Jasmine's Many Lives

There is an intriguing parallel between the Hindi belief in reincarnation and the variety of ways in which Jasmine identifies herself throughout the text. Mary Webb first introduces the concept of reincarnation in her conversation with Jasmine at lunch. She tells Jasmine “‘This idea cannot be new or bizarre to you. Don’t you Hindis keep revisiting the world?’” (126). In other words, she assumes that Jasmine believes in reincarnation. Jasmine goes on to confirm this assumption. She responds to Mary Webb, “‘yes, I am sure that I have been reborn several times,’” (126). While it is possible that Jasmine actually does believe that she has been reincarnated, her experience of her present life actually resembles a type of reincarnation. Jasmine identifies herself differently depending on her current circumstances. In the second half of the book we are introduced to “Jase” (176), the name that Taylor calls Jasmine. Jasmine characterizes this new name by deciding “I like the name he gave me...Jase was a woman who bought herself spangled heels and silk chartreuse pants,” (176). This is one of many names that Jasmine has adopted. She reflects upon each of these past identities while recalling her many husbands. Jasmine remembers “I have had a husband for each of the women I have been. Prakash for Jasmine, Taylor for Jase, Bud for Jane. Half-face for Kali,” (197). It is notable that Jasmine refers to these identities as “women” she has been, rather than names she has had. This suggests that Jasmine recognizes a dramatic distinction between each of these identities. It makes sense that she would distinguish between them because each identity is associated with a distinct traumatic event. As she reflects of her and Du “We’ve been many selves. We’ve survived hideous times,” (214). Here too Jasmine references the association between trauma and the need for reidentification. It as if the Jasmine has experienced such a multitude of traumatic events that it is difficult to believe that they could have all happened to her during one lifetime. Instead, in order to process them, she must refer to them as entirely different selves. 


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