Portrayal of Life in India in Malgudi Days Essay

Portrayal of Life in India in Malgudi Days by R K Narayan

In Malgudi Days, although R.K. Narayan seems to present us with a bleak portrayal of India where life is very hard and there is very little human happiness, he means to reflect the triumph of the human spirit over the cruel circumstances of life. In India, poverty and the lack of education are prejudiced against and people are discriminated against because they are poor. In "A Willing Slave", Ayah is discriminated against and treated badly merely because she is an uneducated servant. When she comes back late for the first time after her visit home, her employers imagine the worst, thinking "she has perhaps been run over by a car and killed", "she must have taken it in her head to give herself a holiday. No one is indispensable. I will dismiss her for this." (Narayan 1982, pg 144). Although Ayah has contributed much to the family, no one but Radha appreciates it. The same goes for Sidda in "Leela's Friend", who is immediately assumed to be a thief simply because he was an ex-convict. However, the characters are not totally unhappy. Both Ayah and Sidda have a close, loving relationship with their charges, Radha and Leela, who seem to cling on to them more than they do to their parents. The children are free from prejudice and appreciate the true value of their servants. It is also untrue that the vicious cycle of poverty condemns a person to a life of unhappiness. In the story "The Martyr's Corner", the lack of education does not mean a poor and unhappy life for Rama, who was said to be "earning what graduate are unable to earn!"(Narayan 1982, pg 123).

At times, external circumstances overturn previously happy lives and characters are not in control of their destiny. In "The Axe", the appearance of the developers tear down Velan's peaceful existence and forces him to leave the house. Again, in "The Martyr's Corner", Rama is forced to become a waiter when his life starts on a downward spiral after his "old spot" was taken up by a statue of a dead political leader. While the characters may not be in complete control of external factors, they still have control over their inner lives. Rama lives with and adapts to his new environment and still retains his usual, placid manner. On the other hand there are many instances where people seem to be manipulated and exploited by others. In "Selvi", Mohan uses Selvi as a puppet. The situation seems to be at its worst when Mohan provides Selvi with a written dialogue to follow; all of this was done strictly for personal gain and fame. Despite being exposed to the experiences, Selvis well being does not seem to be significantly affected. Mohan was "rapt in some secret melody or thought of her own" (Narayan 1982, pg 175). and, although seemly controlled physically by Selvi, liberated in her mind. Mohans attitude allows her to take a stance against Selvi and eventually reunite with her old town. In "A Willing Slave", Ayah seems to have been exploited by her employers. Her "self-imposed tasks" (Narayan 1982, pg 140) go unappreciated and even when her husband takes her away, he feels "proud of his slave" (Narayan 1982, pg 145). However, Ayah seems spiritually happy at being used, she desires the feeling of being wanted and is as satisfied by serving others, hoping they will appreciate her services. It is her happiness that matters in the end.

There seems to be little human happiness presented in Malgudi Days. Love causes hurt and pain, people are torn apart by conflicting circumstances. Mixed blessings give cause for lament when people cannot enjoy their rewards. In "Forty-Five a Month", Venkat Rao cannot spend more time with his family as he seems to have been purchased wholly for forty-five rupees. As readers we start to understand Venkat Raos reasons for slaving at his job. Venkat does all that he is asked with no questions despite being constantly criticized because he needs to provide for his family. His love for his daughter is great and it gives rise to his motivation at work.

Many characters in these stories face difficult lives, yet somehow endure. Patience and perseverance is typical of many of the characters, slaving away at jobs for long hours, under bad living and working conditions. Most of these characters are able to overcome their difficult situations due to their belief in God and karma. They feel that if they do their best in their present lives, that they will become closer to the Godhead in the next life.