Jhumpa Lahiri's 'Interpreter Of Maladies'

The short story, “Interpreter of Maladies,” written by Jhumpa Lahiri, is about an Indian tour guide who has an epiphany once he realizes that one of his clients finds his side job, an interpreter for the doctor, romantic. Mrs. Das, the one who appears to show interest in the tour guide’s occupation, struggles throughout her married life to remain loyal and loving to her husband. This characteristic of Mrs. Das’ is highlighted through the author’s use of tone, which is defined as the way the author feels about a certain character. As well, the use of tone, seen specifically in the diction, syntax, and detail of this story, helps to identify and support various themes. Lahiri’s use of a condescending tone towards Mrs. Das bolsters the theme that unfaithfulness causes someone to become alienated from their family.

Miranda began to take her role as Dev’s lover quite seriously. Not only did she buy what she designated as ‘mistress clothes,’ but she also began to dedicate her time to learning about Dev’s culture, which

Throughout the story, Miranda is flattered by and obsessed with Dev’s words until Rohin speaks to her similarly. During the early stages of their affair, Miranda and Dev travel to Mapparium on a date (1654). At the Mapparium, Dev waited until the tourists were gone and told Miranda that “even though they were thirty feet apart…they’d be able to hear each other whisper” (1655). While Miranda says hello, Dev states, “You’re sexy” (1655). Because of his desire to have an affair with Miranda, Dev attempts to pursue her with elaborate dates and seductive words. Although Dev attempting to appeal to Miranda with these words, he is also attempting to express his desire for her. Soon, Miranda learns that Dev’s wife is coming home and prepares to buy “things she thought a mistress should have” (1655). Because of her infatuation with Dev, Miranda fantasizes about going on fancy dates with him in her new cocktail dress (1656). Although Miranda expects to be pampered by Dev

Ever since she was young, she had everything handed to her. As an only child, Miranda was very spoiled. She had long, silky, dark, ash blonde hair and gigantic, beautiful, blue eyes. She got her eyes from her mother but her hair from her father. Miranda and her father were very close. He traveled a lot as the “Ronaldo” for the Los Angeles Bullets, but would always take time out of his day to communicate with the jewel of his life.

Exposition-Miranda is a sixth grade student who has had the same best friend named Sal ever since she was a baby. Sal lives downstairs in the same building where Miranda and her mother live. Her mother is a single mom who works in a law firm as a receptionist but dreams of being a lawyer. She is saddened by her position and has a fear of trust

From Julia's raw and emotional perspective, her entries not only denote, the timeline of her life, before, during and after her transition, but also reveals her innermost self where a battle seems to wage within her consciouness. She reflects openly, on the highs, lows and lulls of her androgynous experiences with entires that are fraught with emotions, decadance, heavy drug use, fear, and both her physical and mental changes. She also includes a smattering of heart-felt poems.

Miranda is a successful lawyer and has taken over male position is society by becoming a great lawyer that she is. Aside from work she is also a mother. In the beginning when she became pregnant with Brady, she refused to marry and decided to be in control and take care of Brady. She was able to set up child custody with the father and hire her own staff to help like a nanny and house cleaner. She believes that “Women should stop obsessing with men, because they (women) can be anything men can be, sometimes better”

In the Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, the Das family has more power over Mr. Kapasi because they are foreigners of higher standing than the native Mr. Kapasi. It is noted early in the story that the Das family was not like the typical family, “The first thing Mr. Kapasi had noticed when he saw Mr. And Mrs. Das, standing with their children under the portico of the hotel, was that they were very young, perhaps not even thirty,” Lahiri wrote. The Das family is extremely young and seems to not function properly. At the beginning of the story, Mr. and Mrs. Das argue about who should take their daughter to the bathroom. Between the two parents, a mutual responsibility over the child should have existed.

