Interpreter of Maladies By: Jhumpa Lahari

This story took a bit to lure me in but once I was lured, I was in. This is a finely detailed story on how a interpreter spends a day driving around an American couple with their children. He soon begins to create feelings for the wife who gives him the attention he lacks in his own life. Mrs. Das' curious questions and praise on his other job as a doctor's office translator makes him feel like a proud man, a man he has not felt like in a while. He soon begins to think of all his failures in life; his own wife who he has no spark with anymore, his failed ideal career plans, and his deceased son, who he still feels responsible in some ways for his death. Mrs. Das is Mr. Kapasi's golden ticket for an ego boost for the day until he hears of her not so perfect life. She confesses that one of her sons is not biological to her husband. She has kept this a secret from her husband. Mr.Kapasi then views her as a disgraceful woman. She is not special, her day of enchantment was not real, she is just another broken soul, just like him. His fantasies go down the drain with Mrs.Das and he is left with dealing with his own life all over again, coming to terms with his failures and unbeknownst accomplishments. I believe the message behind this story is that no one lives a perfect life. The millionaire person you hear of may have the saddest heart out there, yet one may never know. Be grateful and accepting of yourself, and maybe, just maybe you will be more at peace. I would totally recommend this eyeopening short story to a friend.

Nothing Gold Can Stay By: Robert Frost

This is honestly one of the most prettiest poems I have ever read. Robert Frost is a genius when it comes to pumping out deep, yet simplistic poems. This whole poem to my interpretation is the power of change, whether it be a person, thing or place. There are a lot of personification and rhyming in this poem that ease you through it ever so gracefully. I think Robert Frost used nature as a buffer to describe life as a whole. Seasons change, as do people, things in our lives (materialistically speaking) and even places that one may cherish."Nothing gold can stay" is such a beautiful way to say that the things we find perfect in our personal worlds will have to leave us in time. Change is inevitable in life. I would definitely recommend this poem to a friend.

The Cuban Swimmer

I really enjoyed this read. I am usually not a playwright reader so this was a nice change. I also have not really dipped my feet in playwright as I probably should. I enjoyed reading a play about my own culture and could relate to a lot of the family dynamics that took place in this play. I really liked the dramatized metaphors and symbolism that the Abuela in the play briefly spoke about. It is a great read that shows how pride takes control over people, we sometimes put it before anything else. This is shown in how the whole family was so prideful and determined to make a name for themselves in America by winning the race. It also dabbles in the whole meaning of self-discovery, as Margarita in the end finds her true self and grows as a person because of her swim. I would highly recommend this play to a friend because I think it was a smooth read with a lot of heavy meaning in it.

Oedipus The King

This is a classic greek play that exemplified many of the ancient peoples beliefs. They heavenly relied on polytheist gods who were thought to watch and judge every move they made, treating them as such. Even before Freud's theory of repressed emotions Oedipus created it, referring to the Oedipus and Electra complexes that he created. There is also questions on how much fate actually rules our lives whether or not we make actions or not. This play also shows how "powerful kings" are not limited to dealing with such treacherous occurrences in life. Everyone at the end of the day must face life's fears. It also goes to show how glory in whatever one may concern themselves with is fleeting. The truth adheres to everything, and this is what happened to the great Oedipus. This was a tricky play to decipher and quite a lengthy one so I don't think I would recommend this to a friend unless they are lovers of greek mythology.