“The circle is now complete. When I left you I was but the learner; now I am the master” (Skywalker). In nearly every great story, there is both a teacher and a student. At some point in the story, however, the student surpasses the teacher. The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga, Balram, an entrepreneur from the “darkness” rises from his caste of sweet maker to the driver of a wealthy businessman in Delhi and eventually to a (somewhat) respectable businessman in Bangalore. This journey would not have been possible if it had not been for Balram’s teacher and mentor, another driver from Delhi whose name is never given, and is known simply as Vitiligo lips. Vitiligo lips is the head driver in the group Balram interacts with, and has connections throughout …show more content…
He instead helps others to obtain what they want, for example he offers Balram ways to please his master saying “ ‘Country mouse-does your boss’-he looked around and dropped his voice to a whisper-‘need anything?’ ’’ (106). In this passages the author has showed that Vitiligo lips has access to items that could make him wealthy, but instead chooses to use his abilities to help others. The author is, in a way, using Vitiligo lips as a Yoda. He has the power to gain control over others, but instead offers to help. As he is the most “powerful” of the servants, he is undoubtedly the leader. Later, the author cements this fact by having Vitiligo lips be the center of the servant’s attention, telling stories about Balram: “He had told them the questions I had asked him. They could not get over their amusement…” (109). Vitiligo lips has used his power over the other servants to not just amuse them, but to teach Balram his first lesson. Balram later resolves to “…never again tell anyone in Delhi anything I was thinking. Especially not another servant”(109). Vitiligo lips taught Balram the first of many lessons he would need to learn to leave the darkness and step into the …show more content…
He is willing to help Balram in every possible way, and wants what is best for him. He does try to encourage Balram to ask for help, for example when he could tell Balram needed to talk to someone he said, “ ‘Country-Mouse’ he said. ‘you look like a fellow who wants to say something.’ ” (130) Adiga included this exchange to accentuate the fact that, as his teacher, Vitiligo lips genuinely cares about the wellbeing of Balram, his pupil. After his first lesson he taught Balram, it was necessary for Adiga to tell the reader that this character honestly does care about Balram. This is not the last time Adiga shows us how much Vitiligo lips cares for his student. After Balram asks Vitiligo lips about what is the best case scenario for a former driver, Vitiligo lips asks: “ ‘…there is something I’ve got to ask you country mouse. Are you all right?’ ”(172). Once again Adiga is showing the readers Vitiligo lips compassion, by having him try to figure out what is wrong with Balram. Instead of “talking about it openly” like the other drivers, Vitiligo lips questions Balram in private, so he has a better chance of actually helping him without causing the inevitable embaressment that would come to Balram if he had been questioned in front of the other drivers. Adiga has shown that Vitiligo lips is not only kind, but also wise. These are two traits that are essential to a teacher,
Siddhartha progresses from an aloof and slightly arrogant youth, not unlike young Grendel, to a wise, satisfied man.
The book Tiger's Curse is about a girl named Kelsey Hayes. She goes to a circus to find a
“Siddhartha.” Novels for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski and Deborah A. Stanley. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale, 1999. 255-66. Print.
The conflict of good and evil presents itself in “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger” in two completely different ways. One story being commercial fiction and the other being literary fiction, there are many ways of viewing variables such as good versus evil, realistic versus unrealistic stories and moral significance. The stories have different voices and are meant for different audiences, but in viewing the overall moral importance of both fictional works, the story with a greater moral significance is “The Child by Tiger”.
For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In complement extern, 'tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am. RODERIGO. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe, if he can carry it! IAGO.
In the novel, The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga the main character, is Balram, one of the children in the “darkness” of India. Adiga sheds a new light on the poor of India, by writing from the point of view of a man who was at one time in the “darkness” or the slums of India and came into the “light” or rich point of view in India. Balram’s job as a driver allows him to see both sides of the poverty line in India. He sees that the poor are used and thrown away, while the rich are well off and have no understanding of the problems the poor people must face. The servants are kept in a mental “Rooster Coop” by their masters. The government in India supposedly tries to help the poor, but if there is one thing Adiga proves in The White Tiger, it is that India’s government is corrupted. Despite the government promises in India designed to satisfy the poor, the extreme differences between the rich and the poor and the idea of the Rooster Coop cause the poor of India to remain in the slums.
Keung is one of the protagonists of the book "White Jade Tiger". He has tanned skin, long braided hair, and black eyes. Keung grew into a hard-working, ambitious man from experiencing a tough moral in life. Together, Keung and Jasmine (who he believed to be a spirit of his dream) will return the White Jade Tiger to Bright Jade to end the deathly curse on the Bright Jade clan.
William Shakespeare once said, “[My] honor is my life; both grow in one; take honor from me, and my life is done.” The idea is touched upon in both the book Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston as well as Disney’s Mulan were family honor is more important than anything else. Mulan was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The film Mulan retold the story of a woman warrior who took her father’s place in battle and became a savior of China.The movie uses many elements from the original story told in the chapter “White Tigers,” but adds many modern twists in order to make the story more appealing for a newer generation. In both stories of Fa Mu Lan the elements of sacrifice, silence and voice, cultural practices of ancestor worship and filial piety, and Chinese stereotypes are present.
The story Q & A, written by Vikas Swarup, illustrates the lives of those in the slums of India and how those living there experience life. The novel recites the unimaginable journey of a slum dog who becomes a billionaire. Throughout the rags to riches story of Ram Mohammed Thomas, he is presented with several catalysts which change his life.
‘Have i nothing better to do than cure insect bites for little Indians? Has he any money? See if he has any money!”(11). It is evident that his greed has taken over due to the fact that he doesn't care about the health only about the money and makes sure to emphasize that without money he would not help. His intense desire for wealth causes him to lose sight of what is really important which is helping
Aravind Adiga’s debut novel The White Tiger published in 2008, and a winner of Booker Prize examines the issues of religion, caste, loyalty, corruption, urbanization and poverty in India. The novel besides receiving critical acclaim was also lambasted by some in India for giving in to western prejudices and playing up to their image of a poverty stricken, slum governed country. Some even went to the extent of calling it a western conspiracy to deny the country’s economic progress. It seems ...
Black cats have historically represented witchcraft, bad luck, and death in many parts of the world. In “The Black Cat”, Pluto held the place of one of the narrator’s most beloved pets until the animal grows frightened. The narrator ends up cutting Pluto’s eye out causing him to become half blind, and eventually kills Pluto. Shortly after this, the narrator becomes haunted by a feline that looks similar to Pluto. The only difference between Pluto and the second cat is the second feline has a white mark on his neck. In “The Black Cat”, the feline Pluto represents the underworld, narcissism, and mental instability.
Aravind Adiga’s debut novel The White Tiger highlights his views of the injustice and poverty present in India’s class system. He does this through the perspective of Balram Halwai, a fictional village boy from Laxmangarh. In this epistolary novel, Balram narrates his life in the form of a seven-part letter addressed to Wen Jiabao, the premier of China. He describes how he escaped his caste, which was thought to be impossible, and became a successful entrepreneur after killing his own master. The inequality between rich and poor is an important motive of the story. This paper will go in depth into the representation of the poor, the motivation for it and the effects it has on the interpretation of the story.
As the story goes on, Raju reveals that he has undergone transformations not only in his role but also in his character. Raju’s role may take six forms; as a young son, as a shopkeeper, as a tourist guide, as Rosie’s lover, as Rosie’s stage manager and finally, as a swami. All these roles, in one way or another alter Raju’s characters and attitudes toward himself and people around him. He adjusts himself positively as well as negatively, to suit the quality of each role.