Post #3

Interpreter of Maladies p. 52 (chapter 3)

Interpreter of Maladies is different compared to The Namesake because it is a collection of short stories. I am on the third chapter, or third story. The first chapter was about a couple that was grieving after the loss of their child. The child died right when it was born. The couple has drifted farther and farther apart. However, they have gotten close since the city has started repairing the electricity and they have had to spend time in the dark. The wife, Shoba, has started a game she used to play in India, where each night the electricity goes out, they must tell one secret or something the other person does not know.

In the second chapter, we meet Mr. Pirzada, who has come from Dacca, Pakistan, and left his family behind. He lives in a dorm at a nearby college, and he comes regularly to dine with another Indian family. At this time, India and Pakistan are at war. The short story describes how Mr. Pirzada always gives the daughter of the family candy every night, and as she learns about him and his family, she eats one piece of candy and prays for Mr. Pirzada's family. At the end of the chapter, we find that Mr. Pirzada returns to Dacca, is reunited with his family, and the girl never sees him again, but is grateful that her prayers were answered.

Continuing from the last theme, I have noticed that the death of a father has come up again. I wrote before of how in The Namesake Gogol's grandfather and father pass away. In the first chapter of Interpreter of Maladies we find that Shukumar, Shoba's husband, talks about the death of his father (p.17). The plot changes, because that was his first secret he told in the story. From there, the relationship between Shoba and Shukumar changes. Death could definitely be a theme, except I could expand on how it relates directly to the characters, and how the emotions are talked about. The changes in the characters' personalities are greatly significant, and the most unusual thing is that it is talked about through the eyes of The Namesake and Shoba in Interpreter of Maladies. Both of the characters put on the persona of happiness, yet inside there was a change in them. Lahiri also talks about this in a subtle way, so I could use examples from the text about how other characters are noticing changes.