Post
Modernism is all about interpretation: that of the individual character and of
the reader. The main character, Mr.
Kapasi, while pointing out certain details of the Das family, helps the reader’s
interpretation develop. Details like the
argument over taking the girl to the bathroom, and then Mrs. Das holding the
girl’s hand, even the fact that Mr. Das referred to his wife’s first name when
speaking with his child. From this it
seems the relationship between the parents, and the parents and the children,
is a casual one. “As soon as the car began to move the
little girl began to play with the lock on her side, clicking it with some
effort forward and backward, but Mrs. Das said nothing to stop her. She sat a
bit slouched at one end of the back seat, not offering her puffed rice to
anyone.” (Lahiri 47) They don’t play
the typical role of protective, loving, authoritative figure that parents often
embody. It’s almost as if they could
care less what their children do. Mr.
Kapasi comes to a similar conclusion saying they seem more like siblings. Mr. and Mrs. Das acted like an older brother
and sister, rather than mother and father.
Later on
in the story Mrs. Das proclaims Kapasi’s job as an interpreter to be
“romantic.” After this Mr. Kapasi begins
to misinterpret everything Mrs. Das says or does. The fact that Mrs. Das praised his job,
unlike his wife who merely referred to his position as “doctors assistant,”
encouraged Mr. Kapasi to misconstrue her intentions. Noticing the similarities between the Das
marriage and his own as well as her sudden interest in him only fed his
imagination. He began to notice her
femininity and talks with her as if they were having their own private
conversation. Though when he does get
alone time with Mrs. Das, he discovers the truth to her fondness towards
him. She confided in him a secret she
had not told anyone in hopes that he could advise her. “I was hoping you could help me feel better, say the right thing. Suggest
some kind of remedy” (Lahiri 65).
Mrs. Das needed guidance and was seeking it through him. This is where the concept of reality coming
into the light through our interpretations and how we view the world. The true meaning behind Mrs. Das’ friendly
nature towards Mr. Kapasi becomes known when she explained her situation. Her individual view opened Mr. Kapasi’s eyes
to what was really going on. They both
misinterpreted the situation. Both Mrs.
Das and Mr. Kapasi’s emotional imbalance stood in the way of reality. Her carefree attitude towards her decisions
and his failures in life.
The
complicated aspects of the human condition, referring to relationships as well
as behavior, are deeply reflected within this post modern piece. The relationships with the lives of Mr.
Kapasi and Mrs. Das are complex each in their own way. Mr. Kapasi and his wife have become distant
due to his failure as a father and her resentment towards his job. When he meets Mrs. Das, Mr. Kapasi forms a
relationship in his mind that exists completely differently in her mind he
makes life more difficult for him. He develops
these feelings for Mrs. Das as a result of his desire for affection that he
doesn’t receive from his wife. In the
end he learns all Mrs. Das needed was guidance for decisions she has previously
made. He’s living in a fantasy world
because the reality of his complex relationship with his wife is hard to live
through. Mrs. Das’ cheating behavior in
the past stems from her long term relationship with her husband. They grew up together and she’s been with him
her whole life. Her actions could be a
result of the lack of complications in her life. She married a man her parents approved of and
had children with him, which is probably exactly what they had planned for
her. She could have had a deep seeded
desire to maker her simple life more complex.
Mrs. Das is human and it’s probable that she became bored with how her
adult life was turning out and wanted to add complications.
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