The Vendor of Sweets Summary
“The Vendor of Sweets” is a novel by R.K. Narayan that revolves around the life of Jagan, a sweet vendor in the fictional town of Malgudi. The story is about Jagan’s relationship with his son, Mali, and their generation gap due to cultural and ideological differences. Jagan, the sweet vendor in the novel, lives by strong principles shaped by Mahatma Gandhi‘s simple lifestyle. At fifty-five, he follows a strict routine, reading the Bhagavad Gita daily, sticking to a specific diet, and contemplating deep thoughts. He believes in natural remedies and dreams of publishing his ideas in a book. Jagan, a widower, centers his life around his shop and his son, Mali. Despite his store’s success, he is known for being frugal. Proud of Mali yet permissive, Jagan worries about his son’s sensitivity after losing his mother, causing a growing distance between them.
Jagan’s life in Malgudi involves daily routines at the store, discussing philosophy or Mali with his cousin, and returning home for prayers and sleep.
When Mali decides to quit school and pursue writing in America, Jagan initially opposes but later supports his son’s ambition. Learning that Mali cleverly used money from the house for his journey, Jagan is proud of his resourcefulness. Mali stays in touch from abroad, but Jagan fears American influences on his son’s values.
Upon Mali’s return with a woman named Grace, whom he claims as his wife, Jagan is shocked and embarrassed by her Korean American background. However, he gradually appreciates Grace for her enthusiasm, assistance at home, and willingness to talk. Mali, now more critical of his hometown after experiencing America, introduces a business idea: a story-writing machine. To make it happen, he needs $51,000, which he expects Jagan to provide. Jagan, hesitant to support the plan, offers his shop instead, but Mali dismisses it, aiming for grander ambitions beyond being a simple sweets vendor.
The Vendor of Sweets Main Characters
Jagan
Jagan is the main character in the story and Mali’s dad. After his wife’s death, he runs a sweet shop but follows a strict life without salt and sugar, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. Jagan believes in natural healing and wants to write a book about it. Despite preaching about simplicity and detachment, he earns money by selling things people desire. His son Mali is his pride, but Jagan struggles to say no to him, leading to a strained relationship. Jagan thinks deeply about life and philosophy, balancing modern and spiritual beliefs. Eventually, he gives up everything – his shop, house, and responsibility for Mali – to live a free life.
Mali
Mali is Jagan’s son, and he grew up under his father’s care after losing his mother Ambika early on. When he decides to leave school and go to America to become a writer, he uses his father’s money for his plans. When he comes back with a wife and a business idea, he expects Jagan to fund it too. Mali thinks India is stuck in its old ways and needs to catch up with the West. He finds his father’s strict lifestyle silly and prefers satisfying his material desires, like buying a car. Mali wants a modern life, but his ambitions make him treat others badly, going against what Jagan believes. This causes conflict, especially when Mali disrespects his father’s business, which Jagan worked hard on for Mali’s financial security. Mali’s difficulty in talking openly with his father creates a lot of tension in the novel.
The Cousin
Jagan’s cousin brings practicality and common sense to balance Jagan’s philosophical struggles. He also acts as a link between Jagan and Mali because the father and son struggle to talk directly. Through the cousin, Jagan finds out about Mali’s plans to go to America. When Jagan gets too caught up in unsolvable issues, the cousin steps in with practical solutions, especially towards the end of the story when Jagan feels overwhelmed by his responsibilities.
Grace
Although Mali introduces Grace as his wife, she later confesses to Jagan that they are not married. This revelation becomes a crucial reason for Jagan distancing himself from society. Grace’s mom is Korean, and her dad was a U.S. soldier stationed overseas after World War II. Grace was born in New Jersey, where her father left her and her mom. She studied home science at a university in Michigan, where she met Mali, who had come to the U.S. to study creative writing. Grace also works as a kind of business partner, assisting Mali with his story-writing machine.
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