Interpreter of Maladies

Language, Culture, Understanding

South Asian America

• 1947 – Indian Independence Act• Partition of British India according to religion• South Asia = India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

• 1970 – 20,000 Pakistani arrive; mostly highly educated but unemployed professionals

• 1965-1985 – 525,000 total South Asian immigrants• 83% entered as professional and technical

workers

• 20010 - 2,843,391 in US (0.9% of population), one of the fastest growing ethnic groups inUS

Partition

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

• What does it mean to be Indian to the narrator?• Assimilation vs Cultural Identity (25-27)

• Why does Lilia study Mr. Pirzada so closely?• What does Mr. Pirzada’s pocket watch signify?

(30)

• What is the symbolism of the pumpkin? How does it reoccur as a motif and why?

• When is the moment that Lilia finally comes to understand Mr. Pirzada?

Homework

• Read “The Interpreter of Maladies”

• Email me a question about the story by Sun 7pm that you would like to discuss on Mon