This blog is here as a part of my classroom activity.
Respected Sir,
Here are my answers of asked questions:
1. How far do you agree with the India represented in the novel 'The White Tiger'?
Before I state my opinions regarding the question, I would say that the representation of ‘India’ in the novel ‘The White Tiger ‘ is the other side, you may consider it as the dark side of the nation; which is bitterly criticized by the writer Arvind Adiga. Adiga represents the second side of the coin (nation). The novel therefore could be considered as the self-critiquing work of the author. Many critics mull over that Adiga has flattered the outsiders’ views for India. As the political Agendas, the religious conspiracies, the educational schemes, democracy, election system, business, doctors, and teachers are bitterly attacked by Adiga’s stanch but sugary coated verdicts for it.
No doubt he has entitled it as ‘The Auto- Biography of a Half-Backed Indian’, which itself signifies not the whole truth. But, whatever he has depicted; I must say not the fully mistruth.
“..And our nation, though it has no drinking water, electricity, sewage system, public transportation, sense of hygiene, discipline, courtesy or punctuality, does have entrepreneurs.”
Adiga through this statement puts forth the darker side of Indian culture, politics and democratic sense in public.
So, I at some extent do agree with his representation of India in this novel. But as the novel correspond to experiences of a half- backed Indian; one cannot fully rely on that.
2. Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?
Yes it somewhat matches to most of the stories about ‘rags to riches’. Like, if we refer to ‘Dhirubhaism’, the story found similar at many extents. The other example we referred during our classroom studies was about ‘Slum dog Millionaire’; in which the slum man could succeed on his travel from rag to become millionaire. This also reflects the truth that their past experiences became the base of their entrepreneurship. He further states,
“Entrepreneurs are made from half- backed clay” – Adiga
He moreover refers of Chicken coop; only that could come out, who could raise its head out of it and succeed to run out of it. And Balram Halwai remains that man who could come out from that chicken coop on time. He could kill his master and could run away with money He therefore creates the middle state of “Morality” – ‘Amoral’ (not immoral, not moral). Here, we found Balram with his own moral codes; who rejects the traditional ideas.
3. Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique, deconstructive criticism aims to show that any text inevitably undermines its own claims to have a determinate meaning, and licences the reader to produce his own meanings out of it by an activity of semantic 'freeplay' (Derrida, 1978, in Lodge, 1988, p. 108) Is it possible to do deconstructive reading of The White Tiger? How?
Yes. It is possible to do the deconstruction of this text. As Balram considers his story of a ‘half-backed Indian’ itself a flaw of language withal he is the only hero of his story; who is a murderer, corrupter, escapist, and having fake identity of his master shows unreliability of the narrator. Furthermore, he at the end states that “I’ll never say I made a mistake that night in Delhi; when I slit my master’s throat.” “..I’ll say it was all worthwhile to know, just for a day, just for an hour; just for a minute.” Which shows his regret for nothing; he did in his past. This gives enough reason to readers to deconstruct the text.
Thank You…
Here are my answers of asked questions:
1. How far do you agree with the India represented in the novel 'The White Tiger'?
Before I state my opinions regarding the question, I would say that the representation of ‘India’ in the novel ‘The White Tiger ‘ is the other side, you may consider it as the dark side of the nation; which is bitterly criticized by the writer Arvind Adiga. Adiga represents the second side of the coin (nation). The novel therefore could be considered as the self-critiquing work of the author. Many critics mull over that Adiga has flattered the outsiders’ views for India. As the political Agendas, the religious conspiracies, the educational schemes, democracy, election system, business, doctors, and teachers are bitterly attacked by Adiga’s stanch but sugary coated verdicts for it.
No doubt he has entitled it as ‘The Auto- Biography of a Half-Backed Indian’, which itself signifies not the whole truth. But, whatever he has depicted; I must say not the fully mistruth.
“..And our nation, though it has no drinking water, electricity, sewage system, public transportation, sense of hygiene, discipline, courtesy or punctuality, does have entrepreneurs.”
Adiga through this statement puts forth the darker side of Indian culture, politics and democratic sense in public.
So, I at some extent do agree with his representation of India in this novel. But as the novel correspond to experiences of a half- backed Indian; one cannot fully rely on that.
2. Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?
Yes it somewhat matches to most of the stories about ‘rags to riches’. Like, if we refer to ‘Dhirubhaism’, the story found similar at many extents. The other example we referred during our classroom studies was about ‘Slum dog Millionaire’; in which the slum man could succeed on his travel from rag to become millionaire. This also reflects the truth that their past experiences became the base of their entrepreneurship. He further states,
“Entrepreneurs are made from half- backed clay” – Adiga
He moreover refers of Chicken coop; only that could come out, who could raise its head out of it and succeed to run out of it. And Balram Halwai remains that man who could come out from that chicken coop on time. He could kill his master and could run away with money He therefore creates the middle state of “Morality” – ‘Amoral’ (not immoral, not moral). Here, we found Balram with his own moral codes; who rejects the traditional ideas.
3. Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique, deconstructive criticism aims to show that any text inevitably undermines its own claims to have a determinate meaning, and licences the reader to produce his own meanings out of it by an activity of semantic 'freeplay' (Derrida, 1978, in Lodge, 1988, p. 108) Is it possible to do deconstructive reading of The White Tiger? How?
Yes. It is possible to do the deconstruction of this text. As Balram considers his story of a ‘half-backed Indian’ itself a flaw of language withal he is the only hero of his story; who is a murderer, corrupter, escapist, and having fake identity of his master shows unreliability of the narrator. Furthermore, he at the end states that “I’ll never say I made a mistake that night in Delhi; when I slit my master’s throat.” “..I’ll say it was all worthwhile to know, just for a day, just for an hour; just for a minute.” Which shows his regret for nothing; he did in his past. This gives enough reason to readers to deconstruct the text.
Thank You…
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