THE CLASS DISCRIMINATION IN INDIA AS SEEN
THROUGH THE CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS IN VIKAS
SWARUP’S
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
KUMALA DEWI
Student Number: 074214026
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
THE CLASS DISCRIMINATION IN INDIA AS SEEN
THROUGH THE CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS IN VIKAS
SWARUP’S
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
KUMALA DEWI
Student Number: 074214026
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
The Climb
I can almost see it That dream I am dreaming
But there’s a voice inside my head saying “You’ll never reach it” Gotta keep my head held high
There’s always gonna be another mountain I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose Ain’t about how fast I get there Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb
But these are the moments that I’m gonna remember most, yeah
Miley Cyrus
This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to
My beloved parents Rustamaji and Teng So Tjien
My beloved sister Riana Dewi
And my beloved English teacher
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My first and deepest gratitude is dedicated to the Almighty God and the Goddess of Mercy who always give me love and guidance in every single step that I take in my life, especially in finishing this undergraduate thesis. I also would like to thank my father Rustamaji, my mother Teng So Tjien, and my sister Riana Dewi for the everlasting love and courage. My special thanks go to RIP Mrs. Diah Soekmasari, my English teacher for ten years. I would like to thank her for her patience and attention in teaching me English since I was a child.
My endless gratitude and appreciation goes to my Advisor Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M. Hum. I would like to thank her for the attention, patience, and guidance during the process of finishing this undergraduate thesis. I would also like to thank my Co-Advisor, Dr. F.X. Siswadi, M.A. for giving me correction and suggestion.
I will not forget to give my special thanks to Sondang, Putri, Ayu, and Emeilya for being my good friends in the campus. Next, I would like to thank my friends in the boarding house Astrid, Jean, Irma, Karina, Jessica, Oma Soplanit, and Mbak Sur for being my family during my time away from home.
The last but not least, I would like to thank all the lecturers and staff in Sanata Dharma University for providing me the best education and chance to improve myself.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LEMBAR PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH…… vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………. vii
3. Theory on Class Discrimination ……… 11
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ……… 50
BIBLIOGRAPHY………. 54
APPENDIX………. 56
ABSTRACT
KUMALA DEWI. The Class Discrimination in India as Seen through the Characters and Settings in Vikas Swarup’sSlumdog Millionaire. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
Slumdog Millionaire is a novel written by VikasSwarup. It is the debut and bestselling novel of VikasSwarup.The novel is generally about Ram Mohammad Thomas, an orphaned and uneducated young waiter from a slum in Dharavi, India. Ram has successfully answered 12 questions in a quiz show. Unfortunately, the producer of the show refuses to give the prize and accuses Ram of cheating. Ram is arrested by the police and tortured physically. A friend from his past, SmitaShah, comes to the police station and becomes his lawyer. Ram then tells Smita about how he successfully answered all the questions in the show. Surprisingly, it was because of his various life experiences. His experiences are mainly about his hard life as a poor person, his working experiences and his encounters with many people in his life. They led him to the answers of each question.
In order to reveal the class discrimination, the thesis is concerned in three problems. The first problem is aimed to observe the characters and their characteristics in the novel. The second problem is aimed to observe the setting and social condition in India. The last problem is aimed to reveal the class discrimination in India through the characters and settings in the novel.
In this study, the writer uses the socio-cultural historical approach to analyze the novel. This approach is suitable to analyze the novel because class discrimination is a kind of social problem based on social condition in the society.
ABSTRAK
KUMALA DEWI. The Class Discrimination in India as Seen through the Characters and Settings in Vikas Swarup’s Slumdog Millionaire. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Slumdog Millionaire adalah sebuah novel yang ditulis oleh Vikas Swarup. Ini adalah novel debut dan terlaris dari Vikas Swarup. Novel ini pada umumnya menceritakan tentang Ram Mohammad Thomas, seorang pelayan yatim piatu dan tidak berpendidikan dari sebuah tempat kumuh bernama Dharavi di India. Ram telah berhasil menjawab 12 pertanyaan dalam sebuah kuis. Sayangnya, produser kuis tersebut menolak untuk memberikan hadiahnya dan menuduh Ram telah berbohong. Ram kemudian ditangkap oleh polisi dan disiksa secara fisik. Teman lama Ram, Smita Shah, kemudian datang ke kontor polisi dan menjadi pengacaranya. Ram kemudian bercerita kepada Smita tentang cara dia bisa berhasil menjawab semua pertanyaan. Secara mengejutkan, itu dikarenakan oleh banyak pengalaman hidupnya. Pengalaman-pengalaman tersebut terutama tentang kehidupannya yang berat sebagai orang miskin, pengalaman-pengalaman kerjanya, dan juga pertemuan-pertemuannya dengan banyak orang. Inilah yang menuntunnya untuk dapat menjawab semua pertanyaan.
Dalam mengungkap diskriminasi kelas, skripsi ini memfokuskan pada tiga permasalahan. Permasalahan yang pertama bertujuan untuk melihat karakter dan karakteristik tokoh dalam novel. Permasalahan yang kedua bertujuan untuk melihat latar dan kondisi sosial di India. Permasalahan yang terakhir bertujuan untuk mengungkap diskriminasi kelas melalui karakter dan latar dalam novel.
Dalam penelitian ini, penulis memutuskan untuk menggunakan pendekatan sosio-kultural historikal untuk menganalisa novel. Pendekatan ini sesuai untuk menganalisa novel ini karena diskriminasi kelas adalah sebuah masalah sosial yang berdasar pada kondisi sosial dalam masyarakat.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literature is one’s expression containing thoughts, feelings, and desires. According to Wellek and Warren in Theory of Literature, the function of literature is to relieve either writers or readers from pressure of emotions (1962: 36). It means that literature is a way to express one’s mind and personal emotions through one’s interpretation of the literary work itself. However, literature is not only an expression, but also a product of social institution. Langland, in her book Society in the Novel, stated that:
As a member of society, an author may present some social details he observes and also includes his belief into his work. But sometimes the novelist pours his own idea in certain social issues only to make some interesting ends for his novel (1984: 19).
This implies that literature exists because the society exists. Literature and society are inseparable because, whether it is a fact taken from the real world or just the idea of the author, the society and all its aspects are always presented in a literary work.
population makes India as a plural society. It has a great variety of people, religions, and languages.
As an emerging country in South Asia, India has developed rapidly during the last two decades. It is proven with the development of several big cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Calcutta, Jaipur, Bangalore, and Chennai. But amidst the development of those cities, there is an ironical fact in this country. India still suffers from poverty, illiteracy, corruption, disease, and malnutrition.
