Malgudi
Narayan's Malgudi is a significant fictional creation, and he takes pains in each of his novels to describe this place. In The Guide he writes of small shops, the new railway station, wagons and shopkeepers, and the bustling marketplace. It is this "panorama of life" (8) that enchants Raju.
The Railway
Narayan writes, "Our world was neatly divided into this side of the railway line and that side" (27). This is a simple but potent image that creates a sense of order and neatness belied by actual life. The railway station changes everything for Raju as it brings the tourists to town that give him his reputation, and, of course, brings Rosie and Marco into his life.
Peak House
Narayan describes the glory that is Peak House. He writes of the House's perching on the edge of a cliff looking out to a lush valley below, the glass wall, the wild life, the tall trees, the fecund vegetation, and more. This place conjures up the glory of India's natural surroundings and it is no wonder Marco is intellectually stimulated there.
Raju as Holy Man
Narayan writes of Raju, "His beard now caressed his chest, his hair covered his back, and round his neck he wore a necklace of prayer beads. His eyes shone with softness and compassion and light of wisdom emanated from them" (69). This is an uncanny and near stereotypical image of a holy man. It is all the more amusing and compelling because it is a reminder that Raju is all surface and appearance; he is not actually a holy man but if he looks like one and sounds like one then he can beguile people into thinking he is one.
