Nicole Lopez
Professor Salgado
Introduction to Expository Writing and Literacy Studies
October 10, 2017 The success of any relationship relies on one’s ability to communicate well. Communication is important is relationships as it allows us to share our interest, concerns, support each other; and it allows us to organize our lives and make decisions. Effective communication is based on the way we talk and listen, how we respond and our body language. In Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories “A Temporary Matter” and “Interpreter of Maladies” lack of communication has taken place in both of the couples relationships. In both short stories the couples has a misconception about someone that leads to unhappiness. The misconception of the
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Although the blackout was only a temporary matter, it brought Shukumar and Shoba together for that time being. “Something happened when the house was dark…They were able to talk to each other again. The fourth night they walked carefully upstairs, to bed, feeling together for the final step with their feet before the landing, and making love with a desperation they had forgotten” (Lahiri 19). The blackout makes them realize that their relationship is also only a temporary matter. As Shukumar endures the revelation he has received and the one he has given, he takes the plates to the sink and then looks out the window. “As he watched the couple the room went dark, and he spun around…They wept together, for the things they now knew” (Lahiri 22). They are bonded to one another out of their shared hurt and misery. They are only able to bond through their hurt, pain and regret.
Lahiri illustrates to the readers how the misconception of both people in the relationship can cause it to fail; the inability to meet someone’s needs or make sacrifices in a relationship destroys it.
In Lahiri 's short story "Interpreter of Maladies," Mr. Kapasi is a workingman in India with two jobs, an interpreter for a doctor and a tour guide. He is stuck in a dysfunctional relationship after the doctor could not prevent the death of his child. One day he is assigned to the Das 's, a young, irresponsible, and equally dysfunctional couple with nothing that holds them together except
In the short story “Interpreter of Maladies” the narrator is inside Mr. Kapasi’s head, so we see the story from his point of view; moreover he is one of the protagonists in this short story. However, in this story we can see another protagonist – this is Mrs. Das. Mr. Kapasi observes the Das family, their habits and manners, their relationships within their family and comes to some conclusions about Mrs. Das after their tet-a-tet conversation. In this conversation, Mrs. Das has partially opened up her soul for Mr. Kapasi; however, Mr. Kapasi will not help Mrs. Das because his sympathy for her diminishes when he hears her confession about her son Bobby. Even though Mr. Kapasi does not truly understand Mrs. Das, this trip through India is
“They wept together, for the things they now knew.”(104) The last sentence of the first story in Interpreter of Maladies, reveals the cruelty of the elapsed romance in a marriage. In the two collections, A Temporary Matter and The Third and Final Continent, Jhumpa Lahiri demonstrates that a marriage can be either uplifting or discouraging depends on the mindset held by the couple and the strength of human bonding. Lahiri emphasizes the significance of mindset and human bondings through the ending of the two stories. The endings of the two stories are polar opposite : In A Temporary Matter, Shukumar and Shobha weeps for the termination of their relationship; The Third and Final Continent, by contrast, the protagonist(MIT) enjoys a fairytale-like
Interpreter of Maladies focuses on communication as one of the universal themes throughout the book. The stories demonstrate how communication is the key to the success or failure of relationships. While there are instances when communication is effectively employed and therefore enabled the characters to build strong and intimate connections, there are examples of where communication was superficial or ineffectual, leading to unstable, limited relationships. Jhumpa Lahiri illustrates the importance of communication within relationships by allowing readers to experience the consequences and advantages that have developed as a result throughout the short
Interpreter of Maladies is comprised entirely of short stories revolving around the lives of Indian immigrants or their descendants.There are nine short stories in total. The book goes into the difficulties that people of color, particularly Indian people, go through in an effort to balance the culture of their heritage and the culture that now surrounds them in the new world. Two stories stood out in particular, those being Sexy and This Blessed House. Sexy describes the story of a girl in an adulterous relationship with a man she just met, while This Blessed House focuses on the lives of a newly engaged couple that find a bunch of silly religious artifacts in their home.Though these stories may be different, their plots are equally significant
As a beginning of this film, a myth is told by the Nyinba people of Nepal: a story of fearsome spirits thought to kill children and the weak. Their crime was adulterous passionate love and it was this that had condemned them to live eternally between life and death. In this film, we learn about and explore marriages in tribal societies. We can clearly identify the differences that challenge both side’s ideas and sensibilities about marriage bonds.
