Communication In Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter Of Maladies

The ability to communicate effectively is essential to the success of any relationship. Effective communication allows an individual to share and express their ideas, concerns and show support. Whether it’s between family members or complete strangers, communication is a major factor in developing perceptions of other people and creating relationships with them. In the book Interpreter of Maladies, author Jhumpa Lahiri, uses the theme of miscommunication to emphasize how a consistent lack of communication can negatively influence relationships, lead people to regret decisions they have made, and alter one’s personal perception of another individual.

In the third section of Interpreter of Maladies, The Das family is introduced. This American Indian

family is on vacation in India and has hired a tour guide named Mr. Kapasi to drive them around their country of origin. Jhumpa Lahiri uses third person limited to illustrate Mr. Kapasi’s perception of the family. Immediately, Mr. Kapasi notices that The Das family is obviously unable to communicate clearly with one another. Mr. and Mrs. Das are fighting over trivial matters such as who should take their daughter to the bathroom, the children do not listen to their parents and Mr. Das refers to Mrs. Das by her first name to their children. Mrs. Das hides behind her sunglasses while her husband buries his nose inside the tour booklet. This untraditional display of interaction between family members s symbolizes how the married couple is unable to properly communicate with on another and foreshadows the lack of communication yet to unravel throughout the story.
On the tour, it is obvious Mr. Das is very enthusiastic about the trip. He converses with Mr. Kapasi about his life in New Jersey and is constantly taking photos of the Indian culture. On the other hand, it is evident Mrs. Das does not feel the same way. She remains quiet, only breaking silence to complain. Mr. Kapasi automatically judges her silence and complaining as a sign of disinterest in not only the tour, but also her family. “While Mr. Das adjusted his telephoto lens, Mrs. Das reached into her straw bag and pulled out a bottle of colorless nail polish, which she proceeded to stroke on the tip of her index finger.
The little girl stuck out a hand. “Mine too. Mommy, do mine too.” “Leave me alone,” Mrs. Das said, blowing on her nail and turning her body slightly. “You’re making me mess up.”” (Lahiri, 31) It is clear to Mr.

Kapasi, without any communication, that Mrs. Das has no care for the tour, her husband, or even her children. Once Mr. Kaposi reveals he is also an interpreter of maladies for a doctor, Mrs. Dash’s interest completely alters. Mr. Kapasi explains how he literally uses the skill of clear communication to help solve others illnesses and problems. Mrs. Das suddenly becomes very involved in the conversation with Mr. Kapasi and tunes out the rest of her family. She finds something about the dependency of patients on Mr. Kapasi as “romantic” and wants to hear all about his second occupation. Mrs. Das’ sudden interest in communicating with Mr. Kapasi and her word choice of “romantic” leads him to believe she is interested in him in an affectionate way. Her sudden interest in him, an interest she did not express in either her husband or her children, was mildly intoxicating. When Mr. Kapasi thought once again about how she had said “romantic,” the feeling of intoxication grew.” (Lahiri, 33) He appreciated the regard and admiration of Mrs. Das because he did not receive this notice from his own wife. It is ironic how he interprets others for a living but lacks the ability to communicate

effectively with his partner. Miscommunication is represented through his lost ability to speak multiple languages and to communicate with his wife. At a young age, Mr. Kapasi was scholar of many languages but has now lost his talent and can now only speak fluent English. Mr. Das had categorized this job as a “sign of his failings” (Lahiri, 33) because it represents his failure at life and marriage. Through miscommunication, Mrs. Das believes as an interpreter, Mr. Kapasi is some sort of psychoanalyst. She waits until they are both alone and begins to reveal her past and current situation with her husband. She explains that both their parents were friends and pretty much set up their marriage since they were young. They attended college together and were rushed into marriage and having children. Mrs. Das had stop communicating with all of her friends, leaving her lonely and trapped in the realization of her life. “After marrying so young she was overwhelmed by it all, having a child so quickly, and nursing, and warming up bottles of milk and testing their temperature against her wrist while Raj was at work, dressed in sweaters and corduroy pants, teaching his students about rocks and dinosaurs.” (Lahari, 38) She grew to hate her own life due to her own miscommunication and showed resentment toward her family. The couple had started to grow distant. Her husband was content with coming home after a long day of work, while she desired to leave the house she was trapped in all day. When opportunity arose to cheat on her spouse, Mrs. Das took it and she reveals to Mr. Kasapi that her son Bobby was actually that man’s son.