The Vendor of Sweets by R.K. Narayan
The novel
begins with Jagan talking
to his “cousin,” a man who claims kinship with Jagan despite a lack of true
clarity surrounding the matter. They live in the small Indian town of Malgudi.
The two discuss various philosophical and everyday matters as Jagan gets ready
to go home. They continue talking and part ways and Jagan eventually arrives
home. The chapter concludes with Jagan looking at a box of cash that he has
saved in a drawer as he feels content about his life and prospects.
After some
reflection, Jagan returns home and talks with his son Mali. Mali
appears disturbed and Jagan cannot figure out why. He talks to his cousin about
the frustration and disillusionment that Mali has been displaying. They talk
about his father’s job and Mali appears reviled by the notion of monotonous
daily work. Mali tells him he has grown tired of his schoolwork and wants to
become a writer. He describes his plan to enter a local novel-writing contest.
His father agrees to support him in this goal. It is revealed that Jagan's
wife, Mali's mother, died from a brain tumor and Jagan has done his best to
care for Mali as much as possible.
Mali becomes
very distant from Jagan in this period and Jagan is too nervous about upsetting
him to request any updates about the progress of his work. Jagan talks to his
cousin, seeking information about Mali's writing and learns that Mali has said
that he must go to America in order to truly become a real writer. He also
learns that Mali has been taking money from him, as he knows where he keeps his
savings stashed. He is not upset by this information and agrees to support him
financially in his journey. Mali departs for America.
Mali writes
to Jagan frequently with updates about his time in America. Jagan gets excited
every time a letter comes in the mail, reading and rereading them more
frequently than he reads the Bhagavad Gita. Eventually, Mali returns to India.
He is constantly critical of the country, saying he believes it is backwards
and slow, hurting Jagan a great deal. He also brings Grace, a
half-American/half-Korean woman whom he claims is wife. He also says that he
now eats beef, which goes directly against one of the most important tenets of
the Hindu faith. Jagan is shocked by all of this change and struggles with this
new information.
Mali tells
his father he has something of great urgency to discuss with him. Jagan agrees
to talk with him, but is so excited that he is home that he does not listen
closely. Later, after clarifying with his cousin, Jagan learns that Mali
intends to open a factory that manufactures story-writing machines. His son
says that he needs a loan from Jagan in order to get the business off the
ground. Jagan hedges his answers as Mali and Grace both pursue him relentlessly
about the matter. Eventually Jagan makes it apparent that he will not give Mali
the loan, but offers him his sweetmeat business, an offer that Mali harshly
rejects.
Later Jagan
meets a bearded man, who asks for his assistance making a sculpture of the
goddess Gayatri. Jagan travels to the quiet spot where he works. Jagan admires
the serenity of the artist's solitary life and makes him reconsider his life
and goals. He decides to become the artist patron and renounce most of his work
and material wealth. This decision shocks many of the people in the town, but
he remains steadfast in his decision, finding peace in this rejection of money
and worldly possessions.
Later, Jagan
learns that his son has separated from Grace and that he was never married to
her in the first place. This fact fills him with shame, as it means they have
been living together out of wedlock. He then reflects on his marriage for a
lengthy period of time, recalling his happy courtship of his wife and the
joyous day of Mali's birth.
The novel
ends with Jagan learning that his son has been arrested for public drunkenness.
Jagan talks to his cousin about this matter and shocks him with his response.
He tells him to take over his sweetmeat business and that Mali would do well to
spend some time in jail, as it might teach him some discipline. He also says,
out of affection for her, that should Grace ever want to return home to her
family, he will happily pay for it.
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