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Conflict In Interpreter Of Maladies

Decent Essays
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Sydney Goren
Miss Holmes
English II
20 October 2017
Conflict in Interpreter of Maladies
Many of the stories in Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri include a fundamental composition of literary elements, such as conflict which readers see in both “Interpreter of Maladies” and “A Temporary Matter”. Lahiri shows the difficulty of communication which overtime turn into the destruction of the entire relationship. For instance, readers see difficulty in communication when Shukumar and Shoba become distant shortly after she has a stillborn child. The death of their baby has severe effects their entire relationship, and adds to their lack of communication. Similarly in “Interpreter of Maladies” when Mrs. Das hides information about Raj and …show more content…

instead he had thought of how he and Shoba had become experts at avoiding each other… or whispered his name on those rare occasions they still reached for each others bodies before sleeping” (Lahiri 5). Shukumar comes to a realization that their relationship is slowly collapsing and that the couple has drifted. He reminisces on the good times, when they were in love, made love, and when they communicated.
Lack of communication is shown in "Interpreter of Maladies" when two people who speak the same language, do not understand each other or communicate. This is best shown when Mr. and Mrs. Das constantly argue: “At the tea stall Mr. and Mrs. Das bickered about who should take Tina to the toilet. Eventually Ms. Das relented when Mrs. Das pointed out that he had given the girl a bath the night before” (Lahiri 43). Conflict is shown between Mr. and Mrs. Das when they bicker about who will give the girl a bath, furthermore having the child feel as if taking care of her is a chore. From this quote, readers see that the state of their marriage is not well. As Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das grew closer, she decides to share one of the biggest secrets of her life and marriage: “Rajs. He 's not Raj’s son” (Lahiri 62). Their lack of communication and isolation from each other continue as Mrs. Das keeps this to herself. She feels that the guilt will not get to her if she explains everything to the

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