As we all know, in the past India strictly practiced the caste system due to the influence of Hinduism as the major religion in the country. Caste is something that is physically or socially inherent to the person at birth and is expected to determine their opportunities for their lifetime. On the other hand, class is most often determined by the opportunity to get education, to make income and to move in different social, job related and housing circles. The influence of caste system towards the existence of class system is stated by Kamat (2009) in the article “History of Social Structure in India”, as quoted below:
There is some correlation between ritual rank on the caste hierarchy and economic prosperity. Members of higher-ranking castes tend, on the whole, to be more prosperous than members of lower-ranking castes. Many lower-caste people live in conditions of great poverty and social disadvantage <http://countrystudies.us/india/89.htm>.
The quotation above implies that caste is closely correlated with economic prosperity, which is the basic underlying criterion in determining class.
factor influencing the existence of discrimination towards people from the lower classes, as what Kamat (2009) in “History of Social Structure in India” stated below:
All through human history, property-less classes have suffered social discrimination of one kind or another. Victims of older forms of discrimination will either continue to be victimized, or simply become victims of new forms of discrimination <http://countrystudies .us/india/89.htm>.
The quotation above strengthens the fact that discrimination is the impact of the existence of class system. The lower class continuously becomes the victims of the discrimination done by the higher class.
B. Problem Formulation
To conduct this study, the writer has formulated three problems as written below. 1. How are the characters described in the novel?
2. How are the settings described in the novel?
3. How is the class discrimination in India revealed through the characters and settings?
C. Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to answer the questions stated in problem formulation. The aims can be formulated more elaborately as follows.
Firstly, this study is aimed to analyze the characters presented in Slumdog Millionaire. The analysis of characters shows the characteristics of people from different classes, how they tend to behave and treat each other.
Secondly, this study is aimed to analyze the settings presented in Slumdog Millionaire. The analysis of settings shows the social condition of people from different classes based on their living places and occupations.
D. Definition of Terms
The definition of terms is expected to give a brief understanding about class discrimination as the subject of the study. These terms are important to be explained since the study discusses them in the analysis.
As defined in Dictionary of Concepts in History by Ritter, the term class
refers to the category of social standing defined in terms of economic function (1986: 42). Based on the definition above, class can be explained further as the division of society according to the economic status which is closely related to occupation and social condition.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Slumdog Millionaire is the debut novel of Vikas Swarup. Swarup, who is currently residing in South Africa, tries to underline the existence of class system and how it affects the life of the lower class society members in his home country India, through a unique story of how a poor Indian boy struggles to survive in life. Charles in his article entitled “The Man Who Knew Too Much”, stated that:
It takes more than a spoonful of sugar to get such medicine down, and Vikas Swarup provides a strange mixture of sweet and sour in this erratically comic novel. Slumdog Millionaire is about a poor waiter from Dharavi, India -- "not a place for the squeamish" -- who's won a billion rupees on a game show <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/con tent/article/2005/07/28/AR2005072801567.html>.
From the quotation we can see that Slumdog Millionaire’s uniqueness lies on how the author is able to present a story about the hard struggle to survive in life with a happy ending in which the major character finally can change his life and completely gets out from poverty and the discrimination as a member of lower class society.
From the quotation above, we can see that the novel is mainly about the struggle and how someone can finally succeed to get out from the hard life with the help of perseverance, love, and destiny. Moral relativism here refers to the judgment of the act of lower class people to survive in life which sometimes violate the law such as stealing and deceiving, fully depends on one’s point of view. We may regard it as a bad thing, but our point of view might be different if it is us who experience that kind of circumstance.
Zipp in her article entitled “He Should Have Guessed Wrong”, stated that “Interestingly, rather than widespread social change on a governmental level, Swarup, an Indian diplomat, seems to espouse individual decency as a cure for these ills.” <http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0830/p15s02-bogn.html>. From the quotation, we can see that Slumdog Millionaire tries to be a representation of the real struggle of the lower class society in India. Although the author is originally a government official, but this novel depicts an individual struggle in facing the devastating social condition.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory on Character
Character is also a part of intrinsic elements which takes an important role in a story. In A Glossary of Literary Terms, Abrams (1993: 23) stated that:
Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue – and by what they do – the action.
Here Abrams emphasizes that characters are the figures presented in the literary work which have the most distinctive feature than any other intrinsic elements, the emotional features. Emotional features are presented in characters because the characters are usually human beings playing their own roles in the story.
When talking about character, we cannot separate it from characterization. In general, characterization is the process by which the author creates a character. In A Handbook of Literature, Holman and Harmon stated that there are three basic methods of characterization as quoted below:
a. The explicit presentation of the character by the author through direct explanation, whether in a block’s introductory or throughout the work which is illustrated by action (1986: 81)
b. The presentation of the character in action, therefore the reader will be able to conclude the attributes of character from actions (1986: 81) c. The representation from within a character, without comment on
character by the author, of the impact of actions and emotions on character’s inner self, with the expectation that the reader will come to clear understanding of the attributes of the character (1986: 81)
the characters along with all the emotional, logical, and social traits. Therefore, the difficulties and problems of human beings are relatively easier to be understood by reading fiction.
2. Theory on Setting
In order to have a complete understanding of any literary work, we have to analyze several elements of the literary work itself. One of these elements is setting. Setting is a part of intrinsic elements which constitutes a story. It has a very important role on shaping the story because it depicts the place, time, and people in the story.
According to Stanton, the setting in the story is the environment of its events, the immediate world in which they occur. Part of the setting is the visible background such as river, jungle, and time of the day or year, the climate or the historical period. People in the background can also be considered as setting (1965: 18). While in A Glossary of Literary Terms, Abrams (1993: 192), stated that:
The overall setting of a narrative or dramatic work is the general locale, historical time, and social circumstances in which its action occurs; the setting of a single episode or scene within a work is the particular physical location in which it takes place.
Setting of place and social setting are very helpful to reveal class discrimination. According to Murphy, setting of place is divided into three types. The first type is the familiar place. In this type, the writer may decide to set his story in a place which he considers in familiar to most of his reader (1972: 145). The second type is the unfamiliar place. This type allows the writer to set his novel in a place that is likely to be fairly unfamiliar to many of the readers of his own nation (1972: 145). The third type is the imaginary place. This type allows the writer to set his story in an entirely imaginary place. These three types presented by Murphy generally refer to the geographical location, its topography, scenery, such as physical arrangements (Holman & Harmon, 1986: 465).
The social setting takes a significant role on presenting the issue to the reader in a literary work of which main focus is on social issue. Basically, social setting refers to the society in the literary work. According to Holman and Harmon, social setting can refer to general environment of the character for example religious, mental, moral, social, emotional conditions, through which the people in the story move. It also can reveal the occupations and daily manner of the living characters (1986: 465). Therefore, from the quotations above, we can conclude that social setting is one important point which shapes the story of any kind of literary work.
