Jhumpa Kapasi's 'Interpreter Of Maladies'

The situations that occur within the story “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri explain the title of the short story perfectly. Due to Mr. Kapasi’s other job title, the title tells his job description. There is a connection between to the two main characters and the title due to the fact that Mr. Kapasi is an interpreter at a doctor’s office and Mrs. Das admires his job and thinks he can assist her in not feeling terrible about her secret. Mr. Kapasi works in a doctor’s office as an interpreter to assist the doctor in knowing what the patients are saying. However, he works as a tour guide on Fridays and Saturdays to aid in paying for medical cost from losing their seven-year-old son years before and the current expenses of his family. His wife refuses to accept the fact that he took the job offer since the doctor could not save their son, but they offered him twice as much as he was making at the grammar school. However, Mrs. Das thinks his job as an interpreter is romantic and a huge responsibility. In a curious, amused voice, Mrs. Das speaks, “So these patients are totally dependent on you. In a way, more dependent on you than the doctor” (591). She is impressed by the work he performs for the doctor and continues to want to hear more of his stories. She sees his job as an enormous responsibility when she …show more content…
Kapasi interprets Mrs. Das’s comments and interest in his interpreter job as if she desires him romantically. The relationship between Mr. Kapasi and his wife changed after the death of their son, causing him to be unhappy and to look elsewhere for romance. Mr. Kapasi interprets the Das family as not being close, allowing him to assume he can have Mrs. Das romantically. Thinking he could assist her, Mrs. Das interprets Mr. Kapasi’s job as though he could assist her with her secret that she kept from her loved ones. However, the secret causes him to lose all interest in her and he tempts on telling Bobby the secret while saving him from the