Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri

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Discussion Topic

Mrs. Das's Secret and Its Thematic Significance in "Interpreter of Maladies"

Summary:

In Jhumpa Lahiri's "Interpreter of Maladies," Mrs. Das reveals to Mr. Kapasi, a tour guide and interpreter, that her son Bobby was conceived through an affair, a secret she has kept from her husband. This disclosure highlights cultural misunderstandings; Mrs. Das mistakenly believes Mr. Kapasi can alleviate her guilt. The thematic significance lies in the exploration of cultural differences and the misinterpretation of roles, as Mr. Kapasi's Indian perspective fails to meet Mrs. Das's American expectations.

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What is the thematic significance of Mrs. Das's secret in "Interpreter of Maladies"? What malady is Mr. Kapasi meant to interpret?

In the short story "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri, an Indian-American family—Mr. and Mrs. Das and their children—are visiting India. Mr. Kapasi, from whose viewpoint the story is told, has been hired as a tour guide and driver to take them to places of interest. During the journey, Mr. Kapasi explains that his other job is as an interpreter for a doctor, translating medical conversations for patients who only speak Gujarati.

Mr. Kapasi notices that the family is somewhat dysfunctional and that Mrs. Das seems to be taking an interest in him. He imagines it as a romantic interest. However, when they reach a sightseeing place and Mr. Das and the children go on ahead, Mrs. Das confides in Mr. Kapasi that their oldest child, Bobby, is not Mr. Das's but was conceived with one of Mr. Das's friends. It turns out that Mrs. Das is...

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interested in Mr. Kapasi not in a romantic way, but instead because he has claimed to be an "interpreter of maladies." Mrs. Das has misunderstood the meaning of this phrase, thinking that Mr. Kapasi will be able to help alleviate the pain and guilt she feels due to her infidelity.

The theme of this story has to do with cultural differences between Mr. Kapasi, who was born in India, and Mr. and Mrs. Das, who are Americans with Indian ancestry. Mrs. Das tells Mr. Kapasi her secret due to a misunderstanding brought on by the differences in their cultural perspectives. She sees things as an American would see them. Mr. Kapasi's response does not satisfy Mrs. Das, because he is speaking from an Indian perspective on marriage, not an American one.

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In "Interpreter of Maladies," what secret does Mrs. Das reveal to Mr. Kapasi?

In Jhumpa Lahiri’s short story “Interpreter of Maladies,” a middle-aged male tour guide named Mr. Kapasi is traveling with the Das family, which includes Mr. Das, Mrs. Das, and their three children. Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das become interested in one another, and the two of them remain in the car when the group stops to look at a ruined monastery. They engage in small talk, and then Mrs. Das suddenly reveals a long personal story. She tells Mr. Kapasi that she cheated on her husband with one of his friends who came to stay with them. Her son Bobby was born as a result, and she never told this man he was the real father.

Mr. Kapasi is shocked by this story. “Why have you told me this information?” He asks her. She is annoyed by his harsh reaction, since she told him this story in the hopes that he would use his interpretation skills and help her interpret her complicated feelings. But, as the narrator notes, “her confession depressed” Mr. Kapasi. He is insulted that she asked him to interpret her feelings and he points out that she is probably feeling guilty about what she did, not “in pain” as she said she felt. This makes her angry, and she storms out of the car.

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