Unaccustomed Earth: Theme Guilt in "Only Goodness"

In the fourth story of Unaccustomed Earth, “Only Goodness,” Sudha told the tale of her brother, Ruhal, and his journey as an alcoholic. Her story began in a time that their game of hiding alcohol seemed innocuous; however, this small act of defiance against their parents was the catalyst for a serious addiction. There was a point where Sudha felt responsible for Ruhal’s behaviors, but ultimately she had to placate herself when she realized there was only so much she could control.

            In the first line of the short story, Sudha admitted that she was the one who introduced her brother Ruhal to alcohol. Although it started as a minor infraction, it slowly became a larger issue at hand. Before Ruhal went to college, he was the epitome of a student who only had to invest a minimal amount of time to comprehend information. With stellar grades and scores, he was accepted into Cornell University; however, it was not before long that he began to fall into what he perceived as the social norm. Drinking became a common activity, and his performance in school accurately reflected his behaviors. Eventually, Rahul’s attitude crumbled as well, and his parents asked Sudha to talk some sense into him.

            During the beginning, Sudha felt responsible that her actions caused Rahul’s addiction; however, Sudha came to the conclusion that she could only control so much, and that when she became too involved, it took a toll on her mental health. It was only when Sudha realized this that she was able to continue to live her life. Distancing herself from her brother was an arduous process, but it was the necessary action she needed to take in order to free her from living in a world with constant guilt.