3. Theory on Class Discrimination
A class is a group of people whose “typical chance for a supply of goods, external life conditions and personal life experiences” is determined by their similar capacities “to dispose of goods or skills for the sake of income in a given economic order.” In other words, and in Indian rural terms, a class is a collection of households which are similarly situated economically. Their members may or may not be conscious of belonging to a class (1993: 85).
From the quotation above we can conclude that class in India is determined by the similar economic situation of the households which belong to that class. The economic situation is influenced by their ability to obtain income, which they use to fulfill their life needs.
The theory on class discrimination is taken from “Discrimination against a Social Class”, in which Conniff (2010) stated that:
People that are discriminated against because of their lower social class are being pointed out and labelled a “disgrace” to society in some ways. Instead of providing assistance to these people in need, society wants to ridicule them and take even more away from them, making it even harder for them to succeed <http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpa per/42854.html>.
The above statement implies that the class discrimination towards the people from the lower class has already become a natural habit of the surrounding society, due to the label and stereotype attached to them. To make it worse, the selfish higher-class society does not even have the intention to help the lower higher-class people to get rid of their hard life, because they only care about what’s beneficial for them.
C. Review on Socio-cultural Historical Background of India
As a major religion in the country, Hinduism’s basic principles rule the Indian society in general. Hinduism is very well-known for its caste system, as we can see in the following quotation:
Birth decreed membership in a specific caste, an endogamous group with its own distinctive ritual practices, purity regulations, and relative position in the caste ladder or hierarchy. The four-tiered social and occupational arrangement that embraced the castes dated to the early times of early Aryan invasions, with Brahmans or priest at the top of the structure, followed by the Kshatriyas or nobles and warriors, the Vaisyas or traders and artisans, and finally the Sudras or serfs (Meyer, 1976: 13).
From the quotation above, we can see that caste is determined by birth. It is something inherent and can not be changed. Each caste has its own habits and regulations which make them distinct one to another. We also can see the close relation between caste and occupation. Members of high ranking caste tend to have more prosperous life than the members of lower-ranking caste.
Class itself is mostly determined by one’s income and prosperity level. By looking further at the explanation in the previous paragraph, we can see that caste system has a big influence on the existence of class system, since caste usually becomes the underlying factor which determines one’s occupation. Class in India is divided into three classes, all of which are as follows.
45 percent of the population in 1988--who live in inadequate homes without adequate food, work for pittances, have undereducated and often sickly children, and are the victims of numerous social inequities <http://www.indianchild.com/classes_in_india.htm>.
From the quotation above, we can see that class is divided based on occupation, level of income, and economic assets. The higher class people are those who own properties and have extravagant lifestyle. The middle class people are those who have standard income and lifestyle. While the lowest class people are those who live in conditions of great poverty. The unequal access to economic access and education will lead to some form of class discrimination and inequity in the society.
Although there are many kinds of social problems in India, as an emerging country, India has developed rapidly during the last decades. Lal, in the article “Indian Social Realities” stated that:
The Indian state, which proudly trumpets in its achievements, has frequently called attention to India’s burgeoning industrial sector, India’s accomplishments in space, the phenomenal rise in food production (said to have resulted in self-sufficiency in food, a claim that scarcely squares with the allegation that well over half of the population is severely malnourished), and the well-known contributions of its scientists, engineers, and technicians <http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Soc issues/socreal.html>.
We can see Lal’s further statement in “Indian Social Realities” about the development of India in the following quotation.
70 years ago if one was to say India is conservative, fully cultured, then they would be correct. Today that would be a stereotype, however in the villages or rural areas that still exist. In the cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi people are becoming quite westernized from the clothing and just the overall style. As far as amenities go pretty much everyone except some tribes in remote locations have TV, radios, DVD players and computers. Air conditioners are available in most places in the large cities and in all the mid to higher end food joints in the smaller towns. None in villages. Cars are pretty much everywhere but the quality depends on the social strata of the person that owns them <http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Socissues/socreal.ht ml>.
From the quotation above we can see that some parts of India have developed rapidly in many aspects of life. In this modern era, the Indians in the big cities are likely to be influenced with the western lifestyle, particularly in their clothing style. India’s development is also marked by the possession of electronic goods and private vehicle by almost everyone except people in remote areas.
In this modern era, India’s movies and television programs are also well-developed. India has an adaptation of the popular quiz show around the world, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, as we can see in the quotation below.
Kaun Banega Crorepati is an Indian version of the popular quiz show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Contestants start off with easy questions, but as they move forward the questions get more and more challenging. To help them out, they are given "lifelines" that let them either eliminate two of the four possible answers, call a friend at home for help, or take a poll of the audience for what they think the right answer is. This version's title literally translates to "Who will be a ten-millionaire?". The show first aired in 2000 and was hosted by Amitabh Bachchan <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250875/plotsummary>.
this kind of television show is a sign that in several more years India will likely to be completely modern as it starts to adapt things from outside the country.
D. Theoretical Framework
Each of the theory and review above is needed to analyze the novel. The review of related studies is needed to strengthen the importance of studying and analyzing the novel. The theory of character gives a great contribution to the study. This theory helps to see the relation among people in India, particularly on how they behave on treating each other. This theory helps to answer problem number one. The theory of setting also gives contribution to the study. It helps to see the social condition of the society in detail, including their living places and occupations. The theory of class discrimination also helps to relate how the economic condition becomes one of the major factors determining the role and position of poor people in the society and answer problem number three.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is a novel entitled Slumdog Millionaire, written by Vikas Swarup. This book was firstly published in 2005 as Q & A by Scribner, a division of Simon and Schuster, Inc. Slumdog Millionaire has a prologue, 12 chapters (The Death of a Hero, The Burden of a Priest, A Brother’s Promise, A
Thought for the Crippled, How to Speak Australian, Hold on to Your Buttons, Murder on the Western Express, A Soldier’s Tale, License to Kill, Tragedy Queen, X Gkrz Opknu (or A Love Story), The Thirteenth Question) and an epilogue. The initial pages of the novel include the comments from various mass media experts such as The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe. This novel has been translated into thirty-four languages.
how he successfully answered the questions. Surprisingly, it was because of the sequence of events that occurred in Ram’s life.
Ram’s experiences included his upbringing with Father Timothy, his cruel life in slum, his working period for a former Bollywood actress Neelima Kumari and an Australian diplomat Colonel Taylor, being a tourist guide in Taj Mahal and a waiter in Mumbai. Each of these experiences was all related to the 12 questions.
