Short Story Post- "Interpreter of the Maladies"

“Interpreter of the Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri is an amazing short story that takes place from the view of the Indian Mr. Kapasi. Lahiri’s short story helps the reader understand the differences in the values of Indians and Americans, through the help of Mr. Kapasi. The story itself is beautifully crafted, with quick progression and great conversation. To me, the most interesting part of the story is the perspective from which it is told.

Because Lahiri chooses us to look through Mr. Kapasi’s eyes in the story, many readers (including me) find this very different and almost strange. Many readers, especially in our English class, might find this perspective an interesting situation. Mr. Kapasi’s perspective shows how others (in this case Indians) view American attitudes and culture. Mr. Kapasi provides the reader with an initial description of the Das family. Though the Das family appears to be Indian, through Kapasi’s description we see that they only look it. Kapasi describes Mr. Das to be an average tourist looking man, whereas he goes into heavy detail, when describing Mrs. Das. Lahiri writes, “He (Kapasi) observed her. She wore a red-and-white checkered shirt that stopped above her knees, slip-on shoes with a square wooden heel, and a close-fitting blouse styled like a man’s undershirt.” (14). This description is funny that Kapasi describes clothes we are used to everyday in a strange manner, but we realize that from his perspective it is strange to him as an Indian.

Mr. Kapasi’s analysis of the Das family through his perspective goes deeper. As the story goes on, and Kapasi continues to observe the family, we see that the family is not Indian at all, but American. From my perspective, as an American brought up by Indian parents, the Das family is very strange. From what I have observed, Indian parents and families are extremely close and Indian parents will do anything for their children. Indian parents value and respect their children and treat them with the utmost care and kindness. But these Indian-appearing parents are the actual opposite of what I imagine as Indian parents; this example shows my perspective: (as well as Mr. Kapasi’s perspective), “Mrs. Das reached into her straw bag and pulled out a bottle of colorless nail polish, which she proceeded to stroke on the tip of her index finger.”
The little girl stuck out a hand. “Mine too. Mommy, do mine too.”
“Leave me alone,” Mrs. Das said, blowing on her nail and turning her body slightly. “You’re making me mess up.”
…Mr. and Mrs. Das behaved like an older brother and sister, not parents. It seemed that they were in charge of the children only for the day; it was hard to believe they were regularly responsible for anything other than themselves…Mrs. Das continued to polish her nails…Every now and then Tina renewed her plea that she wanted her nails done, too, and so at one point Mrs. Das flicked a drop of polish on the girl’s finger before depositing the bottle back inside her straw bag.” (33-45)
Mr. Kapasi is very surprised by this behavior, as I am when I read the story. Parents, especially Indian parents do not treat their children like this. This fact makes it obvious that the Das family, though they appear Indian, are far from being Indian. Mr. Kapasi, interestingly, would probably instead do anything for his children and would lovingly treat his own children. I am not saying that Indian parentage is the best or that American parentage is “unloving” or “lazy”, but the Das family does not exhibit typical Indian parentage. From what I have experienced, as an American Indian, Indian parents are generally more involved with their children than American parents are with their children, unlike the Das family. This comparison of more “American” and “Indian” parentage and attitudes is only possible through Mr. Kapasi’s perspective. Through Mr. Kapasi, we get to see a different angle of American parentage, something that we are so familiar with, and we start to realize the differences.

Mr. Kapasi is also very interesting in relation to Mrs. Das. It is interesting to analyze Kapasi’s attraction to Mrs. Das. It is very interesting when Kapasi is attracted to Mrs. Das and his inner feelings are revealed. It becomes clear that Kapasi is attracted to Mrs. Das physically as well as emotionally. Kapasi is not content with what he has and he wants more, through the form of Mrs. Das. It seems that Mrs. Das is fascinated with Kapasi and he begins to gain the wrong impression. Mrs. Das approaches Kapasi to tell him a burning secret, a malady. Kapasi symbolizes easing pain through words (in a medical sense), but Das sees this easing in a different way. Mrs. Das relieves her secret of her child out of wedlock to Kapasi. Kapasi instead of really easing Das makes her think, and he starts to disrespect the woman he admired so much. Kapasi really sees her for who she is, a woman who is unhappy with her life and family. A beautiful piece of symbolism is when Mrs. Das accidentally loses a piece of paper with Kapasi’s address for pictures of him and the Das family to be sent to. This symbolism shows Kapasi’s want of disconnection from the family as well as final decision that Kapasi will really remain with his Indian roots, set apart from the American Das family. (904)