A Real Durwan

I would like to start this off by saying that it was very sad, and it almost makes me want to cry. Now, that that is out of the way, there was no quote in particular that stuck out to me and that epitomized the story like some of the others. There were some things that were interesting and important, but nothing that I thought was the most important. One quote that I think really shows a lot of irony and explains the story more so than most of the other interesting quotes was “In short, over the years, Boori Ma’s services came to resemble those of a real durwan.” To me, this line shows irony, but I didn’t realize this until I had finished reading and remembered the line. In the end of the story, the people of the apartments are angry with Boori Ma and they take back the title of durwan. It is ironic that they love her so much and talk about all of their great feelings towards her, but in the end banish her and disown her for the very things they considered her in the start. it is also ironic that throughout the story they rely on her, and they trust her and treat her somewhat like family, and in the end, they hurt her more than anything, and they lose all trust in her, as if she had never gained it in the first place.

Sexy

“’Hi,” she whispered, unsure of what else to say.

“You’re sexy,” he whispered back.”

 

“Sexy” is similar to Lahiri’s first story in the compilation. The story is about a woman,  Miranda, who has an affair with a married man. While “A Temporary Matter” was not about an affair, it was about relationship problems and self-doubt, which is a major theme in “Sexy.” This particular quote, I feel, is very important. It shows the way that Dev feels about Miranda. It also explains how it is important to Miranda to be accepted. The fact that they are whispering also creates the type of secretive and sly behavior that comes from cheating. This is also a theme often used in Lahiri’s stories. 

Interpreter of Maladies

 

“Is it really pain you feel, Mrs. Das, or is it guilt?”

            This story is almost completely a story of lying, deceit, and secrets. Throughout the story the Das family seems strange, like something is wrong, its almost awkward to listen to them, this is a result of all the lies they tell to each other. Mrs. Das seems to be at the center of all of the uneasiness. This becomes clear with her confession to Mr. Kapasi. And at the epicenter of this problem is the guilt that they each feel due to their lies. This quote shows that her lying and betrayal has lead to her feeling guilty, which is in turn leading her to detach from her family. Also, throughout the story, Mrs. Das is in charge and seems like the type of person who is not used to hearing things that are negative towards her, or things that she doesn’t want to hear, this quote is everything that she hates, its truth, its guilt, and it proves everything she denies.

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

“Before eating Mr. Pirzada always did a curious thing. He took out a plain silver watch without a band, which he kept in his breast pocket, held it briefly to one of his tufted ears, and wound it with three swift flicks of his thumb and forefinger. Unlike the watch on his wrist, the pocket watch, he had explained to me, was set to local time in Dacca, eleven hours ahead. For the rest of the meal the watch rested on his folded paper napkin on the coffee table. He never seemed to consult it.”

            This quote explains everything that this story is about. Mr. Pirzada lives his life in America, but his family is all back in Dacca, the idea that he tries to comply with the everyday traditions of the American family, but still feels himself to be in Dacca with his family is what the story speaks about, and all of this is shown through that simple quote. Lilia is astonished with all of his little quirks and strange things that he does and she cannot understand him, which is also shown in the quote through her obvious questioning of his routine.

A Temporary Matter-redo

I've been doing these wrong the whole time, so i have redone them, and i think they are right now!

“It was only a telephone number, but Shukumar knew it was the hospital. When he returned to Boston it was over. The baby had been born dead.”

            This is an important phrase from the story because it explains everything the story is about. The entire story is about how much the child had changed Shoba, Shukumar’s wife, and how she was never the same after the incident. Within these lines, the entire basis for the story is given and everything becomes clear. Also, in the story, Shukumar seems almost numb to the death, as if it didn’t affect him at all. He almost seems angry at his wife for feeling the way she does, and in this quote, the level of coldness and lack of emotion within him shows through the way the words come out without any affection at all; as if it meant nothing to him.

interpreter of Maladies-Jhumpa Lahiri

This story was about a family, who aren't really connected, and their trip to India, the mother is in her own world, mostly revolving around herself, with no maternal instinct towards her children, the father is oblivious to everything, and the children don't really pay any attention to anything their parents do. They travel to see the sights and important artifacts of their native land, with their tour guide to show them the way. The story is full of strange relationships, and irony. the one example of irony that stuck out to me was the fact that the father, who was supposed to know nothing about India, knows of all the places of attraction, and the tour guide, who should know nothing about America, knows things that the family doesn't.

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

this is the second short story in the book , it is about a young girl and her experiences with a friend of the family who was from another country which was at war and in great danger. She learns all about his culture and his beliefs through his visits, and she never really realizes how much he means to her until he is gone. the differences between the girl and Mr. Pirzada are huge, and through the story, Mr. Pirzada learns more and more about the U.S. and the girl learns more about his country, and his life. while i was reading this I made a connection to the war that is going on right now, in Iraq. it wasn't the same type of war, but the feelings about it remind me of the war spoken about in the story.