When falling in love with a young man named Tom, Julia certainly shows her true colours. At this time, she softens. She shows a new side of herself, where she is more humble and insecure, and I get the feeling that this is the real her. Nonetheless,

Growing up poor and uneducated, Clegg knows Miranda is out of his league, but cannot bring himself to forget her. Even after winning the football pool, Clegg’s unrefined upbringing and awkward social skills stand in the way of ever meeting her, let alone falling in love. Instead of moving on, Clegg uses the winnings to help him live out a sick fantasy of taking Miranda into his collection. From her capture, Clegg uses mental and physical torture to isolate Miranda, break her will and place himself at the center of her world. He uses gifts to comfort her while he quietly sits at a distance, fascinated by her beauty. Several times he mentions how lucky Maranda must be to have him as her captor instead of someone with “nasty” (28) intentions. Indeed, Clegg does not want anything nasty with Miranda. Mentally scarred by thoughts of a mother who was “a women of the streets” (3) and raised by frigid Aunt Annie ensures Clegg sees any form intimacy as nasty and vile. Unknowingly, Miranda triggers Clegg by offering her body in romance. Initially, he is scared and compliant but as he’s impotence emerges to light, Clegg blames Miranda comparing her to a prostitute. Soon after he is back demanding photos Miranda “would be ashamed to let anyone else see” (51), pretending as if he wants leverage in case she escapes. In reality, Clegg is an observer and can only feel pleasure from afar. He says “I could take my time with them (photos). They didn’t

Cameras can either be best friends or worst enemies. In Jhumpa Lahiri’s short story Interpreter of Maladies, Mr. Das’ camera is his enemy. It is an ironic symbol; while a camera is supposed to catch every detail, preserve every memory, in his case, it only gives the impression of observation where there really is none. The camera distorts Mr. Das’ vision, preventing him from seeing the world clearly and truly engaging with his surroundings.

Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of short stories written by Jumpa Lahiri. From the collection of stories, the last story, “The third and the final continent” was especially appealing to me. The story portrays an Indian man’s journey from Calcutta to London and then to America. The most important aspect of the story is the narration of his arranged marriage with his wife. I believe, by this story the author portrays the positive side of arrange marriages. First, it is important to see the viewpoint of two characters towards marriage. For the narrator, an arrange marriage meant something that he had to do due to social norms. Specifically, when his brother arranged a marriage for him, he thought “I regarded the proposition with neither objection nor enthusiasm. It was a duty expected of me, as it was expected of every man.” (Page 181). In contrast, the wife was pressured to get married by her parents because her parents thought that she would end up alone.

Humanity is distinctly defined by the compassion and empathy towards others. It is the glue that holds relationships, families, and friends together and ultimately, strengthens and unifies our society. Although seemingly intrinsic traits of humankind, for some, obtaining the capacity to genuinely connect with others on an emotional level is a quite daunting and difficult challenge. Jhumpa Lahiri’s short story, “Interpreter of Maladies,” explores the crippling repercussions of apathy, selfishness, ignorance, and misinterpretation on humanity and relationships through the careful fabrications of the richly developed yet flawed characters and their actions.

This was the moment of truth; Marinette Dupain-Cheng would soon confirm that her and Adrien Agreste were dating. She gawked at the mirror, not recognizing the beautiful girl that stared back at her. She had on a silky red dress, with black polka dots, and her soft blue hair was in a updo. Marinette still couldn’t believe that she agreed to Gabriel Agreste condition, but there was no turning back now. The stylist and the make-up artist really did a superb job on her. Marinette almost felt like Cinderella going to a masquerade ball, where she had to portray of someone she was not. She was no princess and this was no fairy tale.

Through her tasteful selection of contemporary Indian influenced prose pieces, Jhumpa Lahiri traces the unique journey of Indian families established in America. Focusing on the intergenerational aspect of traditional households, Lahiri conveys the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies a person who is branded as a foreigner. In America, there exists a common misconception that immigrants who arrive in this country fully assimilate or seek to assimilate as time progresses. The category I chose was "The Dot of true Happiness." The dot which signifies the bindi, a traditional red mark worn by Indian people, is the source of true happiness among these immigrants.