Summary

In the section “The Imperfect” Jhumpa speaks first about the uses of Italian prepositions and articles, parts of Italian grammar that continue to confuse her. When she began speaking Italian in Rome every day she also became aware of the fact she was never sure when to use the imperfect and the simple past tense of verbs. It is in instances when she is forced to face her uncertainties in speaking the Italian language that Jhumpa feels imperfect. She identifies with this feeling of imperfection because she has always felt as if she were somehow flawed.

Jhumpa explores the idea that there might be a linguistic reason that she feels so incomplete. As a child she had tried to speak Bengali perfectly to please her parents. Because she lived in America and wanted to be considered American she also wanted to speak that...