Individuals in a Time of Postmodernism (Pub 3)

                                                    Individuals in a Time of Postmodernism

Postmodernism can be defined as a change in ideologies that can bring once-known truths into question. Starting from the mid to late 20th century, the philosophical movement both encouraged and accepted the aspects of individuality in the present-time world. This idea is highlighted in the story Interpreter of Maladies written by Jhumpa Lahiri. In her story, she encapsulated these concepts through her characters, Mr. Das and Mr. Kapasi. Mr. Das represents the human quality of ignorance, and Mr. Kapasi portrays the quality of feeling overlooked. The two characters exemplify the essential qualities that go hand-in-hand with the complexities of human condition.

Viewing Mr. Das’s part of the story, he shows a small part of what postmodernism represents–ignorance. In a way, the ignorance he showcases is almost blissful ignorance. Being a human, Mr. Das naturally wants to be shielded from the harsh realities of the cold world. Ignorance, as one might not expect, is not always a negative state. The way his life was working out suited perfectly to any person’s desires. He had a seemingly wonderful family that was able to travel abroad, which is not something that everyone gets the opportunity to do. Everything surrounding him had a pleasant characteristic: “A clean-shaven man, he looked exactly like a magnified version of Ronny. He had a sapphire blue visor, and was dressed in shorts, sneakers, and a T-shirt. The camera slung around his neck, with an impressive telephoto lens and numerous buttons and markings, was the only complicated thing he wore,” (Lahiri, 13). Mr. Das did not do “complicated,” and he certainly would not deal with the complication of finding out his son was the result of his wife’s affair. The complication of a decision surrounding direct or indirect ignorance embodies what it means to be a part of the human condition.

Mr. Kapasi’s point of view is much different from the people in which he was giving a tour. His angle illustrates the feeling of being unappreciated and overlooked. When discussing his job he stated, “My father was Gujarati, but many people do not speak Gujarati in this area, including the doctor. And so the doctor asked me to work in his office, interpreting what the patients say,” (Lahiri, 17). Mr. Kapasi already knew that he was overqualified for his job and was really meant for something bigger, such as a diplomat. However, when the response from Mrs. Das stated that his job seemed romantic, it was almost like putting salt in an open wound. Feeling overlooked is an understatement during this part of the story. It can be hard for someone in his position to feel appreciated when the rest of the world does not see life from his eyes. The complicated feeling of being unnoticed ties in with the human condition of the postmodernism world.

On the somewhat opposite side of the characters lies Mrs. Das. Her part of the displayed human condition is different from the others. In her case, she is classified as a manipulator. She manipulated both her husband and her life. Her husband has been manipulated into thinking his son was indeed his and not another man’s. In Mrs. Das’s life, she has manipulated it into a perfect place where she can go explore the world with her fine-tuned image of a family. She influenced the people and aspects of her life in order to serve her own interests. In some people, it is in their nature to be a manipulator. While telling Mr. Kapasi about her affair child, she said, “‘No, of course not. And no one knows, of course. No one at all. I’ve kept it a secret for eight whole years.’ She looked at Mr. Kapasi, tilting her chin as if to gain a fresh perspective. ‘But now I’ve told you,’” (Lahiri, 25). Mrs. Das made her bed and chose to lie in it. Although not every single individual manipulates to the extreme of this character, it is most definitely a part of the human condition. 

The complex issues and concepts that are a part of postmodernism are also prevalent in today’s pop culture. One of the worst feelings highlighted under this new topic of human condition in postmodern society is being overlooked and unnoticed. Being unnoticed can be a blessing or a curse, but oftentimes it dims the talents of individuals. There are many people that have contributed to others’ successes that are overlooked just like Mr. Kapasi (Gray, 1). One woman, Florence Howe, is attributed to being a leader of the feminist movement who started teaching women’s studies before it was recognized in education. Another woman, Rachel Carson, was a  marine biologist who caused change in the environmental movement with her studies and publications. A third woman named Jocelyn Burnell co-discovered radio pulsars that were used to further explore space. Similar to Mr. Kapasi, these women have talents that go unrecognized by the rest of the world. Demonstrated by the postmodernism age, these feelings were finally brought to light.

The three main topics of postmodernism mentioned–ignorance, a lack of recognition, and manipulation–do not wrap up the entire ideology with a neat bow. The complexities of human condition under the headline of postmodernism are vast and contain more than three words. The topics under this “category” have been around much longer than the mid to late 20th century. It took a long time to appreciate the flaws that coincide with the human condition, but they eventually made it into stories for people to see and relate to. Postmodernism encompasses not small bits of how people are, but the entirety of the human experience. The core of the postmodernism and human condition represent the continuous struggle that individuals have faced for centuries, and will continue to face for the rest of time.

Works Cited

“8 Impactful Women in History Who Deserve More Recognition.” Her Campus, 13 May 2020, ..……www.hercampus.com/culture/8-impactful-women-history-who-deserve-more-recognition/.

Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies, 1998, iblit2013.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads ..……/2013/08/lahiri-interpreter-of-maladies-full-text.pdf.