"Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Laheri: A Collection of Short Stories Exploring the Human Conditions and Experiences
Introduction
Here is the list of Laheri's stories:
"A Temporary Matter"
"When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine"
"A Real Durwan"
"Sexy"
"Mrs. Sen's"
"The Treatment of Bibi Haldar"
"This Blessed House"
"The Third and Final Continent"
Summary of the Stories
"A Temporary Matter":
The story of "A Temporary Matter" centers on a young couple named Shukumar and Shoba who are attempting to patch up their relationship following the death of their infant son. They are informed that a temporary power outage in their neighborhood will occur each night for five days, and they decide to use the opportunity to talk about their relationship and the events leading up to their son's death. Each night they spend in the dark together, secrets and grievances are exposed, forcing the couple to face their grief and their marital problems.
"When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine"
In the story "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," a young Indian-American girl named Lilia develops a friendship with Mr. Pirzada, a Bangladeshi visitor who is staying with her family while he waits to hear news about his family's whereabouts during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The cultural contrasts between Lilia and Mr. Pirzada fascinate her, and their friendship helps Lilia better understand her own roots and sense of self.
The narrative of "Interpreter of Maladies" centers on Mr. Kapasi, an Indian who is married and who works as an interpreter at a hospital in India. He meets a married Indian American woman named Mrs. Das and her family, who are visiting the country. As a result of Mrs. Das telling Mr. Kapasi about her unhappy marriage and desire for a child, the two start having a near love story. As they spend more time together, Mr. Kapasi starts to recognize the cultural norms and expectations that have shaped their lives. He also has to face his own thoughts on loyalty and love.
"A Real Durwan":
The story follows an elderly Indian woman named Boori Ma who works as a durwan (doorkeeper) in a dilapidated apartment building in Boston. Boori Ma is fiercely protective of the building and its residents, but as she grows older and begins to lose her memory, her grasp on her duties and the world around her starts to slip.
"Sexy" :
The story follows a young Indian-American woman named Mira who is struggling with her cultural identity and feeling like an outsider in both the Indian and American communities. She becomes involved with an older man named Eliot, who is also struggling with his own cultural identity as a Jewish man. As their relationship deepens, Mira must confront her feelings about her own heritage and the expectations placed on her as a woman.
"Mrs. Sen's" - This story is about a young boy, Eliot, who becomes friends with Mrs. Sen, his family's new babysitter. Eliot is fascinated by Mrs. Sen's life in India and the stories she tells him about her past.
"The Treatment of Bibi Haldar" - The story follows a woman named Bibi Haldar who lives in a poor village in India and is believed to be possessed by a goddess. Bibi Haldar's mother takes her to a hospital for treatment, but the doctors are unable to find a physical cause for her strange behavior. As Bibi Haldar's condition becomes more intense, the people in the village must confront their own beliefs about religion and the supernatural.
"This Blessed House":
The story follows a newly married Indian-American couple named Twinkle and Sanjeev who are settling into their new home in the suburbs. As they decorate and unpack, they discover a collection of religious artifacts and decorations hidden throughout the house, left behind by the previous owners. The couple's differing reactions to the items and the cultural and religious differences they represent cause tension in their relationship.
"The Third and Final Continent":
The story follows the life of an Indian man named Mala who emigrates to the United States in the 1960s and chronicles his experiences as he adjusts to life in a new country. It begins with Mala's journey from Calcutta to Boston, where he enrolls in a graduate program at MIT. The story then follows Mala as he navigates the challenges of living in a foreign country, including homesickness and cultural differences.
As he settles into his new life in the United States, Mala meets and falls in love with a woman named Elizabeth. The two marry and have a child together, and Mala's love for his new family helps him to fully embrace his new home.
"Interpreter of Maladies" is diasporic. Jhuma Lahiri delicately draws attention to the difficult dilemma and conflicted feelings that a Third World immigrant experiences in the West. The paradox is that while staying hurts so badly, leaving is challenging. The migrant is simultaneously a part of both worlds and none of them. However, it would be wiser to first study diaspora before moving on.
A diaspora is a large-scale migration of people from their country of origin to another country, either voluntarily or as a result of economic or political pressure. The Indian Diaspora includes Indians who have settled in countries such as England, America, Africa, and the Caribbean. The Caribbean Diaspora is also relevant to England, Canada, and France. Many members of the Indian diaspora have maintained strong ties to their heritage and culture in addition to making significant contributions to their adopted nations in a variety of fields such as politics, business, science, and the arts.
The experience of the Diaspora is reflected in Jhumpa Lahiri's "Interpreter of Maladies":
Now look at the stories and the character list.
"A Temporary Matter": Shukumar and Shoba
"When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine":
Lilia
"Interpreter of Maladies": Mr. Kapasi, Mrs. Das and her family
"A Real Durwan": Boori Ma
"Sexy" : Mira
"The Treatment of Bibi Haldar": Bibi Haldar
"This Blessed House": Twinkle and Sanjeev
"The Third and Final Continent": Mala
"Mrs. Sen's" : Mrs Sen
Except for "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar": Bibi Haldar , location, and character are set in foreign locations.