While working as a tourist guide in Taj Mahal, Ram met young prostitute named Nita. Ram wanted to marry her, but Nita’s pimp refused and asked for 400,000 Rupees. Later on, Prem Kumar tortured Nita when he slept with her. Ram was so angry with him, because he also did the same thing to Neelima Kumari, who committed suicide because of him. Ram wanted to take revenge to Prem. He planned to kill him when he went for a bathroom break. However, Ram changed his mind, and as an exchange, Prem told the answer of the last question, the only question which Ram was unable to answer.
B. Approach of the Study
Every literary work always contains intrinsic and extrinsic elements. Both have the important roles on the work. Guerin in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature stated that:
In analyzing a piece of literary work, it is not only the intrinsic elements that count, but it also involves other extrinsic elements such as author’s biography and the historical background of the work (1979: 20)
Based on the quotation above, we can see the importance of the approach in helping the writer analyze the novel.
According to Rohrberger and Woods, in Reading and Writing about Literature, “Critics whose major interest is the sociocultural-historical approach insist that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it.” (1971: 9). This implies that the critics will mainly focus on the relation between the work of literature and the reality happens in the civilization, including the actions and attitudes of certain people.
Further, Rohrberger and Woods also stated that, “It’s necessary to investigate the social background in which a work was created and which it necessarily reflects, because literature is not created in emptiness and expresses ideas significant to the culture that produces it.” (1979: 9). The culture in which a literary work is made took an important role and the work is a product of a reflection on social realities that took place in a society.
and interest in literary history (1971: 9). This implies that what is represented in the text should be valid with the reality.
This criticism is chosen to analyze Slumdog Millionaire to see the class discrimination portrayed by the author of the novel. This criticism is suitable because class discrimination, as the main focus of the study, is a part of the social background of the novel. This study mostly focuses on the experience of the poor Indian guy, Ram Mohammad Thomas, who lives below the poverty line, and how he deals with any kinds of impacts from the class discrimination.
C. Method of the Study
The study of class discrimination in Slumdog Millionaire was a library research. The primary source was the novel itself, Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup. The secondary sources were books and also several websites related to the theories and the approach which were used to analyze the problems.
There were several steps taken in analyzing this literary work. The first step taken to start this study was reading the whole novel as careful as possible. From the comprehensive reading, the writer was interested in the social condition in India, which is revealed by the characters and settings of the novel.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter is aimed to answer the problems which are formulated in the previous chapter. It consists three subchapters. The first subchapter discusses the characters in the novel. The second subchapter discusses the setting of the novel, particularly on setting of place and social setting. The third subchapter discusses the class discrimination in India which is revealed through the characters and settings of the novel.
A. The Characters in the Novel
The analysis of the character in this novel is based on Abrams’ theory of characters, which is quoted as follows.
Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue – and by what they do – the action (1993: 23).
deeper knowledge about the characteristics of people in Indian society is obtained. It helps to reveal the class discrimination in the last subchapter of the analysis.
1. Ram Mohammad Thomas
Ram Mohammad Thomas is the major character in the novel. He is also the narrator of the story. Ram is an orphan. He is left in front of a church by his mother. Therefore, until he is eight years old, he is raised by a priest named Father Timothy. As a British, Father Timothy teaches English to the children in the orphanage. After the death of Father Timothy, Ram’s life struggle then starts. He moves to an orphanage only for boys in Delhi. Soon after that, he is taken by a man, named Maman, who employs orphan children as beggars in Mumbai. In Maman’s place, Ram meets Salim Ilyasi, his best friend. Both of them successfully escape from the gangster and then live together in a chawl.
According to Holman and Harmon, one method of characterization is through the presentation of the character in action, therefore the reader will be able to conclude the attributes of character from actions (1986: 81). In this analysis, Ram’s characteristics are revealed through his actions.
As an orphan, Ram lives in a devastating economic and social condition. This condition then makes him be a hardworking person, as we can see from the following quotation.
like a pickpocket to a crowded bus. Perhaps it was in my blood. Mumtaz Mahal could have been one of my mother’s ancestors. Or my father might have been of Mughal descent. Anyway, by the fourth day I had picked up enough knowledge about the Taj Mahal to aspire to join the ranks of hundreds of unauthorized, unlicensed guides in Agra. I hung around the red sandstone entrance and offered my services to the foreign tourists who came to see the Taj even in stifling June heat (Swarup, 2005: 251).
The quotation above shows Ram’s struggle and survival to continue his life in Agra. With his English ability, Ram thinks that being an English-speaking tour guide in Taj Mahal is the simplest and easiest job for him. We can see Ram’s hardworking characteristic particularly when he tries to acquire as much knowledge as he can, in order to make him able to be a tourist guide in Taj Mahal. Even when he does not have money to pay the admission, he tries to borrow money from Shankar. He finally can be an unlicensed guide and earns money to pay his room.
Ram’s hardworking characteristic is somehow influenced by his nature of being a strong-willed person. Living a hard life since childhood makes Ram have a strong will to change his life, particularly his economic condition as we can see in the following quotation.
I feel like punching the commissioner’s lights out. Admittedly, before the quiz show I didn’t know the value of a billion. But that’s history. Now I know. And I am determined to get my prize. With all nine zeros (Swarup, 2005: 10).
The quotation above shows Ram’s determination to fight for the prize that he deserves to get. His strong determination reflects his strong-willed characteristic.
really touched by that condition and then decides to give the money to him, as can be seen in this following quotation.
I step out of the emergency ward as if in a trance. The antiseptic smell of the hospital doesn’t irritate my senses any longer. The bespectacled man is still in the corridor. He looks at me with hopeful eyes but doesn’t try to accost me this time. Perhaps he has reconciled himself to his son’s death. I still have the brown paper bag in my hand. I gesture to him. He comes shuffling to me, like a dog expecting a bone. “Here, take this.” I hand over the bag. “It has four lakh rupees inside. Go and save your son’s life.” (Swarup, 2005: 292).
From the excerpt of the novel above, we can see Ram’s generous characteristic when he gives all his money to the man without any requirement. He is touched by the condition because it reminds him of Shankar, his roommate who has died of rabies. He wants to save the man’s son. Ram has a big tolerance to other people surround him as he himself has experienced a difficult life.
2. Nita
Nita is also an important character in the novel. Nita is a prostitute who works in Agra. She comes from a poor family in Bhind district in Madya Pradesh. Later in the story, Nita becomes Ram’s girlfriend. They meet for the first time in the prostitution. Physically, Nita is described as follows.
