A Study Of Middle-Class Indian Society In The Selected Novels Of R. K. Narayan

Abstract

This research paper undertakes a systematic and critical examination of the representation of middle-class Indian society in the selected novels of Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan (1906–2001), one of the most distinguished figures in Indian English literature. Drawing upon five major novels—Swami and Friends (1935), The Bachelor of Arts (1937), The English Teacher (1945), The Financial Expert (1952), and The Guide (1958)—the study explores how Narayan’s fictional landscape of Malgudi serves as a microcosm of Indian middle-class experience across the colonial and post-colonial periods. The research investigates thematic dimensions such as family structure, domestic life, social values, educational and career aspirations, economic struggles, gender roles, religious practices, and the tension between tradition and modernity. Through close textual analysis and contextual interpretation, the paper demonstrates that Narayan’s narrative technique—marked by gentle irony, psychological realism, and humanistic concern—offers an unparalleled sociological portrait of the aspirations, frustrations, and resilience of the Indian middle class. The study further reflects upon the continued relevance of these portrayals to contemporary Indian society, arguing that Narayan’s fiction transcends its immediate historical context to articulate enduring truths about the human condition within a distinctly Indian social framework. The findings suggest that Narayan occupies a unique position at the intersection of literary artistry and social documentation, making his works an indispensable resource for understanding the cultural and sociological evolution of modern India.