The stories in "Interpreter of Maladies" explore the complexities of interpersonal relationships as well as the experiences of characters torn between their native cultures and the dominant cultures of their adopted countries.
India remains a part of Jhumpa Lahiri's fictional landscape despite the fact that she has never lived anywhere other than the United States. Since the majority of the characters are of Indian descent, India recurs frequently as a setting, sometimes more metaphorically, in the characters' memories. Her Interpreter of Maladies maintains the story's connection to India. The story's main characters all experience a sense of alienation. The journey is more about reflection, purging, and purification. In reality, the Das family is broken up, and each member is living a life driven by their own objectives. However, the true chemistry of love is not like that. In spite of this, the wife prefers to bandage her wound in order to strengthen her relationship with her family. Her trip to India, where she meets Kapasi and tells him about her tormented heart, is in and of itself a journey to happiness. Thus, for the Das family, India and Kapasi are both metaphorical representations of comfort and peace. India is now a metaphor for the presentation of peace, and Kapasi is an interpreter of suffering.
"Interpreter of Maladies," the title story, follows Mr. Kapasi, an Indian interpreter hired to translate for a family of American tourists visiting India. As he travels with the family, Mr. Kapasi develops a bond with Mrs. Das, and she confides in him about her unhappy marriage and loneliness. Through their interactions, Mr. Kapasi comes to understand the complexities of Mrs. Das's life and the ways in which cultural differences can create misunderstandings and miscommunications.
Other stories in the collection explore similar themes of cultural conflict and the search for identity, such as "A Temporary Matter," in which a couple faces difficulties in their relationship after the death of their child, and "The Third and Final Continent," in which a man reflects on his journey from India to England and finally to the United States.
Many of the stories in the collection deal with the difficulties and complexities of navigating life in a new culture, as well as the ways in which diasporic experiences affect the characters' relationships with their families, cultural identities, and sense of belonging.
The idea of alienation and the sense of displacement that often comes with being part of a diaspora is one of the central themes of Interpreter of Maladies. The stories' characters struggle to find their place in their new surroundings, and they frequently feel disconnected from their cultural roots. At the same time, they must deal with the challenges of maintaining connections with their families and communities in India, as well as the difficulties of preserving their cultural traditions in a foreign land.
Simply, Interpreter of Maladies is a provocative and emotionally charged examination of the complexities of diaspora and the human experience of displacement and belonging.
In Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collection "Interpreter of Maladies," India is often used as a metaphor for the complexities and struggles of identity, culture, and relationships. Many of the stories in the collection explore the experiences of characters who are caught between two cultures, either because they have emigrated from India to the United States or because they are the children of immigrants and are trying to find their place in both worlds.
The story "A Temporary Matter," which explores the relationship of a young Indian couple, Shoba and Shukumar, who are coping with the recent loss of their infant son, is one example of India being used as a metaphor in the collection. The story employs the metaphor of a power outage in their neighborhood, which occurs every evening for a week, to represent the transient nature of their relationship and the ways in which they are attempting to reconnect after their loss.
Another example is the story "Interpreter of Maladies," in which a young Indian-American woman named Mrs. Das befriends a tour guide named Mr. Kapasi while on a family trip to India. Mrs. Das confides in Mr. Kapasi about her troubled marriage and feelings of isolation and frustration, and Mr. Kapasi, who is also struggling with his own sense of identity and purpose, interprets her emotions and experiences. The story explores the complexities of cross-cultural communication and the ways in which people from different cultures can help each other understand and navigate life's challenges through their conversations and interactions.
According to Indian family tradition, marriage is a symbol of the unity of all life. It is an expression of love and respect. Mrs. Das is aware of this, and she believes in the concept of family unity. Her reaction to the previous secret demonstrates that she understands this way of thinking. Because there is no sign of a cure for her in America but there is in the other part of the world, India, this demonstrates the difference between the American and Indian perspectives on things. This is why India is perplexed and defeated by her dilemma. India, as a living soul, shifts her perspective toward comprehension. As a result, India has become a metaphor for ancestral roots and the path to peace. Mrs. Das' story reminds us that India is a single entity that unites on both emotional and intellectual levels. Thus, both India and Kapasi are mythical representations of comfort and peace for the Das family.
In "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine" Lilia better understands her own roots and sense of self. It is also an introspection of roots anchored in India.
In "A Real Durwan," Boori Ma who works as a durwan (doorkeeper) in a dilapidated apartment building in Boston, is fiercely protective of the building, which reminds her of her past . And it is, of course, India.
In "Sexy" an Indian-American woman named Mira is struggling with her cultural identity. She makes friends with an older man named Elliot. Eliot is also struggling with his own cultural identity as a Jewish man. Now these two individuals are searching for roots.
