Who Is The Woul Interpreter Of Maladies

Misinterpretations happen on a regular basis in The Interpreter of Maladies. Mr. Kapasi incorrectly assumed that Mr. Das was born in India. Mr. Kapasi asked, “You left India as a child?” (Lahiri 45). This was a misconception by Mr. Kapasi. When Mr. Kapasi explained to Mrs. Das about his job as an interpreter, she was aroused and said, “But so romantic” (Lahiri 50). Mr. Kapasi thought that Mrs. Das was giving him verbal and behavioral cues that she was interested in him, and he began to fantasize about her. Mrs. Das wanted to hear more about his job at the doctor’s office, and showed him how impressed she was by stating “So these patients are totally dependent on you” (Lahiri 51). Mr. Kapasi created a non-existent relationship in his mind between him and Mrs. Das. When Mrs. Das asked for his address to send him copies of the photos she took, he started to imagine they would start a relationship. Mr. Kapasi thought “In time, she

Mr. and Mrs. Das enjoy all things Indian. The couple is as if drinking its fill of Indian experience. Just as the Suntemple at Konarak becomes a must see, they also enjoy jhalmuri that is typical of Bengal and its adjacent states. Mrs. Das is quite a foreigner in her dress and taste, the lady does not forget to carry her water bottle lest she catches infection due to consumption of contaminated water. But she cannot resist enjoying the jhalmuri: 'She walked slowly, carrying some puffed rice tossed with peanuts and chilli peppers in a large packet made from newspapers.' (Lahiri 46) The family also enjoys a hearty breakfast at a road side restaurant (Dhaba). If on one hand they sip bottled mango juice with sandwiches they also enjoy the typical Indian pakora throwing all apprehensions of infection to the wind. However, the author once again does not use the Indian word for the same, instead she prefers to define it as 'onions and potatoes deep fried in graham-flour batter.' (Lahiri