The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga: A Masterpiece of Satire and Realism
Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger: A Novel of India's Dark Side
Have you ever wondered what life is like for the millions of poor and oppressed people in India? Have you ever wanted to read a book that exposes the harsh realities of the world's largest democracy? If so, then you should read The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, a Booker Prize-winning novel that tells the story of a man who rises from rags to riches in a corrupt and unequal society.
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In this article, we will give you an overview of the plot, the characters, the themes, and the style of The White Tiger. We will also show you how to read it in EPUB format, which is a convenient and flexible way to enjoy e-books on various devices. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of why The White Tiger is one of the most important and controversial novels of the 21st century.
The Plot and the Characters of The White Tiger
The novel is narrated by Balram Halwai, a self-made entrepreneur who runs a successful taxi service in Bangalore. However, Balram is not an ordinary businessman. He is also a murderer who killed his former employer, Mr. Ashok, a wealthy landlord from Delhi.
Through a series of letters addressed to the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, Balram recounts his life story and explains how he became a "white tiger", a rare and exceptional creature who breaks free from his cage. He describes his childhood in Laxmangarh, a poor village in Bihar, where he was born into a low caste family of sweet-makers. He was a smart and curious boy who wanted to study, but he had to drop out of school to work in a tea shop. He also witnessed the brutal oppression and violence that his family and his fellow villagers suffered at the hands of the local landlords, known as "the Stork" and "the Wild Boar".
Balram's fate changed when he learned how to drive and got a job as a chauffeur for Mr. Ashok, the son of "the Stork", who had moved to Delhi with his wife Pinky Madam. Balram saw this as an opportunity to escape from the Darkness, the term he used for the impoverished and backward parts of India, and enter into the Light, the term he used for the rich and modern parts of India. However, he soon realized that the Light was not as bright as he had imagined. He witnessed the corruption, hypocrisy, and injustice that pervaded the Indian society, especially among the politicians, businessmen, and police. He also experienced the humiliation and exploitation that he and his fellow servants endured at the hands of their masters.
Balram's resentment and ambition grew as he observed the contrast between his life and Mr. Ashok's life. He decided to take matters into his own hands and kill Mr. Ashok, who had become his friend and benefactor, but also his oppressor and enemy. He then stole a large sum of money from him and fled to Bangalore, where he started his own taxi service with the help of his loyal drivers. He also bribed the police and the politicians to avoid being caught and to expand his business. He justified his actions by saying that he was following the law of the jungle, where the weak are devoured by the strong, and that he was fulfilling his destiny as a white tiger, who does not obey any rules or morals.
The Themes and the Messages of The White Tiger
The novel explores several themes that are relevant to the contemporary Indian society and the global world. Some of the major themes are:
The critique of the caste system and the corruption in India. The novel exposes the harsh reality of the caste system, which divides the people into rigid and hierarchical groups based on their birth. Balram compares the caste system to a "rooster coop", where the roosters are trapped and await their slaughter, but do not rebel or escape because they are brainwashed by their religion, culture, and family. He also shows how the corruption is widespread and ingrained in every aspect of the Indian society, from the politicians who rig the elections and take bribes, to the businessmen who evade taxes and exploit workers, to the police who abuse their power and extort money.
The role of education and morality in social mobility. The novel examines the role of education and morality in enabling or hindering one's social mobility. Balram is a self-taught man who learns from his own experiences and observations, rather than from formal schooling. He believes that education is the key to success and freedom, but he also recognizes that it is not accessible or affordable for everyone. He also questions the conventional notions of morality and ethics, which he considers to be irrelevant or hypocritical in a corrupt and unequal society. He argues that he had no choice but to kill Mr. Ashok and steal his money, because that was the only way to escape from his servitude and poverty.
The ambivalence of globalization and modernization. The novel reflects on the ambivalence of globalization and modernization, which bring both opportunities and challenges for India and its people. On one hand, Balram benefits from the global economy and the technological innovations that allow him to start his own business and communicate with foreign leaders. He also admires some aspects of the Western culture, such as democracy, individualism, and consumerism. On the other hand, Balram criticizes the negative effects of globalization and modernization, such as the loss of identity, culture, and values, the exploitation of labor and resources, and the environmental degradation.
The Style and the Structure of The White Tiger
The novel is written in a distinctive style and structure that enhance its impact and appeal. Some of the features of its style and structure are:
The use of epistolary form and dark humor. The novel is composed of a series of letters that Balram writes to Wen Jiabao over seven nights. This form creates a sense of intimacy and authenticity between Balram and his reader, as well as a contrast between Balram's perspective and Wen's perspective. The novel also uses dark humor to deal with serious and tragic topics, such as poverty, violence, and injustice. This humor creates a sense of irony and satire that expose the absurdity and hypocrisy of the Indian society.
