Interpreter of Maladies

1. One symbol that I see in the story is Mr. Kapasi's favorite statue. It is described on page 58. It says, "This Surya had a tired expression, weary after a hard day of work, sitting astride a horse with folded legs. Even his horse's eyes were drowsy." I think that the statue is referring to Mrs. Das. To the eye, Mrs. Das looks very simple and tired. But to Mr. Kapasi, Mrs. Das is beautiful. The statue is Mr. Kapasi's favorite because of how beautiful it is to him.

2. Throughout the story Mr. Kapasi changes. His views change. The one instant in the story that automatically changes Mr. Kapasi is when Mrs. Das says, on page 50, "But so romantic," reffering to Mr. Kapasi's job as an interpreter. After she says this and begins to take in interest in Mr. Kapasi his whole day changes. He looks forward to having time to talk to her and wants to give a longer tour just to be with her, when usually he wants to give the tour as quickly as possible then return home. His views of Mrs. Das also change after she says this. He sees her has something more than she is. He sees the beauty in her when at the beginning of the story he saw her as plane, simple and shallow.

3. He falls for her because she takes in interest in Mr. Kapasi's job. She uses the word romantic to decribe it. She sort of sets him on fire when she puts off an interest that she doesn't give to her husband or her children. As the story continues he sees that she sees beauty like he does when they are looking at the statues.

4. Mrs. Das has been keeping a secret for 8 years. The secret is that her son Bobby is not Mr. Das's son. She goes on to explain to Mr. Kapasi that one evening the Punjabi friend, that had been staying with her and Raj, touched the small of Mrs. Das's back and they made love on the sofa. And that is where and when Bobby was conceived. Mrs. Das hasn't told anyone her secret except Mr. Kapasi.

5. Mr. Kapasi starts his interpretation by asking, on page 66, "Is it really pain you feel, Mrs. Das, or is it the guilt?" He is reffering to the way she feels about her secret. Mrs. Das responds by glaring at him, wanting to say something, but doesnt. Mr. Kapasi, upon being asked to interpret her secret, feels insulted. Mr. Kapasi thinks of telling her to tell the truth to Mr. Das, to be honest but skips right to the important question. Then Mr. Kapasi sees that knowledge came over her after he asked that on question and nothing else was to be said between them.