Multiculturalism

          Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies, further continues our discussion on multiculturalism in America. Lahiri’s book shows the struggles and accomplishments faced by some immigrants in their move to America and/or their new life in America, in this case as faced by the Indian culture.  Not only does Lahiri show the struggles that Indian Americans face, but also the relatable struggles that people of any race or culture may face in their lives, whether it be the breakdown of a marriage, or the loss of a child. This book depicts, in many characters, the disconnect from “home” and culture that many ethnic cultures face as they make their new lives in America. For example, in Mrs. Sen, “Mrs. Sen” feels like an outsider in America, missing her family and seemingly simplistic way of life in India.

Lahiri’s novel depicts race, ethnicity, gender, and class issues throughout the many stories in her book. In Sexy and Mrs. Sen, the reader is presented with some sense of racial issues, as in “Sexy”, Miranda and her neighborhood fail to understand and fully accept the Indian American Dixit family. As Lahiri wrote, “The fathers complained,” (Lahiri 95) and “the mothers never invited Mrs. Dixit to join them” (Lahiri 95). While the children of the neighborhood taunted the children saying, ““The Dixits dig shit,” under their breath, and then burst into laughter” (Lahiri 95). Lahiri also showcases class issues in her short story, “A Real Durwan”. In the story the main character, Boori Ma, is treated poorly because of her low class status. As Boori Ma is blamed for ‘aiding’ in the building robbery, and is always considered to be lying, as one building member said, “Boori Ma’s mouth is full of ashes. But that is nothing new” (Lahiri 82). In the story, “Sexy”, ethnic issues arise.  For Miranda looks at the Indian culture of both her friend and boyfriend as something of exoticism, as she becomes fascinated and curious with the Indian culture.

The Interpreter of Maladies supports many of my ideas of about Multicultural America. After reading other novels and having some prior knowledge, this book showed what I had already known about the struggles that other cultures face in America. I had known from prior knowledge and prior readings that many ethnic people can feel like outsiders in their new home in America, and the ridicule and judgments of the dominant culture can only make matters worse for them. Many other cultures/ethnicities feel as though they are outsiders in their new home, like Mrs. Sen from the story “Mrs. Sen”, and how she longed for her family, and had difficulties adapting to the American way of life. What’s more, while America seems like a welcoming and accepting place, some of its citizens seem to find judgment and disapproval of those who are trying to make a new life for themselves, often failing to understand and accept their new culture, religions, languages, etc.  This is shown in Lahiri’s story, “Sexy”, wherein Miranda and the rest of the neighborhood failed to understand the Indian American Dixit family, in some cases taunting them with hurtful names, demonstrating what I had known, that some ethnicities in multicultural America are not given the respect that they deserve. However, I think this book shows a good depiction of a modern Multicultural America, as America has improved greatly. While unfortunately racism is still around, it is not as much as it used to be, and you see this in the book, as there is little to no mention of racism.

I think I was forgetful of the fact that once in Multicultural America other issues can arise, whether it be personal, familial, or other, that no matter what race or ethnicity, we all face. This made me realize that being all the farther away from the home they love, and the ones they love, can only make their situation seem all the more dire, and their life in America all the more difficult as they grapple with this new culture and issues.

Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. New York. Houghton Mifflin, 1999. Print.