April Prompt 18 — Short Story-Interpreter Of Maladies
Interpretation of cultural and emotional gestures; fakeness and deceiving unveiled….
Born in London and raised in Rhode Island by her Bengali parents,
Jhumpa Lahiri visited Calcutta often as a child and recognized the importance of both Indian and American cultures in shaping
her perspective on life….
When I thought of short stories that were so real and palpable, I thought of admiring the book here in the celebration of Books, in our April Prompt.
Interpreter of Maladies is a book collection of nine short stories, where the characters are confused, confronted and in curious about their identity- country ( Indian / American) or in the family….The highlight is Lahiri portraying the characters with all their insecurities, the cultural conflicts that they have to undergo and the emotional collapses.
1. A Temporary Matter —
Here, a couple trying to reconcile their marriage after mourning and confessing to each other in a brief streak of four nights goes in vain. For a brief moment, it seems the distance is nothing but perhaps a result of a disagreement. However, descriptions of their changed physical appearances begin to hint at something much more than a lovers’ quarrel. We soon find out that both characters’ worn outward appearance results from their internal, emotional strife that has caused such deeply woven alienation from each other.
2. When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine —
This one is told from the perspective of a little girl whose family opens up their dinner table to a man named Mr. Pirzada, who is in the U.S. for research and away from his wife and daughters who are still in Pakistan. She learns about the conflict he left at home, as well the divides between India and Pakistan, and the Civil War and ongoing conflict going on between Pakistan and India that leaves Mr. Pirzada wondering how his family is doing. This one is through the eyes of a child, but definitely conveys the emotional conflict that the family friend is going through, as well as conveying a coming of age understanding about a life that she has never known, but is happening across the world.
3. Interpreter of Maladies —
The story of a couple on their vacation to India, roaming with their interpreter Guide. Here, the totally in a different world couple, who have zero chemistry, nor any care for their children, flirting wife, innocent children being strangulated between the couple, the guide trying to get connected with the lady are all plotted with a visual effect of characters being completely infront of the reader. When the lady opens her secrets of love life to the guide, the turning point starts…
4. A Real Durwan —
Durwan means housekeeper. The story of an old lady who was a house keeper, with her “contradictory” stories get thrown out by the residents, accusing her of negligence and robbery. This can be relatable about mob psychology.
5. Sexy —
“Sexy” centers on Miranda, a young white woman who has an affair with a married Indian man named Dev. One of Miranda’s work friends is an Indian woman named Laxmi. The first time she meets Dev, she is instantly captivated by his charm and the thrill of being with an exotic, older man. Dev whispers “You’re sexy.” Miranda buys clothes that she thinks are suitable for a mistress, but feels pangs of guilt because Dev is married. Meanwhile, Laxmi’s cousin has been abandoned by her husband, who left the cousin for a younger woman. One day, Laxmi’s cousin comes to Boston and Miranda is asked to babysit the cousin’s seven-year-old son, Rohin. Rohin asks Miranda to try on the clothes that she bought, and gives Miranda insight into his mother’s grief. Miranda decides that she and Dev’s wife both “deserve better,” and stops seeing Dev.
6. Mrs. Sen’s —
11-year-old Eliot begins staying with Mrs. Sen — a university professor’s wife — after school. The caretaker, Mrs. Sen, chops and prepares food as she tells Eliot stories of her past life in Calcutta.Much of the plot revolves around Mrs. Sen’s tradition of purchasing fish from a local seafood market. This fish reminds Mrs. Sen of her home and holds great significance for her. However, reaching the seafood market requires driving, a skill that Mrs. Sen has not learned and resists learning. At the end of the story, Mrs. Sen attempts to drive to the market without her husband, and ends up in an automobile accident. Eliot soon stops staying with Mrs. Sen thereafter.
7. This Blessed House —
A newly married couple, are exploring their new house in Hartford, Connecticut, which have been owned by fervent Christians. As they go about investigating and fixing up the house, they begin to find small Christian knickknacks, left behind by the previous owners…
8. The Treatment of Bibi Haldar —
Treatment of Bibi Haldar was a particularly touching one, dealing with issues of weddings in the Indian society, and depicting the relationships. The lady roaming and preparing herself for love and marriage, who later get abandoned and abused to get pregnant, leave a mark, which leaves a heaviness in the heart of reader.
9. The Third and Final Continent —
In “The Third and Final Continent”, the narrator lives in India, then moves to London, then finally to America. The title of this story tells us that the narrator has lived in three different continents and chooses to stay in the third, North America.
All the stories carry complex human psychology, expose them naked, and can be relatable in the society.
This is in response to the April Prompt 18, day for short stories….
Inviting great story tellers to share their favorite short stories
Pete JJ Annelise Lords CJ Coop Chrysa stergiou Priyanka Srivastava Henry India Holden💖 Priyamvada Solanki Fiza Ameen J.D. Harms Lani Domaloy Nandkishor Shingne Leela Ramesh Jan C. McLarty
check out the news letter by Chrysa stergiou in Soul Magazine…….
