Published Writing #3

             The short story, Interpreter of Maladies, written by Jhumpa Lahiri shows the many sides of the human condition that, even though there is a lot to learn about our behavior and emotions, are both instinctual and formed by the society around us.  This is caused by the post modern world around us, which in turn makes this piece more about the imperfections of human beings and that no matter who we talk to or what we do to better ourselves, we will always be flawed.  Post modernism is what drives Lahiri’s writing in the fact that it allows the readers to practically look in a mirror at the characters she presents, where there is flaw, there is humanity and the events we cause every day, whether they be good or bad.  The individual is the main focus of Interpreter of Maladies; the individuals in question are Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das.  These two complex characters are extremely similar, even if they cannot see it themselves.  While one is losing his wife to the loss of their child, the other is very absent and not as loving because of the guilt of an affair and the result of that affair. 

Mrs. Das, as a person, is broken and depressed to the point of her guilt taking control of her life.  Even if not every reader can connect to this, many men and women that have been in the predicament she is stuck in, a child from an affair and the other partner has not known and will never know until told so (which most likely will never happen as well).  Mr. Kapasi is complex in the way that he can fall for someone so quickly even though he knows that if anything, nothing could or would happen between Mrs. Das and himself, as well as they would probably never make contact again, let alone any sort of physical touch.  The post modern view of this situation would declare them both flawed and that they have a almost meaningful relationship, while both characters are defined as two different elements that would not ever blend correctly, let alone be able to help fill each other’s needs and desires. 

Lahiri explains how people can seem very innocent and even nonchalant on the outside, while keeping so much negativity on the inside.  Mrs. Das, seemingly a not so cultural character, is intrigued by Mr. Kapasi’s profession as a doctor’s interpreter, yet even though he states that his job is more about the maladies of the physical body, Mrs. Das feels that she can confide in him with her secrets and hope that he can cure her of her “ailment” of guilt and make her happy again.  Even though she is searching for answers, sadly he could not give her any, and she turned a blind eye to him and as he felt that he would somewhat win her back, the horrifying sight of his information floating away in the wind crushed his spirits.  After that he knew that he would not hear from her again.  That was when the reader would know that their connection would be severed and that Mrs. Das’ guilt would go untreated and Mr. Kapasi may not be able to cope with the crumbling relationship he has with his still grieving and unappreciative wife.

Jhumpa Lahiri brings the outside world into her writing, giving both her protagonists the relationship and feeling that some readers may have and that even if the reader may not be able to relate, there is still the mirror right in front of them that creates humanity’s flaws and failings that simply make us what we are.

In response to Alexa, I feel that both Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das were not actually consumed with themselves.  Mr. Kapasi was obsessed with the idea of being able to contact Mrs. Das because he was so enamored with her form and even how she acted, even though it might have been a little cruel.  While Mrs. Das was a completely different story, she was guilty and extremely upset with her actions, even though she did not show it, even though it was her fault, she wanted to blame everything else.