It’s a small room, with a bed in the center. Somehow surroundings do not register on me at all. My eyes are drawn only to the girl sitting on the bed in a shocking pink sari. She is dark and beautiful, with lovely kohl-lined eyes, luscious painted lips, and long black hair plaited with fragrant white flowers. She wears excessive makeup, and her arms and neck are bedecked with jewelry (Swarup, 2005: 260).
we can see that Nita is physically attractive. She has the typical features of Indian beauty. This then also becomes the main factor why she works as a prostitute. Nita’s beauty attracts Ram at the first sight when they meet in the prostitution.
According to Holman and Harmon, one method of characterization is through the presentation of the character in action, therefore the reader will be able to conclude the attributes of character from actions (1986: 81). Similar to Ram’s character analysis above, in this study Nita’s characteristics are also revealed through her actions.
Due to Ram’s curiosity to Nita, he then tries to interrogate her little by little. Ram wonders about the reason why she works as a prostitute. As the story develops, it is revealed that Nita is a family-devoted person, as we can see in the following quotation.
She laughs again, a hollow, empty laugh. “Look, this is a profession for me, not a hobby. It gives me enough to feed me and my entire family. If I was not doing this, my family would have died from hunger long ago.” (Swarup, 2005: 262).
The quotation above shows that as the eldest child of the family, Nita feels that she has the responsibility to work for her family. Although both of her parents are still alive, she sacrifices herself by working as a prostitute. She does not want her family die of hunger, since they cannot afford to buy food if she does not work.
We prostitutes know about AIDS. It is a risk we are prepared to take. But it’s better to die of disease tomorrow than hunger today, don’t you agree? Now, are you just going to ask questions, or are you going to do something? Don’t blame me later if your time runs out and Shyam sends in the next customer. I am much in demand (Swarup, 2005: 262).
From the quotation above, we can see Nita’s readiness and toughness to face the risk of suffering from AIDS. However, Nita tries to be tough, as she knows that she does this for the sake of the entire family.
3. Prem Kumar
Prem Kumar is also one of the important characters in the novel. He is a famous Bollywood actor. He hosts the quiz in which Ram participates in, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. Prem has an important role in shaping the story. He is Neelima Kumari’s ex-abusive boyfriend and also a man who tortures Nita physically in Mumbai. Due to these two crucial matters, Ram decides to take revenge on Prem. Ram participates in the quiz purposefully to meet Prem. In the end of the story, Ram eventually does not kill Prem. Prem finally commits suicide in his car.
According to Holman and Harmon, one method of characterization is through the presentation of the character in action, therefore the reader will be able to conclude the attributes of character from actions (1986: 81). Similar to the other two characters’ analysis above, in this analysis Prem’s characteristics are also revealed through his actions.
With the agreement from the production house, Prem intentionally changes the final question. He considers that a poor and an uneducated boy like Ram does not deserve such a big prize from a quiz that requires broad knowledge. His trickiness is clearly seen in this following quotation.
I am sure all of you thought that that was the final question, but it was not. Not only was that not the last question but it was not a question at all. We were simply recording a commercial for Mumtaz tea, which is one of the sponsors on this show. For this reason, we had to introduce a dummy question (Swarup, 2005: 304)
The quotation above shows Prem’s tricky characteristic, particularly when he changes the last question. He says that the previous question for Ram is just an advertisement of the sponsor. This unfairness then inevitably makes Ram shocked, because he actually knows the answer of the question.
Other than being very tricky, Prem is also a cruel man. He tends to be very abusive to women. He tortures his ex-girlfriend Neelima Kumari physically. Neelima finally commits suicide because of her frustration and depression. Ram’s girlfriend, Nita, is also a victim of Prem’s abusive behavior, as we can see from this following quotation.
Nita turns on her side, and I see deep red welt marks on her slim back, as if someone has used a horsewhip. Then she pushes up her blouse and I almost die. There are cigarette burn marks all over her chest, looking like ugly pockmarks on the smooth brown flesh of her breasts. I have seen this before (Swarup, 2005: 288).
4. Mrs. Rebecca Taylor
Mrs. Rebecca Taylor is the wife of Mr. Charles Taylor, an Australian diplomat in India. Ram works for the Taylors for a long period of time. Ram works as the servant for the family. Ram is the most loyal servant for the Taylors.
According to Holman and Harmon, one method of characterization is through the presentation of the character in action, therefore the reader will be able to conclude the attributes of character from actions (1986: 81). Similar with the three other characters’ analysis above, in this analysis the characteristics of Mrs. Taylor are also revealed through her actions.
As a wife of a diplomat, Mrs. Taylor tends to be very rude to her servants. Her racial background as a Caucasian also makes her underestimate the poor Indian people. Her rudeness is reflected when she says, “These bloody Indians.” She smiles. “Give them a bottle of whisky and they’ll do anything.” (Swarup, 2005: 105). The quotation shows that Mrs. Taylor is rude as well as racist. She calls the Indians with ‘bloody’. She discriminates the poor Indian people who work for her.
thieves. Mrs. Taylor’s suspicion towards the Indians is a sign of her high level of cynics and insecurity as a rich people towards the poor.
B. The Settings in the Novel
The analysis of the settings in this novel is based on Abrams’ theory of settings, which is quoted as follows.
The overall setting of a narrative or dramatic work is the general locale, historical time, and social circumstances in which its action occurs; the setting of a single episode or scene within a work is the particular physical location in which it takes place (1993: 192).
The following analysis mainly gives a picture of the setting of place and social setting of the novel. The setting of time is also presented in a lesser portion as it is not as noticeable as the setting of place and social setting. The analysis of setting of place is based on Murphy’s theory. The setting of place presented in the novel is familiar place. New Delhi, Mumbai, and Agra are the three cities used as the setting of place.
Meanwhile, the analysis of social setting is based on Holman and Harmon’s theory. They state that social setting can refer to general environment of the character for example religious, mental, moral, social, emotional conditions, through which the people in the story move. It also can reveal the occupations and daily manner of the living characters (1986: 465).
1. Setting of Time
The setting of time of this novel is not as noticeable as the setting of place and social setting. There is no exact time or year mentioned in the novel. But this analysis needs setting of time to reveal class discrimination, because the pattern of discrimination changes from time to time.
The only clue about the setting of time is obtained through the time when the quiz show is aired, as we can see in the quotation below.
“Why not?” Did you watch Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
“Oh yes. Kaun Banega Crorepati. That show became a national obsession. It was mandatory viewing in my family.” (Swarup, 2005: 5).
From the quotation above we can indicate that the setting of time is around the 2000s. In the second chapter this quiz show has been reviewed. It is stated that this show was first aired in India in 2000. Therefore, we can presume that the setting of time of the novel is around 2000s.
2. Setting of Place
is the familiar place. It is one type of the setting of place according to Murphy. In this type, the story is set in a place which is familiar to most of the reader (1972: 145).
a. New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It is one of the most well-developed cities in India. In this novel, New Delhi becomes the setting of place of Ram’s childhood. His mother left him in front of a church in Delhi, where he was raised by father Timothy until he was eight years old.
