SSU Theme Analysis: Imperfection and it's Tolls

    

    

    The short stories "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri and "Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne can be related in various ways. In the short story by Lahiri, the reader is taken through the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Das and their children as they hire a tour guide, Mr. Kapasi, who serves as their interpreter during their trip. Throughout the journey, Mr. Kapasi develops a connection with Mrs. Das, who confides in him about her affair that she had. Meanwhile Hawthorne's story explores the story of a scientist who becomes fixated on a small birthmark on his wife cheek. He believes it is a flaw that ruins her otherwise perfect beauty. Despite his wife's reassurances that the birthmark is insignificant to her, Aylmer, the scientist, becomes increasingly obsessed with removing it which leads to her death. Although both of these stories have different plots, they both explore the theme of imperfections and the consequences of trying to alter perceived flaws.

    In "Interpreter of Maladies," both characters, Mr. and Mrs. Das, experience emotional disconnection within their marriage despite the fact they may appear fine. The couple made subtle comments at each other such as "Why did you have to wear those stupid shoes" (Lahiri, 24). Their imperfections within their marriage ran deep. Ms. Das admitted to having an affair to their tour guide, Mr. Kapasi. The couple met in high school and because they knew each other for so long, Mrs. Das "did not make many close friends... There was no one to confide in" (Lahiri, 26). She tried to fulfill her needs through her affair, but she faces the consequences of guilt and shame instead. Mr. Kapasi is the first person she told, because she had no one else. Although their marriage may seem stable on the outside, the couple faces imperfections and flaws. 

    In "Birthmark," the main character, Alymer, becomes obsessed with trying to remove his wife's birthmark. He believed it was ruining her beauty and was truly bothered by it. Although she seemed perfect, the one birthmark was bothering him. In the story, he tried to operate on the birthmark, but ends up killing the love of his life. The story states, "Blinded by a meaningless imperfection and an impossible goal, Aylmer had thrown away her life and with it his chance for happiness. In trying to improve his lovely wife, he had failed to realize she had been perfect all along" (Hawthorne, 4). Her imperfection drove Alymer to lose the love of his life. Trying to alter her perceived flaw, the birthmark, lead to him losing the best part of his life.

    Overall, both of these stories explore the theme of imperfection in different ways. Both stories teach how no one is perfect; there are always flaws. Mrs. Das and Alymer from both stories show their flaws and reap the consequences of trying to alter perceived flaws. Mrs. Das tries to change the flaws of their marriage through an affair while Alymer tries to fix his wife's one and only flaw. Although the stories differ in various ways, they both give great insight into imperfections.