Unit 3 – Jhumpa Lahiri Interpreter of Maladies: Revise your introduction and the beginning of the body of your paper in light of the Draft 2 peer review. See Draft-One and Draft-Two handouts for further instructions.

QUESTION

Directions: Complete the body of your paper, comparing two short stories from the collection Jhumpa Lahiri Interpreter of Maladies (1999).

Revise your introduction and the beginning of the body of your paper in light of the Draft 2 peer review. See Draft-One and Draft-Two handouts for further instructions.

The main section of the body of your paper involves the comparison of your two short stories according to theme. (Reminder: the word comparison means, inclusively, to compare and contrast.) This section is not the place to discuss plot. You have already discussed plot, setting, character, etc.

This part of your comparison should concern only your theme and nothing else. Everything you write for this part of the paper must relate directly to your theme.

Continue to use the present tense to discuss the stories. Do not use the past tense.

In order to write a good comparison according to theme, it is necessary to break your theme down into categories that will allow you to compare and contrast your stories successfully.

For example, if your theme were something like anger, then you would need to think about categories related to that theme so you can effectively compare your stories.

Anger could be broken up into categories like (1) anger towards family; (2) anger towards friends; (3) anger towards self; and (4) anger towards God. These are four reasonable categories related to the theme of anger. As long as half of these categories apply to both of your stories, your are in good shape. Do not choose categories that do not fit your stories. That would be pointless.

As important as it is to choose categories that apply to both stories, you must also choose one or two categories that apply to one story but not the other, and vice versa. Thus, you create categories of similarities and categories of differences, which will allow your comparison to be successful.

You should then apply your categories to the stories.

You should first discuss the categories that provide similarities. After you have compared the similarities, you should then discuss the differences. In other words, first compare the stories (show the similarities), then contrast them (show the differences). This is how a good comparison works. First explain the similarities, then the differences.

Remember, all similarities and differences must relate to your theme!

Each category should be used to create a paragraph or section of the paper. Each category allows you to create a solid topic sentence. For example, you might write, “I will first compare the two stories with a discussion of the main characters and their anger towards family members.”

Using the sandwich method, you should then present evidence about how the main character in each story demonstrates anger towards family members. It is important to use evidence to support all claims. This section can be more than one paragraph. Perhaps you will use one paragraph for the first story, and one for the second.

It is also very important to provide several bits of evidence from each story about each category. In other words, it is necessary to use more than one sandwich from each story to address each category.

Once you have completed demonstrating the similarities between the stories, you should then move to the differences.

Remember that all categories must be about your theme. Otherwise, your comparison will not be focused or convincing. In a paper about anger, for example, you should not have a category about the careers of your characters. This is not a fitting category for a paper about anger. The categories must be about anger.

So let’s pretend that when it comes to the category of anger towards the self, only one of your stories demonstrates this category. In this case, you must first show how the category is present in the story, using the sandwich method to present your evidence. Convince the reader that the main character demonstrates anger towards himself with several examples. Your topic sentence would say something like, “In ‘Interpreter of Maladies,’ the character Mrs. Das appears to have low self-esteem and an inability to appreciate the value of her life.”

Then show how the same category doesn’t fit your other story. In other words, demonstrate that the main character actually likes him- or herself in the other story. You could write, for example, “In the story ‘This Blessed House,’ however, the main character Twinkle does not hate herself at all, but actually seems to believe in herself and her own value as a person.”

So don’t just claim the character does not hate herself. You must prove it, using opposite kinds of evidence. Again, provide several examples via the sandwich method, demonstrating, in this case, that the main character likes herself.

Once you have completed your full comparison, comparing and contrasting your two stories by providing evidence of similarities and differences, you will need to synthesize.

We can save the synthesis, however, for Draft 4. It is really the same as a good conclusion.

Use plenty of evidence from your stories to support your comparison. Comb through the text, supporting all your claims with direct quotations. Quotes should be short and to the point, properly introduced and fully explicated, according to the sandwich method.

This is not a research paper, so you should not use outside sources. Any claims, however, that are not your own must be cited to avoid plagiarism. Final papers flagged for plagiarism in SafeAssign will not be given a grade above 60.

In choosing the tone of your paper, write for an audience that includes college students like you, who are gathered in an academic setting such as a class at CUC.

Required source: Jhumpa Lahiri Interpreter of Maladies (1999)

Format and Style: Modern Language Association (MLA), including works-cited page.

