Interpreter of Maladies ~ # 1

I feel that the central conflict of this story was Mr. Kapasi's disconnection in his own family and his feeling of loneliness. This conflict then drives his reaction to the attention given to him by Mrs. Das. It leads to his new-found appreciation in his job, but also to his misled belief that Mrs. Das truly was attracted to him. As the story continues, this feeling only seems to gain strength, as if the little amount of attention makes him yearn for more. Then, in the end, it is not even resolved. Mrs. Das asks him for help, and her son is attacked by monkeys. However, there is never an ending for Mr. Kapasi himself. He is instead left to sort things out, and the reader is never informed of whether this ever occurs. The ending of the story lacks closure, perhaps to symbolize the lack of closure in his own life, facing his own conflicts.