“The Vendor of Sweets” is a captivating story that delves into the complexities of generational conflict, cultural identity, and the clash between tradition and modernity. Set in a small town in India, the novel follows the journey of Jagan, a traditional sweet vendor, and his relationship with his son, Mali. Jagan, deeply rooted in his traditional values, finds himself at odds with Mali, who embraces modernity and desires to break free from the constraints of tradition. As their differences come to the forefront, the novel explores the challenges faced by individuals caught between the changing times and their desire to preserve their cultural heritage.
The novel addresses many post-colonial issues of India. Jagan represents the colonial and post-colonial India where he was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi during the colonial time and he at present runs a sweet shop. The novel explores the post-colonial element of hybridity, east and west conflict, ambivalent and inbetween state. Firstly, the hybridity is establish in the character of Mali who pursues education in America. He becomes a hybrid person after he returns back to India. He starts to wear socks with sandals that disgusts Jagan who could not listen to what Mali told him about his business.
Secondly, the east and west conflict in the novel is establish as a conflict between father and son. The father ,Jagan represents the East and the son Mali represents the West. Mali brings home his fiancé Grace who was Korean living in America. Jagan is unaware of the fact that they haven’t been married yet and it is surprising to Jagan that Mali is in a living relationship which is an alien practice in India during those times. This shows the East and West conflict in the novel. The other instance is Mali’s attitude towards his father who corners him out and tells him to invest in his business which he refuses at the end. This cause an altercation between the two reflecting symbolically the clash between east and the west encounter.
Thirdly, the postcolonial ambivalent is seen when Jagan has a conflicted feelings towards his son Mali after he returns back to India. He is in utter shock about his son’s attitude and behaviour towards him. This creates a sense of ambivalent feelings for Jagan towards his son. Jagan’s creation of personal space and avoidance of his son and Grace is an ambivalent experience that is seen in the novel after he realises that his son Mali has not married Grace yet and is in a living relationship.
The novel also explores the clash between modernity and tradition that affects the characters in various ways. For example, Jagan, the protagonist, represents tradition and is deeply rooted in his cultural values. He runs a sweet shop and adheres to traditional customs. However, his son, Mali, embraces modernity and desires to break free from the constraints of tradition. This clash creates tension between them and leads to conflicts regarding their beliefs and aspirations. Additionally, the introduction of Western influences, such as the arrival of a foreign ideas of wearing socks with a sandal as well as Mali’s fiancé Grace further challenges the traditional values held by Jagan and the community. Overall, the clash between modernity and tradition in the novel highlights the struggles faced by individuals caught between the changing times and their desire to preserve their cultural heritage.
There are several instances of conflict between tradition and modernity. One example is when Jagan’s son, Mali, decides to pursue higher education in America, which goes against Jagan’s traditional values and expectations for his son. This decision creates tension and a clash of ideals between father and son. Another instance is when Jagan’s traditional sweet shop struggles to compete with the modernization of the market and the introduction of new, Western-style confectioneries. This conflict highlights the challenges faced by Jagan as he tries to maintain his traditional business in the face of changing consumer preferences. These are just a couple of examples that illustrate the clash between tradition and modernity in the novel.
Mali’s pursuit of education has a significant impact on his relationship with Jagan. Their once close bond becomes strained as Jagan struggles to understand and accept Mali’s desire for a more modern and Westernized lifestyle. Jagan, rooted in tradition, sees education abroad as a threat to their cultural values and feels betrayed by Mali’s choices. This leads to a growing divide between them and a breakdown in their communication. The generational clash between tradition and modernity becomes a barrier in their relationship, causing tension and emotional distance.
Furthermore, the sense of disillusionment and alienation is seen in the novel. At the end of the novel, the cousin of Jagan tells him that Mali has been arrested for drinking in a car. Jagan gives him some amount of money for his bail and he also helps Grace to return back to America but he refuses to participate as he leaves his family for the shrine of Goddess creating a sense of disillusionment. He alienates the problems of his son Mali. It has a post-colonial implications where his son Mali , depute being educated in America fails to keep up with the growing trends and lifestyle which is a critique on Western education. The fact that Mali has to ask money and aid from Jagan is a symbolical representation of the West dependency on East’s wealth.
R.K. Narayan The Doctor’s Word Summary
