Page 139 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Unit 17: Aravind Adiga: The White Tiger—Theme

untainted. However, growing up, he was exposed into a lot of corruption and immoral behavior, Notes
such as the time with the doctors just let his father die. His childhood ultimately set Balram up for
a lifetime of immoral and corrupt behavior as he moved up his social ladder and into the higher
castes. To work his way up, Balram ends up cheating, stealing, and even murdering in order to
have his way. Balram becomes very selfish, evident by his many immoral actions, due to the
entrepreneur/businessman side of him. This can be seen as both an immoral and moral, depending
on how you look at it. If one looks at it in a more business lens, business is all about doing
everything one can to beat out whoever one are competing against. Finding ways to ensure the
competition does not succeed, finding ways to get ahead of everyone else, and coming out on top
are all a big part of the business world. It can be seen as being moral because of competitive nature
of our globalized capitalist economic system. In a capitalist economy, any way one can get ahead
is fair game. However, if one is looking at this from a non-business standpoint, the actions Balram
does are very immoral. He cheats people to put himself in a position to gain for himself. Balram
does everything in his power for personal gain, even killing his boss.
Social class/caste
The book shows a modern day, capitalist Indian society with free market and free business. It also
shows how it can create economic division. In India there are not social classes, there are social
castes. The novel portrays India’s society as very negative towards the lower social caste. Balram
refers to it as the “Darkness”. When Balram was asked which caste he was from, he knew that it
could ultimately cause a biased stance in his employer and determine the future of his employment.
There is definitely a big difference seen in Balram’s lower caste from back home and his current
higher caste in their life-styles, habits, and standards of living. This novel is showing how our
economic system today creates socioeconomic gaps that create a big division in society. It limits
opportunity, social mobility, health, and other rights and pleasures that should be given to all.
There is a big difference in the amount of money spread around in society today and this book is
alluding to that fact.
Marriage in India
To save their reputation and the marriage, the family has to take out a loan from the Stork. Balram
is forced to drop out of school and work in a teashop to help raise money to pay back the debt –
triggering the events of the rest of the story.
His cousin’s wedding is not the only marriage that disrupts Balram’s life. When Pinky Madam
leaves for New York, Mr. Ashok sinks into depression. In addition to drinking and womanizing,
he finally accepts his family’s dirty business, ferrying bribes for The Stork. Balram joins in his
boss’ decline – eventually murdering Mr. Ashok to pocket the bribe himself.

Marriage plays a key role in Indian society as well as the novel. When Balram’s cousin
becomes engaged, his family “gets screwed” with a large dowry they cannot afford.

The Indian Family

In an interview with The Guardian, Adiga emphasizes the importance of family in Indian society.
“If you’re rude to your mother in India, it’s a crime as bad as stealing would be here,” he explains.
For Balram to abandon his family, then, is perhaps his greatest crime. “This is a shameful and
dislocating thing for an Indian to do,” Adiga remarks of his protagonist.
Balram also understands the severity of his actions. Fear for his family is the largest obstacle he
must overcome to carry out Mr. Ashok’s murder. In the days before, he has visions – imagining a

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