Summary
The novel begins with Jagan talking to a man he calls his "cousin." He talks about philosophical matters in a way that bores his cousin and they shift topics to his sweetmeats business. The narrator notes that Jagan is a devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi, but has become increasingly focused on the success of his business. They talk about making small adjustments to the business as Jagan closes up the shop. At the end of the chapter, he happily counts out his money, sectioning it off in a small drawer.
Jagan walks home through the town of Malgudi. He reflects on his life before arriving at a statue of a British official named Sir Frederick Lawley. He briefly notices his son Mali in a crowd of students. He arrives home and lets himself inside. The narrator describes the interior of his home. Jagan remembers an instance in which he insisted that his wife take a natural medical cure for her headache.
Shortly after this, Mali comes to Jagan and tells him he has an idea. He informs Jagan that he is unhappy at school and has no interest in continuing his studies there. Jagan listens but is concerned by this development, as he is uncertain of what it means for his son's future. He asks Mali some additional questions about his plans, but Mali keeps his replies vague and leaves the house.
Later, Jagan expresses regret about not being able to give out food to some impoverished children. He then discusses Mali's comments with his cousin. His cousin suggests talking to Mali about it directly and seems surprised by Jagan's lack of information. Later the two reconvene and discuss what is going on with Mali.
Jagan's cousin informs him that Mali has decided he would like to become a writer. Jagan is shocked and worried by this news, as he had no idea that this was something Mali was interested in. The cousin goes on to say that Mali is miserable at school and tore up a number of his textbooks. He says that Mali will likely need to quit school if he wants to really dedicate himself to writing. He adds that he could be the next William Shakespeare or Rabindranath Tagore.
Jagan returns home to discuss this with Mali. He offers to help him with his dream and offers to pay for various things, including a writing desk and paper. Mali appears cagey and uncertain about these offers. He tells Jagan that he plans to write a novel and enter it in a local competition. Mali says that he no longer has much use for his friends as they show no interest in writing or books.
Jagan reaffirms his support for his son. He then recalls the day he learned his wife was extremely ill. He specifically remembers telling Mali that his mother was going to die and the pain that they both experienced at the news. Jagan goes around telling people that his son is a writer.
Analysis
This early part of the book introduces Jagan and characterizes him as a hard worker. It also shows the complexity of his personality, as he is a devout follower of Gandhi, but still enjoys making and saving money. The third chapter begins to set up the novel's central conflict, as we see Jagan financially support Mali's decision to quit his studies and become a writer.
Money plays a significant role in this initial part of the novel. Jagan clearly enjoys counting his earnings at the end of the day and organizing in his drawer. Then, when he learns about Mali wanting to become a writer, he is excited to be able to offer financial assistance. Jagan values money, despite professing a desire to be less attached to material wealth, something he indicates in his proverbial remarks to his cousin. These moments show that, at this point in the narrative, Jagan needs and desires the money he makes from his business, as it gives him the means to provide for his family. In these first chapters money is portrayed as something Jagan requires more than he would like to.
Labor is an important theme in this part of the novel. The first chapter focuses on the specifics of Jagan's business, as he begins to close up shop. He discusses potential improvements to the shop with his cousin and goes over sweetmeat recipes with one of his cooks. There are also numerous descriptions of locking up and leaving for home. Taken together, these moments show the comfortable familiarity that Jagan has built up with the business and the routine of his work. They show the diligence and care that Jagan puts into daily actions, ultimately establishing Jagan as an effective foil to Mali.
This section of the novel also introduces the motif of the flashback, where Jagain recalls a memory of his late wife. These memories help explain why Jagan throws so much support behind his son, whose future plans are uncertain and whose work ethic is questionable: believing Mali to have suffered from the death of his mother, Jagan has tried to ameliorate Mali’s pain by always making sure his son is happy. While this choice displays Jagan's generosity, it also suggests that there may be trouble ahead, as Jagan plans to financially support Mali's dream despite the fact that Mali has not produced any writing. The beginning of the novel, therefore, familiarizes readers with Jagan’s most redeeming quality, which also happens to be his fatal flaw: his compassion. This compassion and care for his son ultimately blinds Jagan to practical matters and inhibits him from making logical decisions.