As the capital city of the country, New Delhi is definitely a modern and nice city. But in this novel, there are only some places depicted as the setting of place. One of those places is the Paharganj railway station, which is described in this following quotation.
If you have been to Delhi by train, you must have visited Paharganj. In all probability you would have arrived at the noisy and dusty Paharganj railway station. You would have exited the station and almost certainly headed left toward Connaught Place, bypassing the crowded market with the cut-price guest houses and cheap prostitutes for tourist (Swarup, 2005: 35).
From the quotation above we can see that the railway station and its surrounding area are the urban area in the city. Train is probably the most affordable mean of transportation for most people. From the description above, we can also see the chaotic situation in the station, as what is described by the words ‘noisy and dusty’.
the death of Father Timothy. Ram lives in a very limited condition in this orphanage, as we can see in the following quotation.
The juvenile home has a capacity of seventy-five and a juvenile population of one hundred and fifty. It is cramped, noisy, and dirty. It has just two toilets, with leaky washbasins and filthy latrines. Rats scurry through its hallways and kitchen. It has a classroom with ramshackle desks and cracked blackboard. And teachers who haven’t taught in years. It has a sports ground where grass grows as tall as wickets and where, if you are not careful, you can graze yourself against stones the size of soccer balls (Swarup, 2005: 74).
From the quotation above we can see that the orphanage is not kept and managed well. It lacks of hygiene, sanitary, and all the facilities for teaching children. It is definitely not a comfortable place to live in and teach children. However, Ram and the other orphan children should accept this condition as they only can depend their lives on this orphanage.
The analysis about some places in New Delhi above reveals the irony in the modern New Delhi. The analysis of the setting of place above gives an understanding that Delhi is not as comfortable as what people might think about a perfect picture of a country’s capital city.
b. Mumbai
As the center of the biggest Indian movies production, many actors and actresses live in Mumbai. With their high level of income, they can afford the luxurious and expensive houses, as we can see in the following quotation.
As we approach Bandra, Juhu, and Amdheri, dotted with the sparkling residences of film stars, with their high boundary walls and platoons of uniformed guards, Salim becomes maudlin. Through the taxi’s tinted windows, we gape at the sprawling bungalows and high-rise apartment blocks like villagers on a first trip to the city. It is as we are seeing Mumbai through a chromatic lens. The sun seems brighter, the air feels cooler, the people appear more prosperous, the city throbs with the happiness of sharing space with the megastars of Bollywood (Swarup, 2005: 87).
From the quotation above we can see that the film stars live in the luxurious and modern residences in Mumbai. They even have guards to secure their houses. For Ram and his best friend Salim, this place is definitely nice and wonderful to see, since they have never seen this place before.
On the other hand, Mumbai shares a similarity with other big and modern cities in India. Amidst the modernity and development of the city, there are still some places that present exactly the opposite pictures of a modern city. Mumbai is one of the destinations of the people from villages for urbanization. They dream of a prosperous life in Mumbai. But in fact it is very hard for them to struggle and compete themselves in a metropolitan city like Mumbai. As a result, lots of people do a very low-paid job and even sometimes they are jobless. With this condition, they cannot afford a proper place for living. Therefore, they live in slum. Dharavi slum is the biggest slum in Mumbai and even in Asia. As what we might imagine, the condition in slum is horrible, as we can see in the following quotation.
sheet serving as the roof. It vibrates violently whenever a train passes overhead. There is no running water and no sanitation. This is all I can afford. But I’m not alone in Dharavi. There are a million people like me, packed in a two-hundred-hectare of swampy urban wasteland, where we live like animals and die like insects. Dharavi is not a place for the squeamish. Delhi’s juvenile home diminished us, but Dharavi’s grim landscape of urban squalor deadens and debases us. Its open drains teem with mosquitoes. Its stinking, excrement-lined communal latrines are full of rats, which make you think less about the smell and more about protecting your backside. Mounds of filthy garbage lie on every corner, from which ragpickers still manage to find something useful. And at times you have to suck in your breath to squeeze through its narrow claustrophobic alleys (Swarup, 2005: 133-134).
The quotation above shows that Dharavi is really not a proper place for human to live in. It does not even have a basic sanitary and hygiene. We can see the extreme dirtiness and irregularity in Dharavi. The garbage is everywhere, causing the animals like mosquitoes and rats exist in almost every corner of Dharavi. Moreover, Dharavi is also over-populated. People live in a very limited space. However, they keep on surviving to live in this horrible slum, since they cannot afford a better place to live in.
c. Agra
Agra is also one of the big cities in India. It is the center of Indian tourism. Taj Mahal, the well-known world’s wonder, is located in this city. In this novel, Agra is also a significant setting of place. Ram lives in Agra for some period of time. He meets his girlfriend Nita for the first time in this city. He also works as a tourist guide in Agra.
He takes me through narrow labyrinthine by-lanes and twisted alleys, and after fifteen minutes we emerge in front of a large mansion. SWAPNA PALACE says the brass nameplate next to a huge iron door. The mansion has a curved driveway, a massive lawn with a painted Gujarati swing and fountain in it. I see two gardeners toiling on the grass. An old Contessa car stands in the driveway, being polished by a uniformed chauffeur (Swarup, 2005: 247).
From the quotation above we can see the luxury of Swapna Devi’s mansion. The mansion is designed with beautiful decorations. With all of the luxury in it, no wonder it is called as palace. The mansion is a symbol of her wealth and status in Agra society.
Similar to Mumbai, Agra also has slum in the midst of the city’s modernity. The high rate of poverty in India is the main factor of the existence of slum. The slum in Agra is described in the novel as, “And that the slums of Agra are no different either. They consist of the same cluster of corrugated-iron sheets masquerading as roofs.” (Swarup, 2005: 240). From the quotation we can see that almost everywhere in India, slums exist in their typical horrible condition which is not suitable for human to live in.
3. Social Setting
novel. Moreover, occupation is an important factor in determining the class division in the society.
In a huge society like India, occupation plays an important role in determining one’s social class and status, because it is closely related to one’s level of income. In this novel, we can see plenty types of occupation of Indian people.
The major character in the novel, Ram Mohammad Thomas, works as a servant almost all of his life. He works for Neelima Kumari and Colonel Taylor for several years, as we can see in the following quotation.
I am the only full-time servant in the house. There is a Maharashtrian Brahmin lady who comes to cook in the evening and also does the dishes, and a part-time maid who does the washing. I do everything else. I do the dusting and the cleaning, I iron the clothes and make evening tea, I do errands outside the house, buy the milk, and pay all the utility bills (Swarup, 2005: 213).
