Themes and message

Fitting in

The theme of fitting in is first suggested by the title of the story, as a chameleon changes its skin color to adapt to its environment. Symbolically, the chameleon refers to the main character, Rita Patel, who struggles between not upsetting her traditional Indian parents and following her heart’s desire to live with her white boyfriend, Mark.

Rita was raised in England, but by conservative Indian parents who try to impose their values on her and her siblings. The conflict of the story is triggered when Rita develops a relationship with an Englishman, and they both hide their relationship from their parents because they would not accept someone from a different culture. The issue of fitting in becomes more obvious as Rita does not seem to find her place in either culture. Fitting in also requires feeling accepted by the society or group one wants to be part of, but Rita is rejected by Mark’s mother. At the same time, she cannot imagine herself as a typical Indian wife to an Indian man. Her a...