Interpreter of Maladies

Short Story: Interpreter of Maladies

Author: Jhumpa Lahiri

Analysis&Quote:

“But we do not face a language barrier. What need is there for an interpreter?”

“That’s not what I mean. I would never have told you otherwise. Don’t you realize what it means for me to tell you?”

“What does it mean?”

“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. I was hoping you could make me feel better, say the right thing. Suggest some kind of remedy.”

This isn’t one quote but I think this portion of the exchange is important to what Jhumpa Lahiri is suggesting. I think what Lahiri does is expand the idea of sickness in this particular short story. I think she suggest maladies are not only a physical sickness but a mental one as well.

In this portion of the scene Mr. Kapasi is speaking first. It’s interesting how he says “we do not face a language barrier.” Instead of him simply saying “you” do not face a language barrier because you can understand me, or “I” do not face a language barrier because I speak English. The word choice of “we” implies he sees himself in the position of the interpreter. When he says the next line, it shows that he doesn’t see psychological or emotional distress as another form of a malady. If he doesn’t see physical pain or distress then there is no sickness. However, this is unfair of him to judge/presume because his wife has a similar “malady”.

After she lost their son she became emotionally distressed and a little unstable. “…the countless other ways he tried to console his wife and to keep her from crying in her sleep.” Perhaps because he found it difficult to find the right words to say he found it difficult in that moment to understand what it was that Mrs. Das needed.

Mrs. Das realizes that Mr. Kapasi doesn’t understand, but then says, “I would have never told you otherwise.” This makes her sound selfish because she was only interested in him for her own personal reasons. And in fact, for Mr. Kapasi to be such a great interpreter of languages, he lacks human understanding. The moment Mrs. Das showed interest in him he was quick to jump to a fantasy about him and Mrs. Das having some type of romantic affair. Mrs. Das was only interested because she wanted someone to confide to, and for someone to tell her something to make her feel better about herself.

When she goes on to tell him “Don’t you realize what it means for me to tell you?” it seems as though she feels her like crumbling to pieces. She gave up any chance of having a life of her own when she fell in love with Raj. She “did not make many close friends”, and “Always tired, she declines invitations from one or two college girlfriends.”

She doesn’t have anything that is truly hers aside from her son Bobby. If Raj were to find out, she would most likely lose her children, home, and anything else that she acquired from Raj. Again, Mr. Kapasi doesn’t understand this as he continues asking her questions even though she explained to him how she and Raj’s life came to be. She then explains it also means her feeling tired and terrible all the time about it. She wants Mr. Kapasi to make her feel better and to interpret what her sickness it and give her “some kind of remedy.”

On further reflection, I came to the conclusion that Mr. Kapasi may have a malady that he can’t interpret or understand it. Or perhaps he is a sad and old dreamer. His wife is indifferent to him, but he took on another job to try and make her happy. The moment he found someone who showed interest in his job, he dreamed up a romantic affair between the two. I understand he didn’t feel like he was inspired or excited by his wife, but he is mentally behaving in the same way Mrs. Das did when Raj’s friend came over.

I found the short story interesting and think Lahiri is suggesting everyone has sicknesses whether physical, emotional, or psychological. I think she says that sometimes if you have a psychological or emotional sickness, it’s easy to find a quick solution to make yourself feel better. But I think she says that even those who seem the most righteous or “good” can have it themselves. I’m not sure whether she says having it is a bad thing, but I think she is saying that it isn’t something you can depend on others to solve for you. They can help you get to the heart of the problem, but you have to find your own remedy. Sometimes no one knows you better than yourself.