From the quotation above we can see Ram’s daily job as a servant. Although he is a male, he must do all kinds of the housework in his master’s house, except cooking and washing.
The other types of the Indian people’s occupation can be seen in the following quotation.
He comes from a very poor family, which used to live in a village in Bihar. The village was mostly made up of poor peasants, but there were a couple of Muslim families too, like Salim’s. His father was a laborer, his mother a housewife; his elder brother worked in a tea stall (Swarup, 2005: 77).
Besides the occupations described above, there are still some noticeable occupations that can be identified in the novel through this following quotation.
If you were to search me in this crowded maze, where would you look? You would probably try to find me among the dozens of street children stretched out on the smooth concrete floor in various stages of rest and slumber. You might even imagine me as an adolescent hawker, peddling plastic bottles from the station’s toilet as pure Himalayan aqua minerale. You could visualize me as one of the sweepers in dirty shirts and torn plants shuffling across the platform, with a long swishing broom transferring dirt from the pavement onto the track. Or you could look for me among the regiments of red-uniformed porters bustling about with heavy loads on their heads (Swarup, 2005: 149).
From the quotation above we can see the other typical jobs of the Indian people. They work as hawkers, sweepers, and porters in the railway station. They do these very low-paid jobs because these jobs do not require any special skill. These jobs enable them to get the little payment quickly.
This novel also presents the high-paid jobs, such as diplomat and film star. Colonel Taylor is an Australian diplomat in India, as what is revealed when Mr. Taylor says, “I am the Australian defense attaché. We are diplomats, so I don’t think you need to enumerate us in your census.” (Swarup, 2005: 104). From the quotation we can see as a diplomat, Mr. Taylor refuses to be enumerated in the census because his job makes him think that he has the exclusivity for his family.
The other type of high-paid job is film star. In the novel, we can find Prem Kumar, as an actor and quiz host, and also Neelima Kumari, a famous Indian actress, as what is revealed through this following quotation.
The quotation above reveals Neelima Kumari’s job as an actress. As a famous actress, she lives in Juhu area, the residences of Bollywood stars. Her ability to afford the posh flat in the area indicates that as a film star, she has a high level of income.
C. Class Discrimination in India
In the previous subchapters of this analysis, the characters and settings of the novel have been discussed in depth. There are four characters presented in the first subchapter. While in the second subchapter there are three cities in India presented as the setting of place. The occupation is presented as the social setting of the novel.
As what has been stated in the first chapter of the study, this study is aimed to reveal the existence of class discrimination in India. The characters and the settings of the novel have significant roles in revealing the class discrimination. In this part of the analysis, the writer tries to see the relation of these two intrinsic elements with class discrimination.
New Delhi, Mumbai, and Agra are the three cities presented as the setting of place in the novel. The setting of place mostly describes about the place where the characters in the novel live. In New Delhi, we can see the description of Paharganj railway station and the Delhi Juvenile Home for Boys. While in Mumbai, we can see the description of the film stars’ residence and slum. Further, in Agra we can also find the description of a luxurious mansion and slum. From the description of the settings of place, we can see that the three cities, particularly Mumbai and Agra share noticeable similarities. They have horrible living places like slums, dirty orphanage, and chaotic public place. On the other hand, they also have the beautiful residences and mansion. It is clear the places in Delhi, Mumbai, and Agra as described above are very contradictory to each other. This is an indicator that there is a different economic situation among the members of the society. The rich people live in luxurious houses, while the poor people live in a horrible place like slum with no facilities at all. It is further strengthened with this following quotation.
As Mr. Barve told me once, the rich people, those who live in their marble and granite four bedroom flats, they enjoy. The slum people, who live in squalid, tattered huts, they suffer. And we, who reside in the overcrowded chawls, we simply live (Swarup, 2005: 56).
places to live in, but the poor people only live in such limited and even horrible places.
The novel also presents some types of occupation of the Indian people as the social setting. This is also an indicator of the economic difference among the people in the society. There are some high-paid jobs like diplomat and film star, which enable the people with these kinds of job to earn much money. While there are also many low-paid jobs like being a servant and a laborer which disable the people with these kinds of job to earn much money and afford a good life.
Therefore, from the difference of economic situation as what has been explained above, we can see that there are two major groups of people in the society. Each group is defined as a class because the members of the group have the similar economic situation. It becomes very vivid that Indian society is divided in classes. Class becomes a social stratification that constitutes Indian society.
The division of classes is based on the theory stated in the second chapter from the article “Classes in India”, which is quoted as follows.
sickly children, and are the victims of numerous social inequities <http://www.indianchild.com/classes_in_india.htm>.
According to the theory quoted above and the explanation about typical economic situation from the people in the society, we can classify the people in the society into two types of class. They are the higher class, which is also called as Forward class, and the lowest class, which is called as Harijans. We can identify the higher class people in this novel mainly based on their owning of large properties and their high-paid jobs, while we can identify the lowest class people in this novel based on their inadequate living places, low-paid jobs, and their low education. Later in the analysis below, the writer uses the term ‘higher class’ and ‘lowest class’.
After understanding the classification of the society members in the novel, then we can continue the discussion to class discrimination as the main topic of this study. As what has been explained above, Indian society in this novel is divided into two classes. Each class has its own typical characteristics. The higher class is characterized with their luxurious houses and high-paid jobs, while the lowest class is characterized with their horrible living place and low-paid job. From this simple comparison, we can simply see that there is a social gap in the society. The gap between the higher class and lowest class is extremely wide.
As what often happens anywhere in the world, social gap is one of the main causes of class discrimination. The social gap is an invisible barrier that divides the society, as we can see in the following quotation.
elders in Dharavi say about never crossing the dividing line that separates the rich from the poor (Swarup, 2005: 2).
From the quotation above we can see that the dividing line between classes exists in the society. The lowest class people are conscious of this gap and they automatically limit themselves in the interaction with the higher class people. They simply know that crossing this barrier will be likely causing troubles for themselves.
The following quotation is also a proof of the existence of social gap in Indian society.
I feel genuine hatred toward her that day. But perhaps she is right. Lajwanti made the cardinal mistake of trying to cross the line that separates the existence of the rich from that of the poor. She made the fatal error of dreaming beyond her means. The bigger the dream, the bigger the disappointment. That’s why I have small, manageable dreams. Like marrying a prostitute after paying off her crooked pimp brother the minor sum of four hundred thousand rupees. Only (Swarup, 2005: 279).
From the quotation above we can see how the dividing line between people from different economic condition makes the lowest class people feel inferior. They do not dare to have big dreams because they know that those dreams will just end up with disappointment, like what happens to Lajwanti’s dream.
