Interpreter of Maladies
by Jhumpa Lahiri
A Temporary Matter
1. Provide descriptions of Shoba and Shukumar in both the past and the
present.
Shoba
Shukumar
Past
Present
2. What tragic event has occurred?
3. What feelings/emotions does Lahiri evoke in the reader? Quote relevant
sections and describe the feelings.
4. How do you imagine Shoba and Shukumar’s relationship was prior to the
death of their baby?
5. Describe what their relationship is like after the baby’s death.
6. What comment is Lahiri making about relationships?
7. As readers, how are we meant to view:
Shoba?
Shukumar?
**Provide quotes as evidence of your explanation.
8. What provides the opportunity for Shoba and Shukumar to express some
of their inner thoughts and feelings? What do they reveal to each other?
9. By the end of the story has anything been resolved for either of the
characters?
When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine
1. What background is given about Mr. Pirzada? Why do you think Lahiri
begins her story in this way?
2. How did it come about that Mr. Pirzada came to dine with Lilia’s family?
3. What is partition?
4. “For many, the idea of eating in the other’s company was unthinkable.”
(page 25)
How were the Indian people affected by partition?
5. “It made no sense to me.” (page 25)
In what ways are Mr. Pirzada and Lilia’s parents similar?
What makes them different according to Lilia?
6. Describe Mr. Pirzada: physical appearance, personality, mannerisms...why
does he behave the way he does?
7. Describe the ritual surrounding meals with Mr. Pirzada and the extent of
Lilia’s involvement.
8. What does Lilia learn at school?
Why is Lilia’s father concerned about what she “learns about the world”?
(page 27)
9. Describe how Mr. Pirzada treats Lilia. Refer to specific examples and
explain why he treats her this way.
10. What affect does the news report of war in Pakistan have on:
 Lilia?
 Mr. Pirzada?
 Lilia’s parents?
11. Read pages 41 -42 and discuss the meaning and impact upon the
resolution to this story.
12. What social, historical and cultural values are embodied in
When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine?
Interpreter of Maladies
1. What is a malady?
What is an interpreter of maladies?
2. Describe the relationship between:
Mr. and Mrs. Das (Raj and Mina)
The Das parents and their children (Tina, Ronny and Bobby)
Mr. Kapasi and his wife.
3. “The family looked Indian but dressed as foreigners did...” (pages 43-44).
What comment is Lahiri making about this Indian family and their
heritage?
4. What causes Mrs. Das to become interested in Mr. Kapasi?
5. What interest does Mr. Kapasi develop in Mrs. Das?
6. What information do we learn about:
Mrs. Das?
Mr. Kapasi?
7. Describe the relationship that develops between Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi,
what misinterpretations occur (refer to the language and dialogue used)
and discuss how that relationship ultimately sours.
8. What is symbolic of the slip of paper with Mr. Kapasi’s address on it?
9. As readers, how are we to interpret these two characters? How does
Lahiri want us to view them and their situations?
A Real Durwan
1. What is a durwan?
2. Create a detailed CHARACTER PROFILE of Boori Ma. You may include a
sketch or picture/photograph.
3. What is Boori Ma’s story? How does she end up this way?
4. How do the various tenants see Boori Ma?
5. In what way do you as a reader see Boori Ma? Explain by making specific
references to the story.
6. How do Boori Ma’s services come to resemble those of a real durwan?
7. Why does Boori Ma take on this role? Do you think this job is ‘fitting’ for
her? Is she valued?
8. What does Mr. Dalal value?
9. What impact does the installation of the basins have on the lives of
various tenants? Name each character and provide a detailed account.
10. Can Boori Ma rely on the Dalals? Do you believe their intentions were
good? Explain.
11. How does the presence of the workmen affect Boori Ma’s life?
12. What is Boori Ma accused of? How have the tenants treated her?
What is your opinion of what has occurred?
13. “What a building like this needs is a real durwan.”
What is ironic about this statement?
Sexy
1. What is a “wife’s worst nightmare”? (page 83)
2. Draw parallels between Laxmi and Miranda’s stories.
3. How does the affair come about? How is the affair described?
4. Are any moral judgements made? How?
5. What reader response do the following characters evoke:
Laxmi’s cousin
Laxmi’s cousin’s husband
Miranda
Dev
Dev’s wife
Robin
6. “You’re sexy” (page 91)
How does this comment make Miranda feel? How does it make her
behave?
7. What memories does Miranda have on the Dixits? What comment is Lahiri
making of how someone from a different culture is viewed and treated?
8. What comments can you make about Miranda’s role as babysitter?
9. “You’re sexy” (page 107)
How does this comment make Miranda feel? Why does she feel this way?
How does this affect her relationship with Dev? What comment is being
made regarding what affairs might be about?
10. What is the resolution to this story? What is your opinion of how it ends?
Mrs. Sen’s
1. Why didn’t the previous two carers (Amy and Mrs. Linden) work out?
2. Why does Eliot have to be cared for at Mrs. Sen’s place? Why is this
significant?
3. Describe Mrs. Sen’s apartment? What does this say about Mrs. Sen?
4. Describe Mrs. Sen. What is your impression of her?
5. What is your impression of Eliot’s mother?
6. Has Mrs. Sen assimilated successfully? Discuss in detail and provide
quotes to support your response.
7. Compare Eliot’s home at the beach house with his mother to that of his
time at Mrs. Sen’s.
8. Comment about Mrs. Sen’s vegetable cutting ritual and its significance.
9. Discuss the two things that make Mrs. Sen happy. Is Mrs. Sen a happy
person? Explain.