In "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar" , the Bibi Haldar story shifts into an Indian location where India is identified as mystic, spiritual and mysterious.
We meet Twinkle and Sanjeev in "This Blessed House". As they discover a collection of religious artifacts and decorations hidden throughout the house, left behind by the previous owners, the tension ensues upon different attitudes. Conflicts are here as hearts are unwilling to let India die.
In "The Third and Final Continent", Mala's journey from Calcutta to Boston. Mala shares challenges of living in a foreign country, including homesickness and cultural differences. Finally he settles into his new life in the United States, married Elizabeth, fully embracing his new home.
Mrs Sen in "Mrs. Sen's" tells Eliot that when she lived in India, she would prepare food with a community of women for celebrations—but in the U.S., she’s lonely.
The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is also a study of multiculturalism. America's ethnic identity is defined by its multiracial and cultural groups.
In the title story, the Das family represents the migratory Indians who settled in America. The phony materialistic society of America stands in stark contrast to the Indian aspects of heart bonds. It is worth noting that, despite having a husband and wife, Mrs. Das rarely has the opportunity to share her sad, somber life and the frustration that lies beneath. Furthermore, it is Mr Das who keeps him busy despite his lack of understanding of his wife. The Das family travels such a long distance to reveal their quiet agony. However, it should be noted that Das family members living elsewhere in the distant migrated land may face the same fate. It is unnecessary to say that categorization is difficult. The Das family performs their responsibilities mechanically. Mr. and Mrs. Das divide the responsibilities of child rearing in minute detail. Mrs. Das's careless attitude toward her sons and daughters serves as a constant reminder of this. The dresses of Mrs. Das and Mr. Das reveal a mixed cultural background. Mrs. Das, despite her dress, is obsessed with the filmy magazine containing Bollywood gossips, whereas Mr. Das is typically an American traveler wearing sunglasses and tour books.
In "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine" ,The cultural contrasts between Lilia and Mr. Pirzada is fascinating. "A Real Durwan" defines cultural nostalgia. In "Sexy" Mira and Eliot get to know each other on cultural ethics. "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar" leads us to indian culture. In "This Blessed House" , Twinkle and Sanjeev get to know cultural differences. In "The Third and Final Continent" Mala meets Elizabeth. Through family bondages the long lost pain of migration healed. In "Mrs. Sen's" boy Eliot’s American visits his ancestral lineage and consoles his soul.
"Interpreter of Maladies" can be considered feminist . It portrays the experiences and perspectives of women in a nuanced and empathetic way. For example, the stories "A Temporary Matter" and "Mrs. Sen's" both feature complex, fully-developed female characters who are struggling with challenges in their personal lives. The stories also explore the ways in which social and cultural expectations can shape and constrain women's experiences and choices.
It challenges traditional gender roles and expectations. For example, the story "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine" features a young girl, Lilia, who is torn between her love for her father and her desire to forge her own path in life. The story suggests that women, like men, are capable of ambition and independence, and should not be limited by traditional gender roles.
The title story "Interpreters of Maladies" can also be read as a feminist study. It provides a close look at Mrs. Das's predicament. We discover her as a bird caged within the bonds of family. She is married and had a love that was initially romantic. But, as the romance fades, she succumbs to boredom and ennui. She lives a life that few would wish for.
The Closing Words
It can be challenging and contentious to categorize authors and their works into different genres or categories. But if we want to comprehend fiction in its context, some categorization is necessary. In that regard, “The Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri is undoubtedly a contemporary short story that lends itself to numerous interpretations.
References
Interpreter of Maladies | short stories by Lahiri. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved December 31, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Interpreter-of-Maladies
Brada-Williams, N. (2004, January 1). Reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s interpreter of Maladies as a short story cycle - Document - Gale Academic OneFile. Reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies as a Short Story Cycle - Document - Gale Academic OneFile. Retrieved December 31, 2022, from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A128169781/AONE?u=googlescholar&sid=AONE&xid=3d46da97
StudySmarter UK. (n.d.). StudySmarter UK. Retrieved December 31, 2022, from https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/english-literature/american-short-fiction/interpreter-of-maladies/
Pangs of Diasporic Struggle in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies - Journal of English Language Teaching and Literary Studies (JELTALS). (n.d.). 1.Pangs of Diasporic Struggle in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies - Journal of English Language Teaching and Literary Studies (JELTALS). Retrieved December 31, 2022, from https://sites.google.com/site/jeltals/archive/2-1/1-pangs-of-diasporic-struggle-in-jhumpa-lahiri-s-interpreter-of-maladies
Lynn, B. (2019, February 19). Found in Translation: The Standard in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter . . . Found in Translation: The Standard in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies.” Retrieved December 31, 2022, from http://journals.openedition.org/esa/1311
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