him off.
On
Cutting Ties with Family:
“There was no point in speaking to
him, no point in trying anymore.”
→ A painful
realization that Rahul is beyond saving and that Sudha must protect
herself and her family instead of holding onto the past.
On
the Lasting Impact of Family Pain:
“The guilt would always be there,
like a shadow she could not shake.”
→ Even
though Sudha lets Rahul go, the burden of guilt remains,
showing how family wounds never fully heal.
These quotes capture the emotional weight
of Only Goodness—the complexity of sibling love, guilt,
addiction, and the heartbreaking decision to walk away from family.
Questions
1. What is the main theme of
"Only Goodness"?
Answer:
The main theme is the tension between family expectations and individual
struggles, particularly in the context of immigrant families. The story also
explores addiction, guilt, and the burden of responsibility between siblings.
2. How does the story portray the
sibling relationship between Sudha and Rahul?
Answer:
Sudha and Rahul share a close bond early on, but it deteriorates due to Rahul's
alcoholism. Sudha initially introduces him to drinking, unaware of the
consequences. Later, she feels responsible for his downfall and tries to help,
but his repeated failures create distance and resentment.
3. What role do Sudha’s parents play
in the story?
Answer:
Sudha’s parents are traditional Bengali immigrants who place high expectations
on their children. They are proud of Sudha’s academic success but struggle to
deal with Rahul’s alcoholism. Their inability to acknowledge his addiction
openly reflects their discomfort with failure and their adherence to cultural
ideals.
4. How does Rahul's addiction affect
Sudha's life?
Answer:
Rahul’s addiction causes emotional turmoil for Sudha. She feels guilty for
introducing him to alcohol, frustrated with his inability to recover, and
burdened by the responsibility of trying to help him. His actions, including
neglecting her child, ultimately lead her to cut ties with him.
5. Why does Sudha distance herself
from Rahul at the end?
Answer:
After years of disappointment and a final betrayal—when Rahul leaves her baby
unattended in the bathtub—Sudha realizes she can no longer help him. She
chooses to prioritize her own family and well-being, even though it means
severing ties with her brother.
6. How does Lahiri use symbolism in
the story?
Answer:
Alcohol is a key symbol representing both rebellion and destruction. It
initially serves as a means of liberation for Sudha and Rahul but ultimately
becomes a source of pain. Water, particularly in the bathtub scene, symbolizes
danger and the breaking point in Sudha’s tolerance for Rahul.
7. What does the title "Only
Goodness" signify?
Answer:
The title reflects Sudha’s initial hope that her actions—such as encouraging
fun and rebellion—will bring only positive experiences. However, it also
highlights the contrast between her idealistic expectations and the harsh
reality of addiction and family dysfunction.