10. “Do you miss your mother, Eliot, these afternoons with me?”
The thought had never occurred to him.
“You must miss her.....
You are wiser than that, Eliot. You already taste the way things must
be.” (pages 122 – 123)
Compare Eliot and Mrs. Sen’s childhoods. To what does Mrs. Sen attribute
her sense of loss? Is Eliot better off being constantly separated from his
mother? Does this have any bearing on his future relationship with her?
(pages 131 -132) What comment is Lahiri making about families?
11. “...The man said he looked up my name in the telephone book. He said there
was only one Sen. Do you know how many Sens there are in the Calcutta
telephone book?” (page 124)
What is both positive and negative in what Mrs. Sen says to Eliot?
12. How is Mr. Sen portrayed in the story?
13. How does Mrs. Sen’s behaviour change? What causes it to change? Why
does Eliot tell his mother he hasn’t noticed any change?
14. Does Eliot witness any affection between the Sens? How do you think he
views their relationship? How does Lahiri intend it to be viewed?
15. How does the story end for:
Mr. Sen? Eliot’s mother? Mrs. Sen? Eliot?
This Blessed House
1. Make a list of the things Sanjeev observes.
What does this say about: Sanjeev?; his relationship with Twinkle?
2. How does Sanjeev feel about the Christian statues/paraphernalia? Provide
quotes in your response. Why does he feel this way?
3. “No, we’re not Christians. We’re good little Hindus.” (page 137)
What tone of voice does Twinkle use when she says this?
What does she mean?
4. What significance does Mahler’s Fifth Symphony play in the story?
5. Why does Twinkle display the Christian items? What does she gain from
searching for and finding further items?
6. How does Sanjeev respond? What impact does this have on her
relationship with Sanjeev?
7. Describe: Twinkle; Sanjeev.
8. How does Sanjeev perceive Twinkle? How does he feel about her? What
does he expect of her? Does he have a right to expect these things of
her?
9. Describe Sanjeev and Twinkle’s marriage. What is good and bad about it,
right and wrong? Do they have distinctive roles in the relationship? Are
they fulfilled with each other? What is Lahiri saying about marriage and
love?
10. How do the guests at the housewarming party respond to Twinkle? How do
they help Sanjeev to see Twinkle? Is there any resolution for Sanjeev at
the end of the story? Explain.
The Treatment of Bibi Haldar
1. Write a detailed characterisation of Bibi Haldar. Incorporate details of
her personality and feelings, values and desires, physical features,
occupation and role in society.
2. What treatments does Bibi undergo?
3. What is Bibi’s medical ailment?
4. What is Bibi’s psychological ailment?
5. What rituals does Bibi observe in preparation for an intended marriage?
6. Is Bibi equipped to be a wife? Explain.
7. What are people’s attitudes towards Bibi becoming someone’s wife? What
is your reaction to their responses?
8. How is Bibi treated by Haldar and his wife? How does Bibi treat them?
9. How do the townspeople treat:
Bibi?
Haldar and his wife?
Comment about their treatment and your opinion of it.
10. Is the birth of Bibi’s son the cure to her ailment? Explain.
How does Bibi’s life and circumstances change after the birth of her son?
The Third and Final Continent
1. What picture does Lahiri depict of the narrator and his life thus far in
the opening of the story?
2. “I flew first to Calcutta, to attend my wedding...” (page 176)
What tone of language is being used here? What does this suggest about
the narrator’s marriage? Refer to and discuss information on page 181.
3. How does Lahiri depict the narrator’s initial experiences in America?
4. Describe the old woman (Mrs. Croft) – her physical appearance,
personality, values, behaviour and mannerisms.
5. Describe the narrator’s initial reaction to Mrs. Croft. Do his feelings
towards her change? How? Why?
6. How does the narrator initially feel about repeating the word “splendid”?
Why does he repeat it on command? Why does he continue to say it?
What does this say about his character?
7. Reference to the moon landing is made several times. What information is
given in each instance? What significance does this play in the story?
8. What information is given about the narrator’s mother and his role in the
family? (pages 182, 187 – 188)
Compare this to Helen’s role in caring for her mother. (pages 184 – 187)
9. Why does Mrs. Croft still live in her home at age 103?
10. What signifies that Mala is a married woman? (page 189)
11. How does the narrator describe Mala’s impending arrival? What are his
feelings towards his wife joining him? How is Mala feeling? What is your
opinion of these characters?
12. What role does the narrator assume he will play as Mala’s husband?
13. How does the narrator feel about leaving Mrs. Croft’s house?
14. What things indicate that the narrator has adjusted to life in America?
15. How does Mala fulfil her role as wife?
16. In what way are the narrator and Mala “still strangers” ? (page 192)
17. How does Mala and the narrator’s visit to Mrs. Croft allow the narrator
to view Mala differently and develop feelings for her?
18. “She is a perfect lady!” (page 195)
Why does Mrs. Croft declare this after she scrutinizes Mala?
How does this “moment in Mrs. Croft’s parlour... [possibly become]... the
moment when the distance between Mala and me began to lessen” ? (page
196) How does their relationship develop and grow deeper?
19. How have the narrator and Mala made America their home? Why have
they “decided to grow old here” ? (page 197) What Indian traditions
have they none the less maintained?
20. “I am not the only man to seek his fortune far from home, and I
certainly am not the first.” (page 198)
What has the narrator achieved since he left India and settled in the
‘third and final continent’? Are his achievements significant or
insignificant? Explain.