Loss of Power and Potency in the Short Stories

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Loss of Power and Potency in the Short Stories “Tiger” by Najalini Jones, “Aphrodisiac” by Ruth Jhabvala and the Movie Little Miss Sunshine
In Passive Men, Wild Women, marriage counselor and author Pierre Mornell argues that most marriages fail because men have not only lost their sexual virility, but also because they are so engrossed in their careers that they have little time for their families and wives. To illustrate his point, the author gives an example whereby today’s corporate-type husband comes home late at night, very tired and only interested in taking a rest and shutting off from the outside world. In contrast, women want to share their day’s activities and achievements, as well as pour out their frustrations. While the woman wants the man to talk, the man wants her to shut up (Mornell 77). Consequently, they respond by resisting their wives attempts to initiate conversations. The short stories “Tiger” and “Aphrodisiac,” by Nalini Jones and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and the movie Little Miss Sunshine explore the loss of virility in men as a result of modern civilization. The texts and the movie suggest that men’s sexual passivity is symbolic of their declining power in society, which has allowed women to become more assertive and independent.
Nalini Jones’ “Tiger” is a portrayal of a man’s loss of power as a result of taking a passive role in the family. In the story, Essie, the heroine, is the center of attention, and the authority figure in the family, because of the laid back nature of the male members. Her husband Francis is rarely present in the home as he spends most of his time away playing gymkhana, a racing game for men. Francis’ absence from the home and the minor role he plays symbolizes the loss of male power. While Francis has not been affected by career commitments, his commitment to his games with his peers suggests men’s gravitation away from their families to other roles. Not surprisingly, he only comes home for meals and to sleep. Essentially, he is shut out from the goings on in the family, and to a large extent he is like an outsider. Although his marriage does not end up in divorce, his relationship with his wife is remarkable in that they do not relate or talk like married couples. For instance, Essie sends him away when he comes home, telling him that supper is not ready. She snaps at him saying, “Dinner’s not ready… another twenty minutes at least” (Jones 312). Evidently, she treats him like a little boy who comes too early before dinner is ready to disturb his mother. He chases him away as a mother would a naughty child whose presence is unwelcome. It is also very telling, that the only time that Francis appears in the story is during meal time; just like children who are called to eat their meals and then chased away to play.
Francis is also unaware of what is affecting his wife, an indication that he has slipped from his role as the man and leader of the family. While taking a bath one afternoon, Essie discovers a cancerous tumor in one of her breasts. Instead of telling her husband, she chooses to confide in her daughter Maria...