Length: 1150-1500 words

ANSWER

A Comparative Analysis of Themes in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies”

Introduction

Jhumpa Lahiri’s collection of short stories, “Interpreter of Maladies,” explores various themes that resonate with the complexities of human relationships and the immigrant experience. In this paper, we will undertake a comparative analysis of two short stories from this collection, focusing on the theme of identity and its manifestation within the context of cultural displacement. By examining the similarities and differences in how the characters in “Interpreter of Maladies” and “This Blessed House” grapple with their identities, we will gain a deeper understanding of the profound impact of cultural and personal conflicts on individuals’ sense of self.

Body

 Identity Crisis and Cultural Displacement

Both “Interpreter of Maladies” and “This Blessed House” depict characters who experience an identity crisis as a result of cultural displacement. The characters, Mrs. Das and Twinkle, navigate the challenging terrain of cultural assimilation and confront conflicting expectations placed upon them.

Mrs. Das in “Interpreter of Maladies”

In “Interpreter of Maladies,” Mrs. Das, a first-generation Indian immigrant in America, struggles to reconcile her Indian heritage with her American surroundings (Social Change and Modernity, n.d.-b). She exhibits a sense of disconnection and restlessness, as seen in her disregard for cultural customs and her inability to fully engage with her family. Her lack of belonging and internal conflict symbolize the challenges faced by immigrants as they adapt to a new cultural landscape.

Twinkle in “This Blessed House”

Similarly, Twinkle in “This Blessed House” grapples with her Indian identity in the face of her American husband’s expectations. Twinkle’s desire to integrate into her husband’s culture clashes with her upbringing and traditions, leading to a conflict within herself. Her attempts to embrace American norms while still clinging to her Indian heritage reveal the complexities of navigating multiple cultural identities.

Cultural Expectations and Societal Pressure

Both stories explore the influence of cultural expectations and societal pressure on the characters’ identities. The protagonists find themselves caught between the traditions of their native culture and the pressures to conform to the dominant culture.

Mrs. Das in “Interpreter of Maladies”

Mrs. Das, in “Interpreter of Maladies,” feels burdened by the weight of societal expectations placed upon her as a wife and mother. The constant comparison to other women and the pressure to fulfill her traditional roles cause her to question her self-worth and perpetuate her sense of alienation. Her internal struggle highlights the tension between personal desires and societal demands.

 Twinkle in “This Blessed House”

In “This Blessed House,” Twinkle faces a similar struggle as she attempts to adapt to the expectations of her American husband, Sanjeev. She grapples with the pressure to conform to American norms while simultaneously trying to preserve her cultural heritage (History of the Indian Novel in English  9781107079960, 2015004873 – EBIN.PUB, n.d.). The clash between Twinkle’s desire for individuality and the societal pressure to conform exemplifies the complexities of negotiating cultural expectations.

Self-Discovery and Acceptance

Both stories ultimately delve into the characters’ journeys of self-discovery and the eventual acceptance of their unique identities. Through their experiences, Lahiri explores the transformative power of embracing one’s true self.

Mrs. Das in “Interpreter of Maladies”

Mrs. Das, despite her initial resistance, undergoes a transformative journey during her visit to India with her family. She begins to embrace her cultural roots and develops a newfound sense of pride in her identity (Robinson, n.d.). This realization allows her to find solace and connection within her family and her heritage.

Twinkle in “This Blessed House”

In “This Blessed House,” Twinkle gradually embraces her own cultural identity while reconciling it with her American surroundings. She learns to appreciate the value of her heritage and finds strength in her unique perspective. Twinkle’s journey highlights the importance of self-acceptance and the recognition that embracing one’s identity can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment.

Conclusion

In the collection “Interpreter of Maladies,” Lahiri masterfully explores the theme of identity in the context of cultural displacement. Through the stories “Interpreter of Maladies” and “This Blessed House,” she presents characters who grapple with the complexities of assimilation, cultural expectations, and self-discovery. While both stories depict characters navigating the challenges of their dual identities, they also offer unique perspectives on the theme. By examining the similarities and differences in these stories, we gain a deeper appreciation for the profound impact of cultural and personal conflicts on individuals’ sense of self. Lahiri’s poignant narratives serve as a reminder of the universal struggle to find a place in the world and to forge a coherent identity amidst cultural diversity.

References

History of the Indian Novel in English  9781107079960, 2015004873 – EBIN.PUB. (n.d.). ebin.pub. https://ebin.pub/history-of-the-indian-novel-in-english-9781107079960-2015004873.html 

Robinson, A. (n.d.). The Story of an Hour: Summary and Analysis. https://blog.prepscholar.com/kate-chopin-the-story-of-an-hour-summary 

Social Change and Modernity. (n.d.-b). https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft6000078s;chunk.id=0;doc.view=print