American Ignorance

Many cultures throughout the world have a unique gesture or phrase that they use as a greeting. A few cultures even rely on age and seniority when choosing the right form to use. From kisses to bows, every distinctive action should be respected and used when within a particular country or culture, hence the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." In "Interpreter of Maladies," Jhumpa Lahiri uses this shared practice of saying hello to express American-born Mr. Das's superiority over his Indian-born tour guide, Mr. Kapasi. Even though Mr. Kapasi "...pressed his hands together in greeting," Mr. Das "...squeezed hands like an American so that Mr. Kapasi felt it in his elbow"(44). It is considered an offering of peace to fully accept, respect, and practice the customs of a host country. By overruling the Indian culture's form of greeting, Mr. Das disrespects Mr. Kapasi in his homeland. Mr. Das very quickly could have put his life in danger if he were to do the same thing in a different country. The fact that the handshake was felt in Mr. Kapasi's elbow suggests that Mr. Das wanted to reinforce the fact that he was in charge. A visitor to another country any feel as if part of America's superior attitude is expresses by the attempt to "push" American customs and politics on other countries with opposing beliefs and laws. While this greeting between Mr. Kapasi and Mr. Das(Raj) could illustrate a testosterone driven mind that encourages a leader to emerge, Mrs. Das's similar superiority reinforces the ethnocentrism. Immediately following her husband's disregard for the Indian culture, Mrs. Das shows her version of disdain and continues to shun Mr. Kapasi. "Mrs. Das, for her part, had flexed one side of her mouth, smiling dutifully at Mr. Kapasi, without displaying interest in him"(44).Lahiri specifically chose the word dutifully to point that Mrs. Das(Mina) smiled without