Lauren Simmons T-Analysis for Interpreter of Maladies Question: What are the important symbols within the story?

Observation: There are three distinctive symbols that are apparent throughout the story. They are Mr. Das camera, Mrs. Das puffed rice, and the monkeys.
1. The camera slung around his neck, with an impressive telephoto lens and numerous buttons and markings, was the only complicated thing he wore. (p. 408) Mr. Das camera represents the fact that he is unable to see the reality of his life and actually be a part of it. Since he sees everything through the lens of his camera, he doesnt see what is wrong in his marriage and doesnt truly enjoy his visit to India. Mrs. Das puffed rice, which is bland and isnt nutritious, represents her personality. She doesnt seem to care for anyone other than herself- not even her own children. She is disconnected with her family and doesnt understand that the consequences to her decisions sometimes hurt those around her. The saying you are what you eat applies very well to Mrs. Das. The monkeys represent human desire. When left alone and unprovoked, the monkeys are harmless. But once they are bothered, or in the case of this story, given food, that is when they become a problem. It is the same with human desire. Consequences dont become a problem until one acts on or gives into their desires. Mr. Das wants to take this picture simply because he wants it as a souvenir of his trip to India. What he doesnt realize since he is only thinking about the picture is the fact that the man is a person himself who is in obvious need of help. The reality of the mans life is obscured to Mr. Das because of his camera. Despite the fact that Mr. Das in actually at the site talked about in his book, he doesnt seem to take the time to actually look at and appreciate the sites that he is visiting. Rather, he is obsessed with focusing the majority of his attention to his book where all he does is read about the sites, as well as obsesses with taking pictures. What he fails to recognize is the fact that he can look at pictures of India any day. But he cant visit India whenever he wants to, and he still is only focused on the books contents rather than the real thing. Mr. Das uses his camera in order to falsely portray his family as one of unity and happiness. He fails to notice the fact that his family is quite the opposite. His marriage is falling apart and his children are out of control and disobedient. He believes that by taking a family picture they can create an imaginary pictureperfect family that doesnt really exist. This can be related to Mrs. Das affair. She acted carelessly, not thinking about what she was doing or what the consequences of it would be. Her choice to have an affair doesnt just affect her. Rather, it also affects her son, Bobby, who was conceived because of the affair. If or when he ever finds out about the truth, he

2. She walked slowly, carrying some puffed rice tossed with peanuts and chili peppers in a large packet made from newspapers. (p. 409)

4. [The monkeys] were seated in groups along the branches, with shining black faces, silver bodies, horizontal eyebrows, and crested heads. Their long gray tails dangled like a series of ropes among the leaves. A few scratched themselves with black leathery hands, or swung their feet, staring as the car passed (p. 410) 6. Hey, do you mind stopping the car. I just want to get a shot of this guy. Mr. Kapasi pulled dover to the side of the road as Mr. Das took a picture of a barefoot man, his head wrapped in a dirty turban, seated on top of a cart of grain sacks pulled by a pair of bullocks. (p. 412) 7. It says the temple occupies about a hundred and seventy acres of land, Mr. Das said, reading from his book. (p. 416)

8. You wont be in the pictures, Mr. Das said. Pretend Im there. But we could use one of these pictures for our Christmas card this year. We didnt get one of all five of us at the Sun Temple. Mr. Kapasi could take it. 9. They are more hungry than dangerous, Mr. Kapasi said. Do not provoke them with food, and they will not bother you. (p. 419). She opened the car door and began walking up the pathreaching into her straw bag to eat handfuls of puffed rice. It fell through her fingers, leaving a zigzagging trail, causing a monkey to leap

down from a tree and devour the little white grains. In search of more, the monkey began to follow Mrs. Das. (p. 423) 10. The puffed rice Mrs. Das had spilled was scattered at his feet, raked over by the monkeys hands. The boy was silent, his body frozen, swift tears running down his startled face. (p. 423)

will be hurt from it just like he was hurt because of his mothers carelessness with the rice around the monkeys. I think that the author chose for the monkeys to surround Bobby rather than Mrs. Das for a reason. Because Mrs. Das was careless with her rice and spilled it on the ground, it attracted the monkeys and resulted in her son getting hurt. This represents her carelessness in giving into human desire, which caused the birth of her son. Her mistake can potentially hurt her son if he ever finds out that Mr. Das isnt his real father, even though he isnt the one in the wrong. Even though her son just got hurt because of her carelessness with the rice, Mrs. Das doesnt take responsibility for it. It is the same with her affair. She doesnt acknowledge the fact that she made a big mistake and doesnt think about the affect if will have on her son if he ever knows the truth. Her mistake doesnt just hurt herself, it hurts her own son as well, and it is very immature and selfish of her to think that way.

11. God, lets get out of here, Mrs. Das said. She folded her arms across the strawberry on her chest. This place gives me the creeps.