Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies” is a short narrative about the different individuals meeting and revealing their identities. As such, Mr. Kapasi is a tour guide accompanying the Das family, who are ethnic Indians born in America. At the turn of the conversation, Mr. Kapasi is entirely pleased by the attention of Mrs. Das and begins to develop feelings for her. The woman unexpectedly confesses to Mr. Karpasi that her son Bobby is not Mr. Das’s kid but that no one knows to save Mrs. Das. Mr. Kapasi has lost all respect for Mrs. Das as a result of this revelation (Lahiri). Thus, the story demonstrates the variety of perceptions of the same situations.
“Interpreter of Maladies” is a narrative about cultural assimilation as well. Namely, the Das family is depicted as one that has lost touch with their Indian heritage as a result of integration with the prevailing culture and has imitated American culture. Moreover, the Das family looks to be Indian at first glance, but Mr. Kapasi recognizes them as visitors. Despite their skin tone, their attire and demeanor give them away (Lahiri). When his clients talk, Mr. Kapasi is reminded of the television program Dallas. Mr. Das is holding a handbook labeled just “India,” implying he is seeking for his own culture (Lahiri). Finally, Mr. Kapasi is taken aback by Mrs. Das’s frigid demeanor toward her children (Lahiri). It is demonstrated in the story that cultural assimilation replaces the identities of people and makes them individuals in between two worlds. As a result, they might not fit in either of these worlds.
Was there a way to escape cultural assimilation for the Das family in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies”?
Work Cited
Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2022.