The influence of other writers and genres. The novel draws inspiration from other writers and genres that have influenced Adiga's literary style. For example, Balram's voice is reminiscent of Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, a rebellious and cynical teenager who criticizes the phoniness of his society. The novel also borrows elements from other genres, such as crime fiction, social realism, postcolonial literature, and picaresque literature.
The reception and the awards of the book. The novel received mixed reviews from critics and readers when it was published in 2008. Some praised it for its originality, honesty, and courage, while others criticized it for its exaggeration, stereotyping, and sensationalism. The novel also won several prestigious awards, such as the Booker Prize in 2008, which is one of the most important literary prizes in the English-speaking world.
How to Read The White Tiger in EPUB Format
If you are interested in reading The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, you might want to consider reading it in EPUB format. EPUB stands for Electronic Publication, and it is a popular and widely supported format for e-books. EPUB files have several advantages over other formats, such as:
They are compatible with most e-readers, tablets, smartphones, and computers. You can easily transfer and open EPUB files on different devices without losing the quality or the layout of the text.
They are flexible and adaptable to your preferences. You can customize the font size, style, color, and background of the text according to your liking. You can also adjust the brightness and the orientation of the screen for a better reading experience.
They are interactive and dynamic. You can access additional features and functions on EPUB files, such as bookmarks, annotations, hyperlinks, audio, video, and images. You can also search for words or phrases within the text or look them up in dictionaries or online sources.
To read The White Tiger in EPUB format, you need to follow these simple steps:
Download an EPUB file of The White Tiger. You can find many websites that offer free or cheap downloads of EPUB files of various books, including The White Tiger. However, you should be careful and avoid illegal or pirated copies that might contain viruses or malware. Some of the reputable and reliable websites that offer EPUB files of The White Tiger are: Amazon Kindle Store, Barnes & Noble Nook Store, Kobo Store, and Google Play Books.
Open the EPUB file on your device. Depending on your device and your preference, you can use different apps or programs to open and read EPUB files. Some of the most popular and user-friendly apps or programs are: Calibre, FBReader, Adobe Digital Editions, and Sumatra PDF. You can download these apps or programs from their official websites or from your device's app store.
Enjoy reading The White Tiger in EPUB format. Once you have opened the EPUB file on your device, you can start reading The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. You can also use the features and functions that we mentioned earlier to enhance your reading experience. You can also share your thoughts and opinions about the book with other readers online or offline.
Conclusion: Why You Should Read The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
In conclusion, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga is a novel that you should not miss. It is a novel that tells a gripping and provocative story of a man who defies his fate and becomes a successful entrepreneur and a murderer in a corrupt and unequal society. It is a novel that explores various themes that are relevant to the contemporary Indian society and the global world, such as the caste system, the corruption, the education, the morality, and the globalization. It is a novel that is written in a distinctive style and structure that enhance its impact and appeal, such as the epistolary form, the dark humor, and the influence of other writers and genres.
If you want to read this novel in a convenient and flexible way, you should read it in EPUB format, which is a popular and widely supported format for e-books. EPUB files have several advantages over other formats, such as the compatibility, the adaptability, and the interactivity. To read this novel in EPUB format, you need to download an EPUB file of the book from a reputable and reliable website, open it on your device using a suitable app or program, and enjoy reading it with the features and functions that EPUB files offer.
We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of why The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga is one of the most important and controversial novels of the 21st century. We also hope that you will read this novel in EPUB format and share your thoughts and opinions with us. Happy reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga and EPUB format:
Q: Is The White Tiger based on a true story?
A: No, The White Tiger is not based on a true story. It is a fictional work that uses elements of satire, allegory, and realism to portray the Indian society and its problems.
Q: Who is Wen Jiabao and why does Balram write to him?
A: Wen Jiabao is the former premier of China, who served from 2003 to 2013. Balram writes to him because he hears that he is visiting India and wants to learn about entrepreneurship. Balram thinks that he can teach him something about entrepreneurship from his own experience.
Q: What is the difference between EPUB and PDF?
A: EPUB and PDF are two different formats for e-books. EPUB is more flexible and adaptable than PDF, as it allows the user to customize the text and the layout according to their preference and device. PDF is more fixed and rigid than EPUB, as it preserves the original appearance and design of the text.
Q: How can I convert an EPUB file to a PDF file or vice versa?
A: You can use online tools or software to convert an EPUB file to a PDF file or vice versa. Some of the online tools are: Zamzar, Online-Convert, and Ebook Online-Convert. Some of the software are: Calibre, Wondershare PDFelement, and NCH Doxillion Document Converter.
Q: Where can I find more books by Aravind Adiga or similar authors?
A: You can find more books by Aravind Adiga or similar authors on various websites or platforms that offer e-books, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play Books. Some of the books by Aravind Adiga are: Last Man in Tower, Between the Assassinations, Selection Day, and Amnesty. Some of the similar authors are: Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth, Rohinton Mistry, Kiran Desai, and Amitav Ghosh.
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