The dividing line between classes then inevitably leads to class discrimination. Class discrimination, as the main topic that is being analyzed in this study, happens in many aspects of life in the Indian society.
reveal the class discrimination in law and justice that happens to Ram, as we can see in the following quotation.
“I want your help to prove that Thomas cheated on the show. That he couldn’t have known the answers to all twelve questions without an accomplice. Just think. He’s never been to school. He’s never even read a newspaper. There’s no way he could have won the top prize.” (Swarup, 2005: 7).
From the quotation above we can see that Ram receives the unfair treatment from the quiz show producer. The producer refuses to pay the prize and asks the police to accuse Ram for cheating in the quiz. He considers Ram does not deserve to win such a big prize in a quiz that needs a broad knowledge and education. This is definitely a discriminative act based on class in law and justice. As a lowest class society member, Ram is considered and stereotyped by the higher class society member to be uneducated because he has never been to school.
This following quotation is also a strong proof that the quiz producer refuses to pay the prize because he thinks that Ram does not deserve the prize.
Nanda approaches me, running his fingers through his luxuriant hair. He addresses me in Hindi. “Mr. Ram Mohammad Thomas, if you were indeed brilliant enough to win on our show, we would like you to prove it by taking part in another quiz for us, now. These will be very simple questions. Almost everyone of average intelligence will know the answers.” He sits me down on a chair. ”Are you ready? Here comes question number one. What is the currency of France? The choices are (a) dollar, (b) pound, (c) Euro, or (d) franc.”
I keep silent. Suddenly, the commissioner’s open palm swoops down and hits me tightly across my cheek. “Bastard, are you deaf? Answer or I’ll break your jaw,” he threatens.
Nanda starts hopping around like a mad man – or a rock star. “Pleeeeeze, can we do this the civilized way?” he asks the commissioner. Then he looks at me. “Yes. What’s your answer?”
“Franc,” I reply sullenly.
“I don’t know.”
“It was Neil Armstrong. Question number three. The pyramids are situated in (a) New York, (b) Rome, (c) Cairo, or (d) Paris?”
“I don’t know.”
“In Cairo. Question number four. Who is the president of America? Is it (a) Bill Clinton, (b) Collin Powell, (c) John Kerry, or (d) George Bush?” “I don’t know.”
“It’s George Bush. I am sorry to say, Mr. Thomas, that you didn’t get a single answer right.”
Nanda turns to the commissioner and reverts to English. “See, I told you this guy’s a moron. The only way he could have answered those questions last week was by cheating.” (Swarup, 2005: 9)
The quotation above reflects Billy Nanda’s persistence in front of the police commissioner that Ram does not deserve the prize because Ram cannot answer the easy questions given by him. As the producer of the show, Billy Nanda insists that Ram cheats on the show and wants the police to make Ram admits it. He cannot believe that a poor person like Ram is genius enough to be able to answer all the questions given in the quiz show.
This discriminative and unfair act to Ram is further revealed through the police’s abusive treatment, as we can see in the following quotation.
From the quotation above, we can see how Inspector Godbole, under the command of the quiz producer, abuses and tortures Ram violently and inhumanely. He treats Ram as if Ram were not a human being. He treats Ram as brutal as possible, like inserting wooden rod to Ram’s anus, thrusting Ram’s head into the water, and shocking Ram with electricity in order to make Ram admits the suspicion. The producer has paid Godbole to do this. The quotation above depicts that the higher class people often use their power to get what they want. As a policeman whose duty is to enforce the law, Inspector Godbole is in fact easily controlled by the higher class people. He does this because he is blinded by money.
Before Ram wins the quiz, Prem Kumar as the host of the quiz also tries to make Ram unable to win the quiz by changing the question, as we can see in the following quotation.
Prem Kumar’s face turns ashen. For the first time he looks at me with trace of fear. “You.. you are casting some kind of magic, I am sure,” he says and runs to the producer. They whisper between themselves. Prem Kumar gesticulates several times in my direction. Then someone brings in a fat book and they pore over it. Ten minutes pass. The audience begins to get restless. Eventually, Prem Kumar comes back to his seat. His expression is neutral, but I am sure he is squirming inside (Swarup, 2005: 303-304).
more away from them, making it even harder for them to succeed <http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/42854.html>. Being strong-willed and hardworking is in fact not enough for Ram to fight against the discrimination done by the higher class people. No matter how strong Ram’s will is to change his life and take a revenge, the higher class people like Prem Kumar and the quiz producer discriminates Ram because they think Ram is just a weak and powerless lowest class society member who does not deserve to get a big prize in a quiz that needs broad knowledge and high education.
The other discriminative act based on class in law and justice is done by Prem Kumar. As what has been stated in the previous chapter, Prem Kumar is one of the important characters in the novel. Prem, with his job as a Bollywood star, is a higher class society member. With his money and status, he can do whatever he wants. This then triggers him to be very cruel and abusive to women, as we can see in the following quotation.
“I am here, Raju.” Nita’s voice sounds weak. She is behind a curtained partition, lying on a gurney. One look at her and I almost faint from shock. She has livid bruises all over her face, and her lips are peculiarly twisted, as if her jaw has been dislocated. There is blood on two of her teeth, and her left eye is blackened.
“Who.. who has done this to you?” I ask, barely recognizing my own voice.
She has difficulty in speaking. “It was a man from Mumbai. Shyam sent me to his room at the Palace Hotel. He tied me up and did all this to me. What you see on my face is nothing. See what he did to my body.” (Swarup, 2005: 288).
does not seem to be afraid to do it because he feels that he has the power over a lowest class society member like Nita with his money. It is specifically shown when he says, “She was a prostitute, for God’s sake. I paid her pimp five thousand rupees. I didn’t even know her name.” (Swarup, 2005: 307). From the quotation we can see that Prem only considers Nita as a property, not a human. His statement reflects that he looks down on Nita as a prostitute and a lowest class society member. Prem Kumar’s treatment is definitely unacceptable. But as the lowest class society member, Nita should be tough and hold on to her commitment to be a family-devoted woman for her poor family.
Class discrimination in healthcare is also noticeable in this novel. The lowest class people are not being treated well in the hospital because they do not have enough money, as shown in this following quotation.
The doctor explains this catalog of horrors in his normal bedside manner. I am utterly devastated. Even thinking about Shankar’s death brings tears to my eyes. “Doctor, is there absolutely nothing that can be done to save Shankar?” I implore him.
“Well,” the doctor hesitates. “There was nothing till a month ago, but I am told a brand-new experimental vaccine from America has just been imported to India. It is called RabCure and is available only at the Gupta Pharmacy.”
“The one in Rakab Ganj?”
“Yes. But I don’t think you can afford it.” (Swarup, 2005: 280)
