The English Teacher, by R.K. Narayan, is the story of a young man teaching English in a missionary college at Malgudi, in early twentieth century, colonial India. As a native to the country and culture, the main character, Krishna, deals with three major life issues throughout the pages of the novel. He struggles with dissatisfaction in his career; he grapples with existence in life without his beloved wife; and most subtly, Krishna tries to reconcile his part in furthering Western values in India. Narayan reveals to the unlearned reader the details of his own cultural background in India's Brahmin class by recording the common, daily activities of Krishna, his wife Susila, and his little daughter, Leela. The impact of the Hindu beliefs, of course, is an obvious influence on the characters of the book. But again, the author places the facts studied in Asian literature class within the natural context of this newly married professor's existence. Throughout the novel, slices of Narayan's life are seen in the life of his main character, Krishna.
a Pankaj Mishra essay link
The very first sentence in the novel reveals the Hindu belief that life is but an illusion. Krishna states, "on the whole he is very pleased with his life." But after mentally reviewing his teaching responsibilities and his commitment, the character admits that something is missing in his life. As his namesake from the Bhagavat Gita proposed, Krishna recommits himself to the disciplines of daily exercise and mental self-control. But he readily admits that despite his comfortable pay, "he was doing the wrong work." Krishna labels himself a poet, but he describes his teaching responsibilities as "admonishing, cajoling, and browbeating" his young Indian students over Shakespeare and Milt ...