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
Sunglasses, not only worn for protection from the sun, are also used for other reasons. Some are unrecognizable in sunshades and can even hide their true selves. Ultimately, sunglasses can even hide one’s shame. In Jhumpa Lahiri’s short story, Interpreter of Maladies, Mrs. Das, a major character, is portrayed as a distant woman that searches for romance in all the wrong places. Throughout the story, Mrs. Das rarely removes her sunglasses. The symbol of Mrs. Das’s sunglasses represents the detachment from her own family, the potential bond breaking secrets she hides from them, and the inevitable guilt she feels.
The two short stories “Interpreter of Maladies” and “Sexy” by Jhumpa Lahiri are prime examples of literature written during the postmodern period. Each of these stories contain different tenets of postmodernism interwoven within each short story.
His arranged marriage is struggling because his wife cannot recover from her sorrow over the loss of their young son. Mrs. Das’s sudden interest in his job makes him start his romantic imagination journey. When the Das family has lunch, Mr. Kapasi is invited to join with them. Then, they take the photograph which Mr. Kapasi happens to sit next to Mrs. Das. At the time, Mr. Kapasi feels that he is the best match with Mrs. Das as both of them have the same maritally unsatisfied circumstances. Mrs. Das asks for Mr. Kapasi’s address to send the photograph that they have taken. For her, asking Mr. Kapasi’s address is nothing, but for Mr. Kapasi, writing his address on the scrap paper becomes the way to begin his romantic relationship.
I think the theme of this is about chaos and how Mr. Kapasi feels about this chaotic family. Everyone’s home life is different, so I think it’s a combination of what Mr. Kapasi see’s and how the family behaves. It’s obvious that these parents were either too young or too immature for children. The way that they act proves that the impression that Mr. Kapasi has could be true. It seems as if these people are so wrapped up in their own problems that they can’t get beyond what it might actually mean to be a family. It literally seemed like Mrs. Das was
Every relationship is not the best relationship because sometimes it is like your trapped and isolated so that makes it harder to adjust and bond. In the story “ The Story Of An Hour” Mrs. Mallard was in an overbearing relationship to where she felt trapped. However, her luck would soon change when she gets terrible news about her husband’s death. Meanwhile, the freedom that she thinks she has at that moment will soon be no more because her husband will not be dead. Furthermore, she will soon lose it once the news is broken to her about Mr. Mallard’s status of health. However, just from that, she will begin losing her sanity and herself all at once. And in the end, will die of a joy that kills or sadness that kills. This relationship can be good or bad because it is not always what the spouse wants (Chopin 720) “The Story Of An Hour” relationships are not for everyone simply because it is a commitment until death and some people aren’t as committed.
In Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ Mr. Kapasi , the main character, seems to be a person with mixed feelings. He does not seem to have fixed stand neither in his job nor on his thoughts. His thoughts and experience are structured by the strict cultural society of India. His hidden wants and desires suppressed by the community rules are looking for way to come out. The consequence is his changing thoughts and desires which at different parts of the story appear differently and brings
“A Temporary Matter” uses darkness in a literal sense, during multiple blackouts. Shoba and Shukumar
Through her tasteful selection of contemporary Indian influenced prose pieces, Jhumpa Lahiri traces the unique journey of Indian families established in America. Focusing on the intergenerational aspect of traditional households, Lahiri conveys the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies a person who is branded as a foreigner. In America, there exists a common misconception that immigrants who arrive in this country fully assimilate or seek to assimilate as time progresses. The category I chose was "The Dot of true Happiness." The dot which signifies the bindi, a traditional red mark worn by Indian people, is the source of true happiness among these immigrants.
A Prominent saying state – “Good Communication is the key to a healthy relationship or marriage”; whether it may be verbal or non-verbal. Many marriages end up in divorce, because of neglecting to communicate