Truth In R. K. Narayan's Like The Sun

659 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Honesty in society

“Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.” -Khaled Hosseini The topic of truth in itself is a paradox; if telling someone the truth will hurt him, then is it worth lying to him, creating a false reality to be comforted by? In the short story “Like the Sun” by R.K. Narayan, the theme is that similar to the sun, truth cannot be directly seen without being hurt. In the beginning of the story, directly following Sekhar’s internal oath to tell only the truth for the day, he expresses to his wife that the breakfast that she prepares for him is not good, and that he can’t even swallow it (Narayan). Following the unexpected remark, his wife winces in reaction. Later in the story it is seen that she is still upset with him at the …show more content…

He now has his wife and boss upset with him, plus 100 papers to grade in one day. Although, even after receiving the results of telling the truth, he still feels what he has done is worth it, as further supported by this line “...feeling that sitting up all night with a hundred test papers was a small price to pay for the luxury of practicing truth,” (Narayan). All of these results that Sekhar meets with support the given theme. This is because they show that even though he tells the truth, not even in a manner with the goal to offend, it still causes the receiver to get hurt. Overall, the theme that similar to the sun, truth cannot be directly seen without being hurt, is thoroughly expressed throughout the story. Because Sekhar gives a response different to the ones expected by his wife and boss, he is immediately met with anger by both characters towards himself. As shown it the quote this essay began with, truth is an essential thing. Sekhar does not give the truth with the intent to hurt others, but with the intent that for just one day the stigma could be broken of the expectancy of a positive opinion, even when it is not

Show More
Related

  • Critical Analysis Of Richard Gunderman And Ericicsson's The Ways We Lie

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article “Is Lying Bad for Us”, Richard Gunderman persuades his readers the effect of lying can have on our daily lives. He expresses strong opinions towards being honest and how lying has negative consequences on not only our mental health but

    Read More

  • Growing Up Empty by Loretta Schwartz-Nobel

    668 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to the notes from class, true paradox is defined as two ideas or principles that seem irreconcilable with each other, but prove on closer scrutiny, simultaneously valid. The theory of paradox is recommended to address and remove the ineffectiveness of opposing viewpoints. The benefit of the theory of paradox is that it seeks to recognize and value all perspectives. It also encourages using the effective aspects of all perspectives.

    Read More

  • 'Hidden Truth In Frank Peretti's The Prophet'

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone struggles with admitting the truth. No matter how people are raised they still seem to fall into a situation where they feel lying is their only way out. Lying is the truth being hidden, therefore, withholding information is equivalent to lying. The truth may seem hidden but it will always reveal itself. In Frank Peretti’s novel, The Prophet, consequences such distrust, vices, and misunderstanding follow all the characters that lack truth.

    Read More

  • An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce Analytical Paper

    1863 Words  | 4 Pages

    “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true” (Kierkegaard)- Misleading oneself by accepting things as true or valid when they are not is a common phenomenon of nearly every human being, especially when faced with life changing of threatening situations. Self-deception can therefore be considered an option to escape reality in order to prevent oneself from dealing with the weight of a situation. Basically, those strong influencing psychological forces keep us from acknowledging a threatening situation or truth. However, oftentimes people do not realize that they are deceiving themselves, for it is mostly the action of the subconscious mind to protect especially the psychological well- being. This psychological state is depicted and in Ambrose Bierce’s short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”. He shows that people try to escape reality and seek refuge in self-deception when confronted with life-threatening situations, through characterization, alternate point of view, and the fluidity of time.

    Read More

  • Sir Gawain and Green Knight Essays: Triumph or Failure?

    510 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story is concerned with the conflict between his conception of himself and the reality.

    Read More

  • Does The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time Explore The Concept Of Truth

    1773 Words  | 4 Pages

    How does the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time explore the concept of truth and lies?

    Read More

  • Naguib Mahfouz' Fountain and Tomb

    1586 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...hers might say. He tells our narrator, “The most important thing in the world is knowing the truth.” He goes on to remark, “The whole truth and nothing but the truth” (Mahfouz, 69). In this story, the Truth had a positive affect on the character. It gave him a new sort of freedom. He had gained a new sense of identity because of his new knowledge, and this evoked a sense of happiness in him.

    Read More

  • The Ways We Lie

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    When initially asked about the morality of lying, it is easy for one to condemn it for being wrong or even corrupt. However, those asked are generally guilty of the crime on a daily basis. Lying is, unfortunately, a normal aspect of everyday life. In the essay “The Ways We Lie,” author Stephanie Ericsson makes note of the most common types of lies along with their consequences. By ordering the categories from least to most severe, she expresses the idea that lies enshroud our daily lives to the extent that we can no longer between fact and fiction. To fully bring this argument into perspective, Ericsson utilizes metaphor, rhetorical questions, and allusion.

