PUB #3: POSTMODERNISM AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
This PUB is written on the Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri and the postmodernist writing and way of storytelling. It explores It explores the complexities of the human condition as well as highlights the way that postmodern story's are able to share or have readers better relate to the characters in the story. Overall, this PUB represents a deep delve into the postmodernism theme and highlights the complexities of the human condition.
Taha Albaloushi
Prof. Brady
EGL 102
April 29, 2024
Postmodernism and the Complexities of the Human Condition.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri exemplifies a work of postmodernism through its exploration of the complexities of the human condition. Lahiri showcases this through both the characters of Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das. These characters represent the multifaceted nature of relationships and show how people interpret and understand their lives around them.
Interpreter of Maladies has many of the tell tale traits of a postmodernist work. For one, Lahiri exemplifies postmodernism through the fantasizing thoughts of Mr. Kapisi. The thoughts shared to the reader are unfiltered and are relatable to the daydream-esque imagination that most people exhibit on a daily basis. When for example Mr Kapisi thinks to himself, “She would write to him, asking about his days interpreting at the doctor’s office, and he would respond eloquently, choosing only the most entertaining anecdotes, ones that would make her laugh out loud as she read them in her house in New Jersey,” (Lahiri 20), it is very reminiscent of that human nature and is part of the way in which Lahiri showcases the complexity of the human condition. Another way in which Lahiri exemplifies postmodernism is through the characters being flawed, both Mr. Kapisi and Mrs. Das are deeply flawed in their nature and the author dives into the flaws with much detail. This is another sign of a postmodernist work.
Lahiri showcases the sheer complexities of the human condition through Mr Kapisi with his thought process as well as highlighting his flaws and desires. Lahiri notes that Mr Kapisi feels as if he has failed in his career, wherein the text it is stated that “The job was a sign of his failings. In his youth he’d been a devoted scholar of foreign languages…, He had dreamed of being an interpreter for diplomats and dignitaries, resolving conflicts between people and nations, settling disputes of which he alone could understand both sides,” (Lahiri 18). This is an explanation of how Mr Kapisi believes he has not achieved his purpose or the level of success in the position of his career that he had wanted to and is unsatisfied with what he has in his position at as an interpreter for a doctor. This is relatable to the human condition and how many are left unsatisfied with their levels of success in life. Many times this also is due to another complex reason of having to compromise on the desired level of accomplishment or success because of a need to support family or prioritize other activities. This ties itself into perspective and how people view things around them. In Mr Kapisi’s case, to escape the haunting death of his son which his job was a reminder of as well as to support the growing needs of his family and to console his wife, he had given up his dreams of a better career and what he deemed success. Lahiri also exposes Mr Kapisi’s selfish desires in the text where it is written, “ In time she would reveal the disappointment of her marriage, and he his. In this way their friendship would grow, and flourish,” (Lahiri 20). Mr Kapisi hopes that both he and Mrs. Das would realize flaws in their respective relationships and sacrifice what they had for a scandalous friendship to grow. These things altogether are Lahiri’s attempts at putting the complexities of the human condition on display to the reader.
Mrs. Das has a major flaw that is pointed out when she reveals her deepest secret to Mr Kapisi. The secret that her son Bobby is not her husbands son is revealed to Mr Kapisi alone by Mrs. Das after 8 long years of withholding the information to herself. This unmistakable flaw on Mrs. Das’s part is due to the guilt of having to explain such a deplorable act to her husband and family. As seen in the text, “ About my secret, and about how terrible it makes me feel. I feel terrible looking at my children, and at Raj, always terrible. I have terrible urges, Mr. Kapasi, to throw things away. One day I had the urge to throw everything I own out the window, the television, the children, everything. Don’t you think it’s unhealthy?” (Lahiri 27), when Mrs. Das holds this information to herself and lets herself drown in guilt without being able to address the issue or work on it with anyone, it leads her into a self destructive mindset where she starts to push away those that are important to her and sabotage all that she has. This is not uncommon in todays world where many people keep things to themselves instead of looking for help or for someone to talk to. In many ways, the whole scandalous secret that Mrs. Das kept and its ramifications are a mirror in the face of many in today's society who are in similar situations.
Lahiri’s piece is a postmodernist piece that reflects deeply in modern day society as many similarities can be grasped from Mr Kapisi and Mrs Das to modern day families. Mr Kapisi’s inability to interpret and comprehend the dynamics of the Das family as well as mistaking Mrs. Das’s interest in him for attraction is a mirror of the common misinterpretations and miscommunications that plague interpersonal relations in today's world. Furthermore the unhappiness and distance that Mrs Das feels from her husband and children is also a prevailing experience in many people in today's society, the causes for this can be very complex but an example is given in this piece and it happens to be guilt which is another not too uncommon occurrence in today's society. Furthermore, Lahiri’s postmodern piece powerfully highlights real world experiences of individuals who are navigating the complexities of modern day life. Giddens observes many individuals present day are trapped in a cycle of unfulfilled desires and unspoken grievances and he attributes this to the “pure relationship” which is a construct where people seek emotional and sexual fulfillment but struggle to maintain a genuine connection and intimacy. (Giddens 1992). This is relatable to Lahiri’s characters Mr. Kapisi and Mrs. Das with their fragmented identity and failure in communication.
Overall this piece by Lahiri is a postmodernist piece as suggested by the examples provided, that goes into great depths to show the complexity of the human condition through Mr Kapisi and Mrs. Das. Lahiri's postmodern approach ultimately challenges us to reckon with the messy realities of the human experience, ultimately leading us towards a more empathetic and expansive understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Work Cited
Giddens, Anthony. “The Transformation of Intimacy: Sexuality, Love, and Eroticism in Modern Societies.” (1992).
Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. Flamingo, 2000.