Malgudi and Beyond: Narrative Style, Humor, and Social Critique in R. K. Narayan

Abstract

This paper explores the unique narrative style and humor in the works of R. K. Narayan, one of India’s most celebrated novelists. By examining key texts such as Swami and Friends (1935), The Bachelor of Arts (1937), The Financial Expert (1952), The Guide (1958), and The Vendor of Sweets (1967), the study analyzes how Narayan employs simplicity of language, irony, satire, and gentle humor to depict the everyday life of Malgudi, his fictional South Indian town. Narayan’s prose style, marked by clarity, conversational tone, and cultural rootedness, makes his works universally accessible while retaining distinct Indian sensibilities. Humor emerges as a central device not only for entertainment but also for social critique, highlighting contradictions in tradition, modernity, colonial influence, and human folly. The paper further explores how Narayan’s humor resonates with readers across generations and contributes to his reputation as a “chronicler of Malgudi.” By situating his work within the broader landscape of Indian English fiction, this study argues that Narayan’s narrative style and humor are key to his enduring legacy and to the global reception of Indian literature in English.