    Read More

  • The Birthday Party

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    The husband was also selfish in his actions. With good intentions, the wife had planned a surprise for him, but he was not pleased. “Instead, he was hotly embarrassed, and indignant at his wife for embarrassing him” (13). When the narrator describes the husband at the beginning, he has a “self-satisfied face” (3). Embarrassment is a result of feeling self-conscious. Because of his self-conscious nature, he assesses first how the few people in the restaurant will view him because of his wife’s actions. He does not prioritize appreciation for his wife’s effort and care, but rather sees the worst in her misguided actions. The husband’s selfishness causes him to be prideful, which in turn causes him to destroy his relationship with his wife through his actions.

    Read More

  • Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, And Emerson's Impact Of Nature

    934 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nature reveals the truth because it is able make individuals think about the time in their life that they have lied. “Oh, Arthur!’ cried she “forgive

    Read More

  • Socrates Oedipus The King And The Tanakh Analysis

    1246 Words  | 3 Pages

    Striving for truth is a common issue in The Last Days of Socrates, Oedipus the King and the Tanakh. Here, the definition for truth is not merely about the fact that once happened. What is more, it is about things that are accepted as true and right according to the society and the common sense. Characters use truth as a tool to fulfill their aims and get themselves improved. Socrates insists on seeking for truth for his whole life. He fight it at all costs and finally becomes a tragic hero. Oedipus puts so many efforts to try to solve the riddle of his own identity, even though the truth he finds out is cruel. Eve wants to know what the real good and bad, so that she breaks the rules and eats the fruit of the tree in the middle. Although characters

    Read More

  • Is Lying Bad For Us

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    In society, some people are looked at as liars or “bullshitters,” as stated in the article, “Is Lying Bad for Us?” Honesty is not always the best policy, and in certain situations, liars are best not to tell the truth when protecting the innocent, or protecting oneself. Because of this, lying should be looked at as a standard in society and something that people recognize in every day life.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Injustice to Women in Hindu Mythology

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hess, Linda. Rejecting Sita: Indian Responses to the Ideal Man's Cruel Treatment of His Ideal Wife. Vol. 67. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.

    Read More

  • Emily Dickinson Tell All The Truth Meaning

    310 Words  | 1 Pages

    Emily Dickinson’s poem “Tell all the truth but tell it slant” leads to a greater discussion on the truth, lying and good and evil. This poem brings together how we sometimes have to tell the truth but not the whole truth. But is not telling the whole truth lying? The speaker of this poem says that the truth hurts and some people do not even want to hear what you have to say when the truth will hurt more than lying a little about the truth. The speaker of this poem brings up “success in circuit lies” (line 2). The meaning of circuit in this sense of the poem is “Circuit” according to the OED pertains to go, pass, move, travel round; to make the circuit of, compass about(“Circuit”). The use of the simile “The truth’s superb surprise as lightning

    Read More

  • What Is The Theme Of The First Party By Attia Hosain

    1622 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this short story the protagonist is a newly married Indian woman who is attending a party with her husband’s western friends. Throughout the short story the reader senses her anxiety of being introduced to people who are not as conservative as her. “She longed for the sanctuary of the walled home from which marriage had promised an adventurous escape. Each restricting rule became a guiding stone marking a safe path through unknown dangers” ("The First Party"). In this quote, the narrator explains how the Indian woman did not feel comfortable or at ease with this new world she had been introduced too. She fiend to be back home but because of her tie that she made to this man through marriage she is in her mind, stuck with him. In addition to her anxiety of being with non-conservative woman, who drank, smoked, dressed provocatively, and had painted nails, the protagonist grew angry in her own head. “She had been so sure of herself in her contempt and her anger, confident of the righteousness of her beliefs, deep-based on generations-old foundations” ("The First Party"). Is this the way that the Indian people reacted to British colonialism? The things that western people found normal, was this disrespectful to the Indian people. The protagonist surely thought it was and was certain that her anger was not misplaced. She felt as her anger was a sign of her strong faith. She came to the realization that her husband was someone who would challenge her beliefs but above all she knew that her beliefs state that her life must be one with his (“The First Party”). This realization must be heartbreaking, to realize that one 's comfort is not found in their life partner. The protagonist was raised to believe that her life must be one with her husband, that she is

    Read More

More about Truth In R. K. Narayan's Like The Sun

Open Document