Malgudi Days Essay Questions

What is the significance of the collection title?

The title of the collection clearly demonstrates what the stories are trying to do as a group. It shows that the stories are offering a composite portrait of the town of Malgudi and its many inhabitants. The title Malgudi Days suggests that its main throughline is location. Each of the stories examines different characters involved in different lines of work with different backgrounds. By bringing these unlike characters together, Narayan is able to give a sense of Malgudi as a whole.

In "The Doctor's Word" why does Dr. Raman struggle with talking to his friend?

Dr. Raman has an internal conflict over what to tell his friend because he is always honest with his patients. He believes that sugarcoating a diagnosis is simply dishonest and is, additionally, harmful to the patient. However, in this instance, he has difficulty because he is examining his friend and is worried additional stress would only hurt his already fragile condition. He is torn between his duty as a doctor and his role as a friend. Ultimately he decides to lie and say he will be fine, as he is also concerned about causing his friend further suffering.

What is the tone of the collection?

The tone of the collection is largely sympathetic and lighthearted. Narayan writes in a way that makes the reader understand the motivations of the different characters, while still highlighting their follies and mistakes. The tone of the stories manages to judge the characters fairly, without romanticizing or unfairly elevating them. In total, the style of the collection works to clearly convey the daily lives of the many people that appear throughout it.

What causes so many problems in "Engine Trouble"?

In the story "Engine Trouble," the Talkative Man wins a road engine in a lottery at a fair. The engine quickly begins to cause him a number of problems, as the city begins to fine him for leaving it at the fairgrounds. His attempt to move it with an elephant results in his neighbor's wall being destroyed. The matter reaches a resolution when the engine falls down a well. Rules and laws ultimately cause the issues that plague the man in the story. He is required to take the engine when he wins, then he is required to pay the fines. In an effort to pay the fines, he tries to move the engine, but this only results in further financial trouble. Each of these requirements only escalates the situation further.

Why is "Emden" the last story in the collection?

"Emden" is a fitting end to the collection as it explores the idea of the past and the loss of former lives. The story describes Rao, an elderly man who was once a feared law enforcement official who collected numerous bribes. Caught up in his memories, he goes out for a walk and revisits a street he used to frequent. Looking around, he realizes nothing of his old life remains, except for his memories. This story effectively bookends the collection as it shows how the town changes with each successive generation. While the places remain the same, the people who inhabit them change dramatically, making their meanings entirely different.