Jhumpa Lahiri
The Interpreter of Maladies Many children in the world are born and raised into cross cultural lives. Jhumpa Lahiri is an example of one of those people. Lahiris life experiences influence her symbolism, themes and styles of her writing. Growing up in America, she was greatly influenced by the Indian and American culture making her an Indian American. Jhumpa Lahiris personal experience as an Indian American is conveyed through Lilia’s cross cultural struggles in “Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine,” Mr. Kipasis perspective on Mrs. Das and the American culture in “The Interpreter of Maladies,” and Miranda’s personal struggles and interest in the Indian culture in the story “Sexy.” In “Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine,” Lilia deals with cross cultural struggles between the American world she lives in and the Indian culture she hears and sees through her family, the media and Mr. Pirzada. Her mother shows how she is grateful that her daughter can grow up without violence and struggles on a day to day basis in her country unlike her mother and fathers childhood in India. “She seemed genuinely proud of the fact, as if it were a reflection of my character. In her estimation, I knew, I was assured a safe life, an easy life, a fine education, every opportunity. I would never have to eat rationed food, or obey curfews, or watch riots from my rooftop, or hide neighbors in water tanks to prevent them from being shot, as she and my father had” (Lahiri 26, 27). Lilias mother shows how she agrees with her daughter not learning about the violence occurring in other countries and keeping her young mind out of adult problems shown in the media. By having her mother and father disagree, it leaves Lilia wondering about other places in the world and why she isn’t learning about those countries. Lilias father completely disagrees with her mother. “’But what does she learn about the world?’ My father rattled the cashew in his hand. ‘What is she learning?”’ (Lahiri 27). Even though Lilias father only