Jhumpa Lahiris short stories: Sexy, Interpreter of MaladiesandThis Blessed House of Interpreter of Maladies

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Communication is Happiness

        Failure of comprehension and the lack of communication are two connecting concepts, very much seen as the basis of unsuccessful relationships everywhere. In Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories: “Sexy,” “Interpreter of Maladies”and“This Blessed House” of Interpreter of Maladies, a debut collection of short stories, Lahiri reveals that relationships are fraught with difficulties such as understanding themselves, understanding love and understanding relationships culturally.

Self realization is the maturing of one’s personality, as demonstrated by Miranda in “Sexy” as she reflects on herself, triggering change in her secrete affair with Dev. While babysitting Laxmi’s cousin Rohin, Miranda, tries on the dress she had once gotten to wear in front of Dev. After Rohin calls her “sexy” Miranda desperately searches for an answer in him to what it means, as Dev called her that as well once before. After a great struggle, Rohin “looked at her, eyes like slits, cupped hands around his mouth, and then whispered, ‘It means loving someone you don’t know’” (Lahiri 107). Rohin’s simplistic words strike Miranda. The comparison of Rohin’s physical appearance to slits literally gashes an intense situation as he sharply looks into Miranda and states something she already knows. After thinking about Rohin’s account, Miranda understands the significance of betrayal as her affair with Dev continues. Rohin, a catalyst in the situation, sets the tone for the new direction Miranda sets out to lead herself in. However, Miranda still contemplates and runs her treasured memories with Dev in her mind as she starts to cry. “But Rohin still slept. She guessed that he was used to it now, to the sound of a woman crying” (Lahiri 109). Miranda’s wary explanation amid her tears referencing Rohin’s mother haunts Miranda, creating a visual of a woman defeated by love ending in a lone relationship with her son. The alliteration of the “s” sound creates a connection between “still,” “slept” and “sound”- a justification of Miranda struggling to propose a union with her and Dev as she exhibits in her reference of Rohin and his mother.

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        Additionally, the aftermath of a lack of communication can often lead characters to feel emotionally isolated as well as to suffer from heart break, much like Mr. Kapasi in “Interpreter of Maladies.” As the Das family’s tour guide, Mr. Kapasi is constantly bewildered by their behavioral actions and responses to one another. For instance, Mrs. Das is completely unconcerned to her tour and only shows interest upon knowing Mr.Kapasi’s occupation. Mrs. Das sees the reliance of patients on Mr. Kapasi as “romantic” (Lahiri 50). He becomes mesmerized by her as she includes him in their picnic and offers to send ...

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