Interpreter Of Maladies

In the novel Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, nine distinct stories are told that depict families or people of Indian descent who experience different situations and circumstances that affect their lives. Many themes arise throughout the stories, but one that is prevalent in two specific stories, “Mrs. Sen’s” and “Interpreter of Maladies,” is the idea of cultural assimilation. Both stories, however, portray the idea of cultural assimilation in different ways. “Mrs. Sen’s” is an example of a woman who resists cultural assimilation in order to preserve her Indian heritage, while “Interpreter of Maladies” is a story that depicts a family who falls victim to cultural assimilation, thus losing a sense of connection to their Indian roots

Sen’s,” the motif of Indian clothing, objects, and behavior show that the role of cultural assimilation is not as effective because Mrs. Sen, the main character, is resistant towards it as she stays true to her Indian heritage and customs. Her behavior and actions are depicted through the eyes of Elliot, a young boy, who Mrs. Sen babysits. Upon first arriving at Mrs. Sen’s house, Elliot notices “she wore flip flops” (112) and “a shimmering white sari” (112). These characteristics of Mrs. Sen portray traditional Indian clothing and style. In Indian culture, it’s common to not wear outside shoes inside the house as a sign of respect and for cleanliness, while a sari is a typical form of Indian clothing. Realizing him and his mom are the “foreigners” in this situation, Elliot notes that it “was his mother in her cuffed beige shorts and rope-soled shoes, who looked odd” (112). Through Mrs. Sen’s clothing and customs, it is proven that her household is indulged in Indian culture, and Elliot and his mother are the “foreigners” in her home. Later in the story, Elliot observes Mrs. Sen “chopping things on newspapers with a blade instead of a knife” (114). Rather than following the conventional American way of using a knife to chop things, Mrs. Sen resorts to a unique blade that has a significant meaning to her homeland, India. Mrs. Sen tells Elliot, “there’s at least one of these blades in every household in India” (115), implying the idea that she refuses to follow American customs by using an object that she’s most familiar with and is used commonly in her home country. Furthermore, Elliot one day observes Mrs.Sen applying a scarlet powder to her face, and she tells him that “she must wear the powder for the rest of the days she’s married” (117). Rather than following the American norm of wearing a ring to symbolize marriage, Mrs. Sen wears the powder which represents her loyalty to her husband and Indian culture. Lastly, throughout