(The Martyr's Corner by R.K.Narayan.Taken from An Anthology of Short Stories for students of ICSE Schools,India)
Q1) Give a brief analysis of the story 'Martyr's Corner's.
Q1) Give a brief analysis of the story 'Martyr's Corner's.
Answer:- The author persona R.K.Narayan's 'Martyr's corner' is an interesting yet saddening story ,set in the imaginary locale called the Malgudi,the telltale sign of which are easily noticeable.Though the existence of this place is purely fictional yet critics have made innumerable attempts to pin point on the map of India for the exact existence of this town of South India. It is to be understood that Malgudi in Sarayu is a mere imagination similar to that of Hardy's Wessex. In this story 'The Martyr's Corner', R. K Narayan has wonderfully embedded the themes of diligence, dedication, compassion,poverty,struggle and resilience. Taken from his Malgudi days collection, the story is narrated in third person by an unnamed narrator.
Although others think that Rama only works for an hour a day selling off his goods but the reality speaks the exact opposite. Rama spends from eight in the morning to ten at night preparing the goods and then selling them. This shows that Rama is not just diligent and hard working but dedicated as well. There is a sense of canny and knows where to pitch the goods. He sits outside the cinema hall waiting for the potential customers. His compassion for others is also depicted as he feels for the young boy, who is half-starved, polish the shoes outside the cinema hall.He doesn't like to see the customers swindle with the young boy. If anything Rama is a good natured man,kind to others, kind to his customers . Narayan tries to give an insight into life on street of India and the inseparable poverty that exists. The character mentioned in the story,none have much . Everyone appears to live hand to mouth. If anything people are struggling day in and day out.
The theme of corruption has also been dragged into by Narayan. Rama gives some goods to the passing policemen and occasional workers of health department, so that they don't harass him and tell him to move on. On the other hand Rama's wife is a supportive woman and acts as a perfect banker as she saved the five rupees that Rama makes each day but soon there life takes a rash turning to all odds. After a man gets gets killed at this spot where Rama pitched his stall due to some ensued quarrel . People collected enough money to set up a stone in memorial of there fallen leader. Rama's sales go down as he was forced to move two hundred yards away out of sight of his previous customers. Rama takes home two Anna where he previously used to earn five rupees. Despite the fall in income Rama is able to adapt. He finds the job of waiter in a restaurant and begins to work there. This shows how resilient Rama actually is. Although his business has ended but still he is focused on the future and doesn't allow his past to defeat him. Where some people give up Rama continues to move forward even if he no longer is his own boss.
Q2) Ventilate your views about the story Martyr's Corner'.
Answer :-The story 'Martyr's corner' aptly reveals that life is like a book where you know not what lies on the next page . Today's sunrise can even turn into the deadly darkness of tomorrow. The success of today cannot ensure that the tomorrow would remain equally bright. It even tells us that it is not always that what you sow is what you reap. Sufferings might befall on us due to the fault of others. Sarcastically the author's naming the story 'Martyr's corner' on one side portrays the sick mentality of the politicians who give more importance to the dead while ignoring the plight of the living. Although the place is named 'Martyr's corner' in memoriam of the fallen leader but ultimately Rama stands as the true martyr.
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