Unaccustomed Earth Cover Art

The cover of Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri depicts an Indian bangle floating in rough waters.  The water represents the oceans separating the characters' native Calcutta from their new homes in the United States.  The bangle is stuck between the two worlds just like the Bengali characters feel neither Bengali nor American and begin to lose themselves in the blending of the two very different cultures when they move to the U.S..  The bangle itself represents the bonds that hold the Bengali-American families together.  Bangles are a very important part of Indian culture and tradition; they signify marital status and are passed down from one generation to another.  The intricate designs of the bangle represent the complicated lives of the Bengalis and their families.  The bangle on the cover is red and gold, and in Indian culture, the color red is a symbol of purity and prosperity.  Red is worn at weddings when families merge and grow.  The red color of the bangle also represents blood, as in family blood, and since blood is thicker and stronger than water, the bangle will not sink.  Although the families in Unaccustomed Earth are far from perfect, the Bengali-Americans value each other and show love in many different ways. Just like the bangle, these families will stay afloat.