SSUA: Silence Is A Reflection Of Control

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri and Children of the Sea by Edwidge Danticat are similar in more ways than one. One theme that is apparent in both short stories is silence. In certain contexts, the act of silence is a form of dehumanization. It goes against the natural rights that are intrinsic to being a functioning human with a place in society, and this is highlighted in Children of the Sea. Alternatively, voluntary acts of silence can be equally as catastrophic as forced silence. Withholding valuable information is a form of weaponized silence, and this is apparent in Interpreter of Maladies. In both stories, readers observe the differences between voluntary and involuntary silence. Control is the main factor that influences the decisions made by main characters. The level of control that a character has over their circumstance is the determining factor of how they behave when presented with the theme of silence.

In Children of the Sea, silence is portrayed as a form of involuntary control of the citizens of Haiti. Mass relocations are currently taking place in this story as a result of the corrupt leaders and war-ridden environment that plagued Haiti. The story follows the tragic love story of an unnamed young girl and boy. They exchange letters throughout the story, and examples of silence are seen within their letters. For example, prior to the events of the story, the young boy had a radio show that was deemed unfavorable by their government. He was able to escape, but his peers were captured. It is stated that “Papa wants me to throw out those tapes of your radio shows. I destroyed some music tapes, but I still have your voice. I thank god you got out when you did. All the other youth federation members have disappeared. No one has heard from them.” (Danticat, 4-5). This shows that silence is used as a weapon in order to appease a corrupt government. More disturbing effects of silence are seen later on in the story. Citizens are violated for sharing opinions that oppose their government. For example, Madan Rogers was assaulted and eventually killed for expressing her distaste for the soldiers’ actions. After the confrontation with the soldiers, Madan Rogers states “Yes, he was one! He belonged to that group. He was on the radio. He was on the streets at these demonstrations. He hated you like I hate you criminals. You killed him.” (Danticat, 16). Immediately following Madan Roger’s exclamation, it is stated that the soldiers started to “pound at her,” which resulted in her death. Children of the Sea depicts the theme of silence by centering on a government that is riddled with corruption. Fear tactics and violence are used to establish control over citizens. In Children of the Sea, silence is a product of a lack of control and fear. 

Alternatively, in Interpreter of Maladies, voluntary silence is used in order to control and maintain a character’s circumstance. The story introduces Mrs. Das and her family, as well as Mr. Kapasi. Mr. Kapasi is tasked with giving the Das family a tour of various monuments in

India. Mrs. Das, or Mina, initially appears haughty and cold, Mr. Das, or Raj, can be described as blissfully ignorant, and their 3 children are unruly. This story encompasses silence because Mrs. Das reveals an affair to Mr. Kapasi that she has withheld from her husband for eight years. Note that this affair led to the birth of an illegitimate child, and Mrs. Das led her husband to believe that the child is his. There is also a present lack of communication between Mr. and Mrs. Das which also alludes to the theme of silence because it expresses the failure to effectively communicate. For example, it is stated that “Don’t you see? For eight years I haven’t been able to express this to anybody, not to friends, certainly not to Raj. He doesn’t even suspect it. He thinks I’m still in love with him.” (Lahiri, 27). Mrs. Das’s internal silence results from the inability to confront her inner turmoils. She later states that “One day I had the urge to throw everything I own out the window, the television, the children, everything.” (Lahiri, 27). Mrs. Das’s anguish is a result of her voluntary silence and inability to properly address her wrongdoings. 

In conclusion, silence is a common theme between Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri and Children of the Sea by Edwidge Danticat. The main differentiating factor is that Interpreter of Maladies encompasses voluntary silence through poor communication and lack of personal strength, and Children of the Sea incorporates silence through severe government corruption and fear. Both stories highlight the substantial consequences of the inability to effectively communicate and demonstrate that silence is a product of control.