Analysis Of Story-Writing Machine In Malgudi

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is best represented in the novel by Mali through the industry of story-writing machine which he wants to set up in Malgudi. This machine, as a symbol, evokes two major modernist values – mechanization of an area of activity which requires to remain human and a frenzied effort for material prosperity. Jagan refuses to promote the project, quite against the expectation of his son. Jagan's refusal is based partly on ethical and ideological reasons and party on the sheer absurdity of it. This aggravates the already existing distance and differences between Jagan and his son, representing traditional and modern values respectively. But it may be right to presume that even if Jagan had agreed to finance Mali’s stupid project, the sea of distance …show more content…

Even the critical and evaluative processes are to be mechanized as if to add qualitative refinement in the product. Jagan, who has been a writer himself (his book on nature cure awaiting printing for years), considers Mali’s efforts as perversion of art and creative activity. In his opinion books being a form of Goddess Saraswathi must be treated respectfully. He feels that no one can be a writer unless one receives So the difference in the cultural values is obvious enough. For Mali, creative writing is as much a mechanical effort as manufacturing tooth¬paste or paper, where as for Jagan, it is an aesthetic experience. Even before leaving for America, Mali had expressed his desire to become a writer and Jagan was eager to render all his support towards Mali’s writing career. But at the same time Jagan also has misgivings about his son’s experiences of life and his equipment to become a writer. In the opinion of Jagan, muses, languages, the experiences of life, the ideal to help humanity, are some of the basic conditions of creative writing. This traditional and yet realistic approach is sharply antagonistic to what Mali visualizes – writing stories by mixing various components like the preparation of a drug. For Mali, writing has relevance only in the terms of materialistic gains. Jagan is also ‘furious’ as much as his calm nature can allow him to be, at Mali’s idea of going to America to learn the technique of story-telling. inspiration from

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