Bewitching and Tantalising Mystery of Tilo and the Spices in The Mistress of Spices

Abstract

The present paper explores the bewitching and enigmatic attributes of Tilo and the spices. Tilo is the combination of beauty, power and mystery. It can be also believed that mystery is the core of a woman’s enchanting beauty, and she is a perfect example of the above statement. The Mistress of Spices itself illustrates Tilo as a character whose mystical charisma and enigmatic power shape the centre of the narrative. At the same time, her parallel possession of mystical power and the ignoring of personal wish make her presence both attractive and captivating. The paper is also an attempt to examine how her beauty, mystery and power function as both a blessing and a curse. Its focus extends beyond Tilo to the dual enigma of both Tilo and the spices whose ability to enchant, seduce and transform forms the central concern of the novel. The bewitching and tantalising mystery are not only of Tilo but of the spices also. The spices themselves task as more than magical instruments, they are cultural symbols illustrating tradition, culture and identity. Tilo’s selfhood is inextricable from the spices. It also explores how magic realism, feminist theories and diasporic perspectives deepen the sense of charm and mystery surrounding both Tilo and the spices.