The three levels of Being in "This Blessed House"

Just last class Professor Corrigan had our class go further in depth on character development and I must say that the questions he had us answer really made me think further than just surface level. He went over a three level self-reflection chart, which really helped with focusing in on the main issues. One area was an outer circle that was labeled the outer crust, symbolizing our outer-self, and this reminded me of how I act when I am around others. Next, was a smaller circle, but the space between those two was the mantel, which symbolized our inner-self, and this reflects whom we are when no one is around. Lastly, the inside circle was the core and this signified our self in God. While reflecting on these three elements, I really started thinking about the characters in “This Blessed House” and it appeared to me that each character had a complex character that I did not realize the first time reading though the story.

By focusing on the "outer crust", I noticed many things about both characters' outer-selves. With Twinkle's character, she promotes a curiosity that derives from childhood but has remained with her and her husband, Sanjeev is the businessman who has matured into a grounded, orderly and might I add bitter person. However, as my thought goes on in discussing the characters, I look more in depth when noticing the their "inner- selves". I found Sanjeev to be not as bitter, but rather a man who knows who he is and is firm in what he believes in. While Twinkle, on the other hand, is more curious about Christianity than her own religion and is actually quite disrespectful when it comes to her husband. I have a feeling that this disrespect comes from not truly loving Sanjeev and this is the core value that I feel both characters share toward each other. With just moving into a house, I am sure there are many things that need to be done, as Sanjeev notices, by commenting on the things he has to do. But with her sheer oblivious nature to being completely and utterly focused on only the items she is finding in the house, she completely dismisses Sanjeev and pertains her energy to only the things that she finds interesting. Sanjeev, unlike Twinkly is more concerned about preparing their house for the guest that will be coming over and spends more time in preparation than he does with his wife. He is stern and comes across as bitter, but not only that, he drinks quite often, which I feel is a void he is creating in his life so he does not have to think about her.

By reflecting the core of both characters I have come to the conclusion, and of course this is my own personal opinion, that neither one of them truly love each other, much less like being around each other. If I were to further analyze both of their characters I am sure that I would pick up on minute details that would only strengthen my hypothesis. By studying character development, as Professor Corrigan touched on in class, I have noticed that it actually helps you see insight into your own life and your own characteristics.