The stories in Interpreter of Maladies alternate setting between America and
India. In class earlier this week, we briefly discussed some of the differences
between the American and the Indian settings. I would like to delve into that
further and explore how living arrangements in America and India shape Lahiri’s
social commentaries.
In
this blog post, I will be focusing on “A Real Durwan” and “The Treatment of
Bibi Haldar” as examples of stories set in India, and “A Temporary Matter” and
“This Blessed House” to discuss America. When I started reading “Bibi Haldar,”
I immediately noticed that it was set in a similar apartment block to “A Real
Durwan.” These Indian apartment complexes are crucial to these two stories. The
building is not just a place to live, but a social structure that resembles a
small town, where everyone knows each other. There are wise men people seek out
for advice, like Mr. Chatterjee in “Durwan” and there are eccentric characters
like Boori Ma or Bibi Haldar. Everyone knows everyone. Perhaps more
importantly, stories set in these apartment blocks seem to be narrated by the
community, adding to the feeling of a large social group involved in the story.
The
stories in America could not be further from this community setting. In “A
Temporary Matter,” much is made of the large size and resulting emptiness of
the house shared by Shukumar and Shoba. Due to this, it is mentioned that
Shukumar and Shoba would often find themselves in isolated corners of the house,
avoiding each other. “This Blessed House” may at the surface seem to be about
the social potential of the American household—the story’s climax is a
housewarming party. But I observed that Sanjeev seems to be having a bad time
at this party while his wife Twinkle enjoys herself greatly. I believe this at
least partially has to do with Sanjeev’s desire to stay connected to Indian
culture, while Twinkle is breaking away. Twinkle’s split can be observed in
everything from her collection of Christian trinkets to her very non-Indian
nickname.
When these Indian characters divorce
themselves from the more typical “Indian” social patterns that Lahiri describes
so engagingly, they falter socially and emotionally. America itself is a factor in these stories,
and it plays a disorienting role. The
stories that take place in India can be messy, complex, and disheartening, but
they take place within a community. Without
overt critique, the author nonetheless making a statement by introducing a lack
of a communal setting (and/or spirit) in the stories that take place in
America.
I agree that Lahiri seems to be making a point that there's more of a communal aspect to Indian society, but I can also see her giving us some of the draw backs of such a system. As I mentioned in Pauline's blogpost, there seems to only be a one-size-fits-all aspect to those apartment complexes. This means that people like Bibi and Bori Ma are isolated from the community because they are different. They don't fit the mold so they aren't allowed to be on the same level as the rest of them. All they do is make for a good story. This seems very critical, but things aren't perfect in either society. As you pointed out, there are also problems with American society in that people feel more alone and lack as aspect of communication amongst each other. All in all, I think Lahiri does a great job with presenting both sides of the spectrum, allowing us as readers to see both the ups and downs of each society. Because of this, I'm not sure either method is the right way to live. Both have their flaws and both excell in their own way.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that India seems to be the stage of a more communal living environment, whereas in America the characters feel alienated and alone. Particularly in "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," we can see how uncomfortable the dad is with America. He seems disappointed that Lilia isn't learning about foreign affairs, especially those of India. However, the family invites Mr. Pirzada, also a foreigner, for nightly dinners. As we can see, this Indian family seems to bond better with other people from East Asia, especially in an American context, since they share similar traditions.
ReplyDeleteLahiri is making some interesting points while hiding them in her stories, and I think you managed to bring some of them out. The themes that we see throughout the book in relation to the characters moving away from India are important. As you said we often see the characters struggle with the new life in America, and although his may not be the main focus of a story, the struggle always plays some role. Great post!
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