ENG140Y1 Lecture 13: 13 Interpreter of Maladies 1
Document Summary
The short story: lahiri: transnational, national, local, development: 19th century attempt to forge american literary tradition. At this time, novels and short stories both circulated in magazines. Today, authors and critics usually trace the short story to america. Historically signi cant to regional literature: capturing the nature of the local place; a niche. When mr. pirzada came to dine: child narrator. Disconnect from story: child being shielded , nationalist history, not global perspective. History of partition and bangladeshi independence unknown. Focus always on americentric history and world issues: history vs. news; father insists she watch the news, american person: unaware of cultural nuance in south asia. Ambivalent ending; resolution, but not purely happy: important encounter to this girl"s perspective; memory a continuous reminder of the limits of her knowledge. Ambivalent endings; questions about happiness: political meaning for construction of collectives and individuals. Life, liberty and estate; estate became pursuit of happiness.
