Change Versus Tradition Throughout The First Party And The...

Change Versus Tradition in The First Party and The Cobbler and the Machine One of the most prevalent themes present in Pakistani and Indian literature is that of change versus tradition. Change is never easy, and often times traditions are lost in the process. Human beings are creatures of habit who covet routine. We seek comfort in routine: we eat familiar foods, we take the same route home from work, and keep the same habits each morning when we wake or before bed. However, tradition isn’t always the right thing. Terrible things have been allowed to occur for the sake of tradition. It also halts evolution and progress. On the other hand, to dismiss tradition entirely is to lose cultural inheritance and the richness that it provides. Finding a middle ground between the two is often at the center of many stories about culture clash. This theme holds especially true in both The First Party by Attia Hosain and The Cobbler and the Machine by Mulk Raj Anand. Attia Hosain was born to a traditional Muslim family in Lucknow, India. As a child she saw herself as a rebellious child who resisted traditional restraints and the idea of arranged marriage. However, this sentiment is nowhere to be found in The First Party. The main character is a young bride attending her first party with her new husband. Immediately after they arrive she senses that something is off. The main character is the only one dressed in traditional clothing, the author states, â€Å"her bright rich clothes and heavy