Interpreter of Love Lost

A woman’s purse is often seen as an object of mystery and intrigue. Depending on the woman, it can be large or small, complicated or simple, cheap or expensive. The accessory in question is a statement of a particular woman’s personality; its unique qualities demonstrate how the woman leads her life. She might choose to use a small bag when attending a formal event for she need not carry much. However, on trips, a larger purse is helpful to provide for easy access to many essentials, like a hairbrush. Additionally, in the case of a mother, bigger is often better. Mothers can bring with them tools of entertainment or snacks for their dependent children to utilize especially while on long excursions from the house. This specific purpose is consistently demonstrated throughout the Interpreter of Maladies. Mrs. Das finds many excuses to dig through her bag whether looking for herself or for her children it seems she always finds what she needs. Yet her constant rummaging suggests more than a desire for what she needs. Through searching and using the items in her purse, Mrs. Das is looking for an escape from her loveless life. Whenever a moment emerges that illustrates her emptiness, the handbag seems to emerge as well.

The first encounter with her handbag is her purchase of some puffed rice. She bought it after reluctantly escorting her daughter to the restroom without any feelings of attachment since she didn’t even hold her hand. In this situation, it would be typical for motherly affection to be displayed; yet, Mrs. Das only fills the void by adding to her purse. This snack becomes a reoccurring character throughout the story. She often pulls it out when it seems she needs something to do. Although, it’s most important performance comes at the end of the story. By leaving a trail of puffed rice pieces, she inadvertently attracts the hungry monkeys. This leads the animals to her son, and they begin to attack him. Mr. Kapasi saves him quickly, and the parents begin to care for the boy. Mrs. Das almost instinctively reaches for her purse. She produces a band-aid to cover the boy’s wounds. Ironically, in this case the purse brought her closer to her son instead of giving her a reason to ignProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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e him because she was able to share with him relief that was usually maintained only for her.

Another example of Mrs. Das’s loss of connection is portrayed through the exchange of contact information with her tour guide. At first, it appears to be a genuine outreach. After taking down his information, Mrs. Das puts it in the place where her life can be maintained, her purse. By the act of “dropping it into the jumble of her bag”, it shows how any curiosity she might attain quickly becomes part of her messy bag (586). She seems concerned with his work and his life; later, the story reveals an ulterior motive for her actions. Her attempt to build a bridge with him turns out to be an attempt for her to confess her sins. She hopes he can absolve her of her adulterous guilt. Her effort at creating a relationship not only has the wrong intentions but also is a failure. Once Mr. Kapasi realizes what she is after, he abandons all interest in her. She soon follows suit. Mrs. Das’s loss of his contact information, although unintentional, from her purse represents much more. She cannot fill the void of her loveless life, even through the use of her purse as storage for her necessities.

Mrs. Das tries to use her purse to keep herself together and that is all she can keep together. She has lost her ability to love. Perhaps it is because she has messed up in her marriage or perhaps it is because she lost her friends early on. But within this short story, there is a glimpse at her endeavors to reconnect with someone. While doing so, she carries along her purse loyally to keep her close to something. It also allows her the ability to escape, such as having entertainment, such as “a bottle of colorless nail polish”, rather than having nothing to do (582). No matter where she goes she will keep her purse with her as if it is the only weight to keep her from floating away.