An Astrologer's Day by R. K. Narayan (NEB XI)

                            An Astrologer's Day by R. K. Narayan
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” -Abraham Lincoln

FULL NAME: Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer  Narayanaswami

BORN: 10 October 1906, Madras, Madras Presidency, British-India

DIED: 13 May 2001 (aged 94) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

OCCUPATION: Writer

GENRE: Fiction, mythology, and non-fiction

SOME OF HIS WORKS: The English Teacher (1945), Waiting for the Mahatma (1955), The Guide (1958), The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961), The Vendor of Sweets (1967), and A Tiger for Malgudi (1983), Swami and Friends

NOTABLE AWARDS: Padma Vibhushan, Sahitya Akademy Fellowship, Benson Meda.

The short story “An Astrologer’s Day” by R. K. Narayan follows a man's affectation as an astrologer meeting the man he once tried to kill. Originally published in Hindi, the piece, along with twenty-nine other short stories by Narayan, was first published in English in 1947. This story contains strong themes that are apparent through Narayan’s creative work, including deception, revenge, and the ironies of life. “An Astrologer’s Day” combines suspense, realism, and thriller genres as well. The point of view is the third-person narrative.

SETTING

SETTING OF TIME

•        Pre-independence time

•       Events in the story open up at midday.

SETTING OF PLACE

•       Fictional South Indian town: Malgudi (Generally interpreted)

•       Actual setting: -An unnamed Indian village -looking for prospective customers

•       Town Hall Park: -wreathed with a surging crowd -under the boughs of a surging tamarind tree -ostentation of occupations

CHARACTERS

MAJOR CHARACTERS

•       The Astrologer : protagonist

•       Guru Nayak: antagonist

•       The Astrologer’s Wife

 MINOR CHARACTERS

•        Medicine sellers  & sellers of stolen hardware and junk

•        Magicians

•       Auctioneer of cheap clothes

•       Groundnuts vendor

•       The customers

•        Jutka- drivers  & the Astrologer’s children

PLOT

•       Portrays the daily life of an astrologer

•        With unexpected twists and turns

•        Flashback to the astrologer’s past

•       How the events take him out of a vagabond

TERMS USED IN THE STORY

•       Cheroot: a cigar cut square at both ends

•       Jutka: a two-wheeled, horse-drawn vehicle

•       Cowrie shells: Small white shells are often used in Indian astrology and by children as a substitute for dice.

•       Palmyra: paper made from the leaves of Palmyra tree

•       Mystic charts

•       Saffron turban

•       Vermillion

SUMMARY

Ø  The story opens up with a description of the astrologer, laying out all his paraphernalia.

Ø  Town Hall Park is filled with hustle and bustle of the crowd.

Ø  Show various occupations near the astrologer

Ø  The astrologer had fled from his hometown.

Ø  Decided to look upon the absurdity of human life

Ø  Encounters a careworn person

Ø  Asks him to be his client but ridicules the astrologer

Ø  Argues on a wager

Ø  Decides to pay the person twice as much as he does his answer is unsatisfactory.

(CLIMAX)

Ø  The astrologer gets a glimpse of the client’s face and is astounded.

Ø   Insists on leaving but couldn’t

Ø   The person asks if he will be able to get what he has been searching for

Ø   The astrologer describes the person’s past saying he got stabbed.

Ø   The culprit fled while him being saved by a passerby out of a well.

Ø   States that he should go towards the north now that the culprit is already dead and was mangled by a lorry

Ø   The astrologer wins the bet.

Ø  Reveals that he was the ‘culprit’.

CHARACTER SKETCH

THE ASTROLOGER

•       Nameless protagonist of the story, Fraudulent, perceptive, shrewd, solace person

•       Opportunistic and dynamic characterization

PROOFS

•       Use of cosmic insights: cowrie shells, mystic charts, Palmira writings, etc.

•       Resemblance to an astrologer: painted forehead, use of ‘sacred ash and vermilion’, turban, etc.

•       Targeting the gullibility of the clients & clamming up for about 10 minutes before speaking

•       Nearby lightings

GURU NAYAK

•       The antagonist namely, Guru Nayak

•       Antithesis of the astrologer

•       Aggressive, mean-spirited, pugnacious

•       Swindler

PROOFS:  Is skeptical of the astrologer in his first encounter, Insists on a wager, Believes the astrologer is a prophet and Doesn’t give the required sum i.e. one rupee.

