Moushumi - Selfish or Sick?

Today in class, we discussed the reader's perception of Moushumi at great length.  It seemed that, in general, people felt a great deal of animosity towards her.  However, what if some sort of compulsory force prevents her from acting in a typical manner?  What if a legitimate medical condition hinders her ability to maintain a stable relationship?  As many people know, I aspire to one day work as a doctor (this desire also inspired the title of my blog).  When I read, I often examine characters' problems from a medical standpoint.  In most books, at some point in time a character will do something that provokes the hatred of the class.  What if this action or attitude stems directly from a medical condition - something they could not voluntarily control?  Take, for instance, this case of Moushumi - the narrator comments that she wants "a clean start in a place where no one knows her" yet often she "is reminded... of why she still loves [Gogol]" (254, 248).  Lahiri contrasts Moushumi's thoughts to indirectly characterize her as both uncommitted and faithful.  Though these conflicting characterizations could serve only to enrage the reader, they may indicate the presence of a medical condition  - dissociative identities disorder, or multiple personalities.  This could explain, and perhaps even justify, some of Moushumi's erratic behavior.  Experts believe that causes of the disorder vary - they have, however, linked overwhelming stress as a child, childhood trauma, and insufficient childhood nurturing to the condition.  Although Moushumi appears to have a childhood devoid of trauma or abuse, she may think differently - she may contend that her parents neglected and abused her through the importance they placed upon their culture, a culture which Moushumi despised.  Multiple personalities could also explain many of Moushumi's behaviors as well - symptoms include depression, sudden anger without a justified cause, and a lack of intimacy in relationships.  Moushumi flashes quickly between unexplained anger and depression, particularly during her anniversary dinner with Gogol.  At first, she finds several minor inconveniences in the restaurant incredibly frustrating, and then on the way home she cries.  As for the exact nature of Moushumi's distinct personalities, she seems to possess several, but the most prominent manifest themselves in her relationships.  One alter ego remains committed to Gogol, while the other has tired of him and seeks entertainment elsewhere.  Technology and medicine, however, cannot answer the true question: if Moushumi does suffer from this condition, does it free her of responsibility for her transgressions?