Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
The novel is set in the Indian town of Malgudi.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is narrated from a third-person point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone is sympathetic and reflective. The mood is comedic and tense.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the novel is Jagan. The antagonist is his son Mali.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel is between Jagan and his son Mali, as Mali demands a massive investment in his business scheme and Jagan does not want to give it to him.
Climax
The climax occurs when Jagan confronts Mali about not actually being married to Grace.
Foreshadowing
It is foreshadowed that Mali is dishonest when he will not show his father any of his work.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The story makes numerous allusion to the Hindu faith, The Bhagavad Gita, and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
Imagery
Important imagery in the novel includes light, incense, money, and tactile labor.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
Rather than a parallel, Jagan and Mali are foils for one another: Mali is only interested in material wealth without labor, and Jagan is dedicated to hard work while also growing skeptical of the value of money over the course of the novel.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
