R.K. Narayan is the foremost name in contemporary Indian English literature. He is essentially ironic and realistic in his vision of life. His stories and novels, including the present work, The Vendor of Sweets, reflect his awareness about the fundamental disharmonies and absurdities which Life and World constantly throw in our way. Narayan accepts the realities of life ungrudgingly, taking things as they come to him – and so do his characters. Nowhere does he seem to be writing with an idea of rectifying the situation or the world. Nowhere does he sound sarcastic, or critical of people or circumstances. Criticism, bitterness, cynicism have no place in his works. Probably this kind of realization and attitude helped him form a balanced view
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The clash between Jagan and his son is a clash between the age -old traditions and the modern occidental civilization. It is a conflict between the prudence of age and experience and the violent rush of youth. It also presents very subtly what Bacon said centuries ago – “The joys of parents are secret, and so are their worries.”(2) There is certainly a conflict, a schism, the solution of which has to be found out – as we all do, as we all want to, in our own particular or peculiar way; subject to circumstance, time, age, social conditions, tolerance and the span of suffering. And Jagan too, the central character arrives at a solution after much pain, humilation, and surrender of self-esteem. His retreat from Malgudi, his home and his sweetmeat shop for ‘self-searching’ can be considered akin to running away from the harsh realities of life. But it was probably the only viable solution possible because the harsh realities had started gnawing Jagan's very being, biting him, pushing him to the edge. This escape was good for Jagan as one rightfully has claims to a life of tranquility and peace at, at least, at some point in life. It was good for his son, Mali also as this would teach him a lesson in life and prompt him to stand on his own feet and stop pestering and relying on his fathers's generosity and, needless to say, …show more content…
He spins and produces yarn for his own clothes, scrupously observes dietary restrictions, wears only Khadi and does all his work himself. Like Gandhi-ji he is a staunch believer in the healing properties of natural and herbal medicines. Jagan came of an orthodox or perhaps more apt to say conventional Brahmin family with all the pujas, gods, religious ceremonies and life style. His brother was an orthodox man who managed the headquarter of a religious order established ten centuries ago with a million follower and yet Jagan picked up enough courage to join the Gandhi-movement. His brother did not approve of Jagan's outlook. His sister thought and was vocal in expressing her views that he (Jagan) had lost all sense of caste, dining as he had been rubbing shoulders with untouchables, going to jail and getting up all kinds of shameful things. But his family’s opposition to all this have little or no effect on Jagan. His loyalty to Gandhi made him rebel against the caste laws and it also incurred his siblings'
The clash between Jagan and his son is a clash between the age -old traditions and the modern occidental civilization. It is a conflict between the prudence of age and experience and the violent rush of youth. It also presents very subtly what Bacon said centuries ago – “The joys of parents are secret, and so are their worries.”(2) There is certainly a conflict, a schism, the solution of which has to be found out – as we all do, as we all want to, in our own particular or peculiar way; subject to circumstance, time, age, social conditions, tolerance and the span of suffering. And Jagan too, the central character arrives at a solution after much pain, humilation, and surrender of self-esteem. His retreat from Malgudi, his home and his sweetmeat shop for ‘self-searching’ can be considered akin to running away from the harsh realities of life. But it was probably the only viable solution possible because the harsh realities had started gnawing Jagan's very being, biting him, pushing him to the edge. This escape was good for Jagan as one rightfully has claims to a life of tranquility and peace at, at least, at some point in life. It was good for his son, Mali also as this would teach him a lesson in life and prompt him to stand on his own feet and stop pestering and relying on his fathers's generosity and, needless to say, …show more content…
He spins and produces yarn for his own clothes, scrupously observes dietary restrictions, wears only Khadi and does all his work himself. Like Gandhi-ji he is a staunch believer in the healing properties of natural and herbal medicines. Jagan came of an orthodox or perhaps more apt to say conventional Brahmin family with all the pujas, gods, religious ceremonies and life style. His brother was an orthodox man who managed the headquarter of a religious order established ten centuries ago with a million follower and yet Jagan picked up enough courage to join the Gandhi-movement. His brother did not approve of Jagan's outlook. His sister thought and was vocal in expressing her views that he (Jagan) had lost all sense of caste, dining as he had been rubbing shoulders with untouchables, going to jail and getting up all kinds of shameful things. But his family’s opposition to all this have little or no effect on Jagan. His loyalty to Gandhi made him rebel against the caste laws and it also incurred his siblings'