Pub #3: Misinterpretations and Perspectives

 Misinterpretations and Perspectives

In Jhumpa Lahiri's “Interpreter of Maladies,” the role of human behavior and relationships is an important key in the story, offering a deep dive into the human condition that aligns with the principles of postmodernism. Through the characters, Lahiri is able to portray the complexities of human relationships and behavior. By presenting multiple perspectives, we are able to see multiple of the characters' worlds, giving us a deeper understanding of their individual experiences. To continue, the flaw of misinterpretation can be seen throughout the story, particularly from the character Mr. Kapasi and his misinterpretation of Mrs. Das’s intentions. Additionally, the flaw of misinterpretation is shown in many ways in present-day society. Furthermore, the postmodernist elements are strongly portrayed throughout the book through the difficulty to communicate and the failing relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Das.

This story is a great example of a postmodern piece, diving into character flaws and showing how everyone is different from different perspectives. As the story progresses, we discover many things about the character, particularly Mrs. Das and her discontentment with her life. For example, when Mrs. Das states, "It means that I’m tired of feeling so terrible all the time. Eight years, Mr. Kapasi, I’ve been in pain for eight years” (Mrs. Das, 27), which explains the way that she acts, creating a whole new perspective on how we see her life. As Mrs. Das confides in Mr. Kapasi, expressing her emotional pain for eight years, she suggests that she has been holding this burden for too long. Her quote portrays the feeling of emotional isolation and the search for meaning, which gives us a whole new perspective on how we see her life using postmodern ways of perspective.

Throughout the story, the complexities of the human condition can be seen through the characters and the different perspectives these characters portray. Lahiri allows the readers to dive into the inner thoughts and perspectives of characters, particularly Mr. Kapasi. Using the flaw of misinterpretation, the complexities of the human condition are shown as it gives us his point of view on Mrs. Kapsi. For example, when talking about Mr. Kapasi’s job as an interpreter for a doctor, Mrs. Das claimed it was “but so romantic.” (Mrs. Das, 17) Mr. Kapasi misinterprets her intention, thinking of it as a sign of romance, causing him to create false realities of Mrs. Das and their relationship, which lead him to say things like “But Mrs. Das was different. Unlike the other woman.” (Mr. Kapasi, 22). Through these complexities, Jhumpa Lahiri prompts readers to consider how misinterpretations of interactions can shape the way we see others. To continue the flaw of misinterpretation, it could be portrayed in many ways in present-day culture by the song The Scientist by Coldplay. To add on, a quote from the song states, "Questions of science, science and progress: Do not speak as loud as my heart," which portrays the fight between what’s logically true and what the singer feels. This relates to Mr. Kapasi, as he found out that she did not feel the same way, so now he has to deal with what's really true despite how he feels.

This post-modern piece gives a unique perspective on the characters and what they are dealing with in their minds and can be connected to many present-day culture songs. The quote by Mrs. Das states, "Don’t you see? For eight years, I haven’t been able to express this to anybody, not to friends, certainly not to Raj.” (Mrs. Das, 27) portrays the difficulty in communicating in a relationship, where it’s clear to see that she can’t even talk to her husband about problems, which destroys relationships. This can be portrayed in the pop culture song Say Something by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera, where the lyrics “Say something I'm giving up on you” demonstrate the desperation for the other person to communicate to make an effort in the relationship that’s failing. Similar to Mrs. Das' situation in not being able to communicate with her husband and struggling to connect with each other, this leads to an emotional distance only from Mrs. Das point of view. Additionally, Mr. Das still thinks that his wife loves him, but the truth is not clear to him as they can’t communicate properly.

In Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies,” the exploration of human behavior and relationships is evident throughout the story through the characters. Giving different perspectives on each character leads to a whole new reality for the readers, making this a great post-modern piece. Using particular points of view from the character Mr. Kapasi, the flaw of misinterpretation was seen and gave us a whole new perspective on the story and Mr. Kapasi’s fantasies about Mrs. Das. Additionally, finding out about Mrs. Das' secret and her holding a huge burden for years portrays the individual experiences and perspectives in this story. Continuing on the flaw of misinterpretation, it connects to present-day culture, such as in the song The Scientist by Coldplay, where the conflict of reality despite how the person feels toward someone relates to Mr. Kapasi's internal conflict. As well as Mrs. Das' inability to communicate her feelings to her husband and tell him the truth, this relates to the feeling in the song Say Something by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera. Furthermore, this postmodern story gives readers a chance to reflect on the complexities of human experience and the difficulties of expressing our feelings in today's world.