THE ASTROLOGER’S WIFE: Unnamed,  From the city, Means to suggest the family’s economy.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS: This story portrays mystical hypocrisy. Even though astrology is just a prediction people tend to believe and some even put blind faith in it and accept it ignorantly. In addition, this story has shown the cunningness, smartness, and confidence of the fake astrologer who utilized his traits to sustain his life and eventually save himself.  Furthermore, Guru Nayak feels physical power can win over other things but was unaware of the smartness that people apply in the general world. The sinful activity of the astrologer led him to flee from his own village and the guilt and fear made him relentless for years from which we can say that our past activities determine our future rather than fate.

MAIN THEME: Fate, Superstition, Human psychology, Manipulation

Minor themes: Guilt,  Fear

CONFLICT IN THE TEXT: The two main conflicts in the story are of the astrologer and the client – the astrologer has inner guilt that he had killed a man during his earlier years, this conflict is resolved when he meets his client for the day since this was the exact man whom the astrologer left to die in a well. But, when he sees that the man is alive and very much active in his life he feels relieved and also makes a good deal with him and earns a heavy bargain. Also, he ensures that the other person is helped out of his revengeful attitude and goes back to a happy man. The other conflict is that of the client, he wanted to take revenge on the person who left him dying but when he comes to know that he is dead he seems to acknowledge the fact that he wanted to kill the person himself and wanted the person to get a grim death, but in reality, he seems to be regretful that the person has died. He also might be facing conflict and emotional turmoil as to what he ought to do now in life as his lifelong aim of finding his enemy and killing him is no longer viable.

IRONY OF THE TEXT

The main irony is that the protagonist astrologer was forced to flee from the village where both he and Guru Nayak lived because the astrologer had stabbed Guru Nayak and left him for dead.

ASSIMILATION

•       The story “An Astrologer’s Day” is a great portrayal of fate, and superstition belief. This story can highly be linked with our society where many people still put their faith impulsively in astrology where they are highly deceived as the predictions may not always be right. Even in this 21st century blindly believing in astrology and accepting our life accordingly and making no efforts to improve our condition will only worsen our situation. We can also find many such so-called astrologers who deceive many ignorant or even educated people and get away with their logic-less assumptions. They analyze what will make their customers happy and proclaim in the same way which lures the customers even more.

•       The wise narrator starts by telling a day in the life of an astrologer. As opposed to astronomers who are scientists by training and studying the physical properties of the universe, astrologers follow the pseudo-science of predicting the future based on the speculative motions of the stars, moons, and other planets. The astrologer lays out all of his professional equipment, including Ancient Syrian writing and enigmatic cloth charts. Many people mistake the piercing glare of his eyes for intelligence and the rare ability to tell the future though he is just really good at looking for gullible customers.

•        He also uses cosmetics and a cap on his head to make himself appear more mystical and thus a quality source for predictions so it is hardly noticed by others. The astrologer sells foresight in a hectic market with low-quality amenities. The dirty lights, often powered by gas, cast a mysterious quality on the astrologer. The narrator notes that the astrologer cannot tell the future, but he is good at reading people and telling them whatever they want to hear. Indeed, it only takes him five minutes to assume if the individual is having issues with love or money. He knows certain unclear declarations walnuts hit the character of any individual “Is there a female who dislikes you?” “You are not being justly rewarded for your work.”

•        “People find you intimidating, though you are kind on the inside.” The narrator gives the backstory of the young astrologer. He left his small village because he did not want to be an old farmer like all of his male ancestors. It is also implied that he is running away from one of his misdeeds. To escape his fate, he travels on foot to a city from a far location. Once, the astrologer stops working at the end of the day, because the neighboring nuts' perspective has turned off the green light for the day; the green light was a vibrant part of his act. Before he leaves, a visitor stops him, saying that he is not an astrologer in a realistic manner. The astrologer utters he only charges pennies for each question. The man pulls out the equivalent of a dollar and says he has some questions for the astrologer; if he answers correctly, he can keep the dollar. The astrologer bargains for a higher price, and the dual begins.

•       The unfamiliar person smokes while the astrologer starts his procedure. The stranger is obviously aggressive and rude. The astrologer figures it has been a long day, and the challenge is not worth the money. He tells the stranger to come back another time, but the stranger physically restrains him, and tells the astrologer to answer yes or no: should the stranger continue with his current quest? The astrologer claims on a few spells and thinks about the man’s situation. He then asks if the man has ever been left for dead; he has. The astrologer asks if it was a knife. The stranger, with increasing astonishment, reveals a mark left on his chest by a blade. The astrologer then declares that the man was left for dead after being pushed into a well that became true. The stranger, surprised, asks when he should get his revenge on the person who attacked him. The astrologer then calls his name, Guru Nayak and, and says that the man he search for vengeance against died four months ago. Nayak is amazed, there is no way the astrologer could have known his name. The astrologer replies, simply, that he knows many things.

