We received an informative presentation about the novel The Vendor of Sweets by the prolific writer R.K. Narayan a bit long ago conducted by MOE. I found this quick summary of the novel which seems to be very useful to the students who study novel for the first time and who sit for exams to locate the specific incidents related to the novel. The sole purpose is to share knowledge so we have extracted the summary part from the presentation and presented here without much alterations. The credit should go to MOE and the presenter who presented the presentation.
The Vendor of Sweets written in 1967 behind the curtains of Post
Colonial India in the fictional setting called Malgudi. This had been a time
where India faces serious of transformation. The story is woven around a
fictional character named Jagan, a sweet meat seller who is a single father
looking after a growing son. During the process of plot development, Jagan gets
fed up with his life and decides to leave to a life of a hermit.
This summary will give a glimpse of important issues raised
through each chapter which will help you to trace important points in the
novel. For your exam purposes, here is a tip: try to find a quote for each
important point and write it in front of each point mentioned here.
Chapter 01
• Setting is introduced.
• Jagan and Cousin are introduced.
• Discussion on Gandhian Principles.
• Non- Violence
• Perfect living | Food habits are introduced.
• A shrewd businessman | hypocrisy
• Bhaghavad Geetha | Hinduism
• Inconsistency of the mind of the protagonist.
• First chapter- how Jagan spends his day.
Chapter 02
• Jagan’s and Mali’s relationship is revealed.
• Life of a single parent
• Culture clash
• Peculiar day today practices
• Western vs. Eastern Medicine.
• Jagan father vs. Jagan
• Ambika’s death
• Mali as a peculiar boy.
• Maternal obsession of Mali.
Chapter 03
• The conflict between Father and Son.
• Mali’s yearning for independence .
• Meals
• Mali needs to be a writer | Mali’s change of education
policy.
• Mali’s shows certain tendencies of going away from father
philosophies.
• Jagan—submissive and cowardly at times
• Jagan is flexible in son’s affairs.
• Lack of communication.
• Cousin becomes the mediator.
Chapter 04
• Mali to America
• Father is unaware of the son’s plans.
• Mali robs money and do all the arrangements secretly.
• Jagan gets to know about the plans through Cousin.
• Growing importance of Cousin’s character.
Chapter 05
• Receives a letter from Mali.
• Letter—no personal details | It is about America.
• His personality is transformed.
• He undermines his own culture.
• Mali brings Grace.
• Jagan’s reaction to Mali’s relationship.
• Grace attempts to be resilient.
Chapter 06
• Story Telling Machine
• Jagan’s love and affection are not felt by Mali
• Jagan gradually loses his position in his own house.
• Mali needs money from Jagan to develop his business.
• Jagan avoids Mali and Grace.
• Jagan realizes Money is evil
Chapter 07
• Jagan shows different tendency of his life.
• He reduces price of sweets.
• The other vendors are disturbed.
• Their discussion reveals the hypocrisy in the business
world.
• Jagan meets Bearded Man.( turning point)
• Goes to retreat as his age needs one.
Chapter 08
• Jagan realizes the serenity of locality.
• He feels that he has found what he needed.
• He loves the detached life from the rest of the world.
Chapter 09
• Jagan reacts to Mali and his expectations with a new
strength.
• New Janma
• He shows reluctance to fund Mali’s business.
• Mali makes a revelation that Grace will have to leave India if the business is not going to develop.
• There is a hint that Mali’s and Grace’s relationship has something peculiar.
Chapter 10
• Jagan meets Grace and gets to know that Mali and Grace are nor married.
• Mali makes Jagan confused again.
• Cousin intervenes
Chapter 11
• Jagan feels depressed in his own house.
• He talks to Mali and but Mali shows reluctance to marry
Grace.
• Mali has several complaints about Grace.
Chapter 12
• A flashback of Jagan’s wedding.
• Marriage customs.
• Didactic nature of the novel.
• This chapter contrasts Mali’s and Grace’s relationship.
• Patriarchal Indian society.
• Grace is also victimized.
• Grace vs. Ambika
Chapter 13
• Jagan goes to the retreat.
• Mali is arrested—Cousin brings the news.
• Tension is created.
• Jagan is firm and not going to turn back.
• He believes punishment would correct Mali’s life.
• He assigns cousin to check his business.
• He feels sorry for Grace and he offers to buy the tickets
for her to go to America.
This is actually not a chapter summary but a list of
important issues and points raised in each chapter which should help you to
recap and locate the important issues in the novel. Again, the credit should go
to the educator who created this valuable piece of knowledge. Share the post to
a student if you find this is useful.
0 Comments