Postmodern literature is an arrangement of the exact characteristics, scope, and importance of postmodern characters. People instantaneously judge behavior and mannerisms of others in their day-to-day life and doing so affects his/her view on life by misinterpreting. “Interpreter of maladies “by Jhumpa lahari is a unique post modernism piece that deals with a lot of misinterpretations and perceptions that lead the characters to undergo different kinds of maladies.
Interpreter of maladies deals with two major characters, Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das. Both characters in the story are rooted with different maladies. The different can be identified as isolation, pain and disappointment. The story is seen through the perspective of Mr. Kapasi. Mr. Kapasi works as a tour guide for Mr. and Mrs. Das. Mr. Das is portrayed as an American tourist and weak father who remains unknowing of his wife’s disloyalty. Mrs. Das has been living with the pain of guilt for years. From the beginning Mrs. Das was judged for her behavior. She has a past that she regrets of. Once a person is guilty forever the feeling haunts. She turns her back by saying “leave me alone...You are making me mess up” (lahiri 53) by which one can say that she is an isolated and uncaring person. Mr. Kapasi notes Mrs. Das behavior to be dispassionate towards her family. When Mrs. Das hears that Mr. Kapasi is an interpreter she becomes fascinated with his stories in hope that he could cure her from the guilt that has been rooted in her. He was her last hope and when he failed her, she lost interest both in him and his occupation. Kapasi, being a man who has an equally bad past i.e. a failed marriage and an establishment without recognition, developed interest in her and created his own fantasy world with the women. He started to live in his fantasy world sharing intimate relationship with her in his mind. Mrs. Das on the other hand was feeling a fatherly support through Kapasi. This portrays an imperfection in the human behavior.
These false interpretations by Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi are a result of human imperfections. Like any human relationship, the relationship between Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das is defined by the interpretation. It is the nature of humans to fantasize and imagine something that gives happiness to us. Ones response to his/her situation is based on the way they interpret their situation.
Interpreter of maladies deals with two major characters, Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das. Both characters in the story are rooted with different maladies. The different can be identified as isolation, pain and disappointment. The story is seen through the perspective of Mr. Kapasi. Mr. Kapasi works as a tour guide for Mr. and Mrs. Das. Mr. Das is portrayed as an American tourist and weak father who remains unknowing of his wife’s disloyalty. Mrs. Das has been living with the pain of guilt for years. From the beginning Mrs. Das was judged for her behavior. She has a past that she regrets of. Once a person is guilty forever the feeling haunts. She turns her back by saying “leave me alone...You are making me mess up” (lahiri 53) by which one can say that she is an isolated and uncaring person. Mr. Kapasi notes Mrs. Das behavior to be dispassionate towards her family. When Mrs. Das hears that Mr. Kapasi is an interpreter she becomes fascinated with his stories in hope that he could cure her from the guilt that has been rooted in her. He was her last hope and when he failed her, she lost interest both in him and his occupation. Kapasi, being a man who has an equally bad past i.e. a failed marriage and an establishment without recognition, developed interest in her and created his own fantasy world with the women. He started to live in his fantasy world sharing intimate relationship with her in his mind. Mrs. Das on the other hand was feeling a fatherly support through Kapasi. This portrays an imperfection in the human behavior.
These false interpretations by Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi are a result of human imperfections. Like any human relationship, the relationship between Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das is defined by the interpretation. It is the nature of humans to fantasize and imagine something that gives happiness to us. Ones response to his/her situation is based on the way they interpret their situation.
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