Interpreter of Maladies
By: Jhumpa Lahiri

In this short story, I noticed how often Lahiri used details that appealed to the senses.  There was effective imagery in every paragraph.  For example, on page 147 Lahiri describes "it was a dry, bright Saturday, the mid-July heat tempered by a steady ocean breeze, ideal weather for sightseeing" (Lahiri).  This quote appeals to the sense of feeling.  Readers are able to imagine feeling the heat of the sun and the smooth ocean breeze. On page 148 is another example of imagining feeling.  "...Mr. Das squeezed hands like an American so that Mr. Kapasi felt it in his elbow" (Lahiri).  I was able to imagine Mr. Das' firm and strong handshake with this quote.  We are also able to picture things based on the imagery presented, such as that on page 148.  "The family looked Indian but dressed as foreigners did, the children in stiff, brightly colored clothing and caps with translucent visors" (Lahiri).  I was able to easily visualize Tina, Ronny, and Bobby.  Their outfits were brightly colored and showy.  Another sense that is appealed to in this story is taste, which is exemplified on page 153.  "As soon as Mr. Kapasi put the gum in his mouth a thick sweet liquid burst onto his tongue" (Lahiri).  This description makes readers imagine the taste of a fresh, minty piece of gum.  Overall, Jhumpa Lahiri has no trouble engaging his readers into his short story.  He uses imagery so much that readers can imagine being thrust into the scenes that he describes.