•       The astrologer warns Nayak to never journey south of this village. If he does so, he will surely be killed. But if he goes home, which is a forty-eight-hour train ride north, then Nayak can live well into old age. Nayak says that will not be a problem. He only journeyed south to murder this individual. The only thing he regrets is that he could not have made the man’s death more horrible. Luckily, the astrologer says he was crushed under a bus, it was a frightening death. Nayak is happy about this news.

•       The astrologer picks up his things and heads home. He is late, and his wife is angry at his delay. But then he hands her the large bag of coins that he obtains from Nayak. She is excited by the good luck. After a nice dinner, the astrologer confesses to his wife that long ago, when he was a teenager, he was the one who pushed Nayak down the well and left him to die. The two had been gambling and drinking; they got into a huge fight at the end, and in a fit of rage, the astrologer stuck a knife into Nayak and threw him down a well. But now that he knows Nayak did not die, the astrology feels that he can sleep with a light heart now.

a.       How does the astrologer’s appearance help him attract customers? How does he help the customers satisfy their needs?

His brow is ablaze with sacred ash and vermilion. His customers believe his eyes have a prophetic light. He is dressed in a saffron turban. He presents himself so well that he attracts the attention of everyone. He assists customers in meeting their needs through his working analysis of their problems such as marriage, money, and so on.

b.       How do you characterize the astrologer’s attitude toward the stranger?

The astrologer notices the stranger in front of him and believes him to be a potential customer.

c.       What details does the astrologer give the stranger about his past?

The astrologer claims that he was stabbed with a knife and dumped into a well to die, but that some bystanders noticed him and helped him.

d.      Why does he advise the stranger to go home immediately?
He counsels the stranger to return home right away to remove the danger from his life.

e.       What is your reaction to the conversation between the astrologer and his wife?

It makes me happy that the astrologer was able to let go of his guilt and worry and make a little extra money that day. I'm also impressed by the thought of the meager lives these folks lead since the astrologer's entire collection of coins only provides them with enough sustenance for one day.

f.       Suspense is the feeling of anticipation you may have as you read. In this story, what details contributed to your feelings of suspense and surprise? Explain.

Concerns regarding the astrologer's personal and past lives are used to build suspense. The reader is naturally curious as to why he broke this ancestor's cycle and was abruptly making him leave his house as a result. The reader is taken aback when it is revealed after the story that the astrologer was actually the one who, while intoxicated during one of his younger years, stabbed the stranger to death.

g.       Analyze the conflicts in “An Astrologer’s Day.” Explain how the conflicts are resolved and what they reveal about the characters involved in the story.

Conflict occurs in the story when a stranger who is the astrologer's client enters the scene to be consulted. The stranger challenges the astrologer to provide specific answers to his questions, and as the stranger lights his cheroot, he catches a glimpse of his face by the match light. For some unexplained reason, the astrologer feels uneasy and rejects the challenge. The stranger is surprised to be told about his past life by the astrologer.

 h. All right. I will speak. But will you give me a rupee if what I say is convincing? Otherwise, I will not open my mouth, and you may do what you like.

i. Who is the speaker?

ii. Who is he speaking to?

iii. What does the expression ‘open my mouth’ mean?

Answer:
i. The astrologer is the speaker.

ii. He is speaking to Guru Nayak.

iii. The expression ‘open my mouth’ means to utter some convincing information about the stranger.

i.        Description helps readers visualize what is happening in a story. What details and techniques does the author use to describe the astrologer?

An astrologer is a person of impressive character who can change who he is and survive in a densely populated urban environment by using his intelligence. He must sit for long periods to amass enough money to support himself and his family nondaily is a loving husband and father. The story is told in third-person omniscience and is set in the late afternoon in Town Hall Park. The usage of dialogue serves the purpose of presenting many points of view without affecting the narrator's overall authority. The reader discovers that by noon, the astrologer is typically seated beneath the tamarind tree.

j.        Irony is a contrast between appearances and reality. What is ironic about Guru Nayak’s meeting with the astrologer?

The situation's irony is centered on Guru Nayak's run-in with the astrologer. Guru Nayak requests the astrologer's help in finding and killing the person he is speaking to, but it turns out that the person he is looking for is none other than the astrologer. The astrologer immediately feels apprehensive after recognizing the man.

k.      How does the astrologer’s manner of dress suit his character?

The beginning of the story discusses the astrologer's look and the clothing he wears when performing his duties. The astrologer is the protagonist of the story. His brow is gleaming with holy ash and vermilion, and his attire and appearance fit his character and made him the focus of attention. They were easily duped by the astrologer's cunning.