63 pages • 2 hours read
Jhumpa LahiriInterpreter of Maladies
Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1999A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Indian Food
Indian food is used in many stories as a symbol of comfort and belonging, and the preparation of Indian food carries the weight of heritage for the characters in this collection. In “A Temporary Matter,” for example, the stored-up Indian ingredients in the cupboard and freezer are a testament to the characters’ attempts to build a life together; the fact that it’s all been eaten after six months of grief foreshadows their spent reserves as a couple. In other stories, such as “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” and “Mrs. Sen’s,” the preparation and serving of Indian food is an act of welcome. In “Sexy,” Miranda begins engaging with Dev’s Indianness by seeking out Indian food, only to be told that what she wants is too spicy. In “This Blessed House,” Twinkle has an aversion to carefully planning a meal and dislikes the work involved in making Indian food, which drives Sanjeev’s feelings that he has married the wrong person. In each instance, the presence of Indian food is linked to parts of Indian culture that are honorable and worthy—family loyalty, belonging, and caretaking.
Maps
Maps are a potent symbol in “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” and “Sexy.” In both stories, maps are a representation of the way political and national identities create barriers between people. Lilia in “Mr. Pirzada” worries over a map of East Pakistan that is outdated when thinking of her friend whom she’ll never see again, and her teacher discourages her from knowing more. The globe at the Mapparium and the map on the cover of The Economist in “Sexy” both provide opportunities for Dev to be either forthcoming or withholding about his national identity, helping him keep Miranda at a remove. In both stories, maps are used to enforce a binary, black-and-white concept of nationhood, which goes against the multicultural identities of the characters and their desire to reach across borders to understand each other.
Arranged Marriage
Many of the characters in Interpreter of Maladies are in arranged marriages, and a few stories deal explicitly with the beginnings of such relationships, notably “This Blessed House” and “The Third and Final Continent.” In both stories, the couples are struggling while getting to know each other. American culture generally frowns on the concept of arranged marriages, but the stories in this collection don’t pass judgment, treating them as a valid form of matrimony with their own complex challenges that include issues like romantic love, loneliness, and sacrifice.
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