Blog Post 2; food

There are many times in Interpreter of Maladies where Lahiri vividly describes several different foods in different stories. They either have a positive or negative connotation depending on the characters in the story. In "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," Mr. Pirzada always brings Lilia candy. The candy is beautifully wrapped, and she keeps it in a box from her grandmother that she never uses. This candy represents hope, as Lilia eats one and prays that Pirzada's family is safe, and throws the rest away once he meets with them again. The vivid imagery Lilia describes the candy she receives demonstrates the type of symbol the candy is representing.  Depending on the the mood of the short story, the food will also be described in a similar tone. On the other hand, "Interpreter of Maladies" shows Mrs. Das buying puffed rice for herself without sharing any with her own children. Lahiri describes Mrs. Das with a negative tone, describing her disinterest with her family, ignoring her kids and cheating on her husband. Her negative personality shows through the symbol of the puffed rice when she spills it and the monkeys attack her illegitimate child, Bobby. It's interesting to see the connection between the way the main characters make you feel and the events that happen due to the food represented in the chapter.