coolie mulkraj anand character analysis
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Answer:
Explanation:
ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERS
3.2 Characterization
E.M. Forster (1879-1970) as a critic of novels is primarily known for
his division of characters into „flat‟ and „round‟. Forster‟s terms have
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a wide acceptance among critics. Forster in Abraham M.H (1993)
says:
“A flat character is built around a single idea or quality and is
presented without much detail, and therefore, can be fairly,
adequately described in a single phrase or sentence. A round
character is a complex in temperament and motivation and is
presented with subtle particularity; such a character therefore
is difficult to describe with any adequacy as a person in real
life, and like real person is capable of surprising us.” (p.24)
Edwin Muir in his book The Structure of the Novel (1928), remarks
that the characters in the novel are known for their unchanged ability
and completeness from the beginning itself. He argues in the defence
of unchanging characters that Forster calls „flats‟. Muir argues in
Dnyate Ramesh (1996):
“Why indeed should not characters be flat? The only answer to
this is that the present taste in criticism prefers round
characters. The taste of the next generation may prefer flat, for
all we know. (p.25)
The above statement suggests that it is the incorrigibility and
changelessness of the flat characters that constitute the stark reality in
the novel. Mary McCarthy (1962) underlines the story of flat
characters, while making the most significant although rather
controversial comment on Forster. She says:
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“The principle of growth in human being is as real. Of course,
(though possibly not so common) as the principle of eternity or
inertia represented by the comic.” (p.74)
W.J. Harvey (1965) covers a wide range of characters and groups
them into different categories underlining their nature and purpose in
the novel. According to him, the most important are the protagonists.
The characters are known as background characters. The rustic
characters represent the voices of the community rather than
individualized traits. These characters are given a moment of intensity
and generally have anonymous existence. The fickle characters
certainly are more individualized than the background characters and
serve a specific function in the novel. Dnyate Ramesh (1996) says that
“flat‟‟ characters and have equally significant existence. He says:
“To suggest that one order of characterization is better than
another is folly. To realize that differences exist is the
beginning of wisdom.‟‟ (p.161)
The findings are greatly relevant in the context of Mulk Raj Anand‟s
characters. These views may be referred to the present study, and it is
here that one may think it essential to understand Anand‟s concept of
human characters since it has pervasive influence upon the entire
corpus of the writer‟s fiction and occupies the centripetal position in
Anand‟s novels.
Anand was one of the practising novelists whose ideas, personal
convictions and beliefs related to the overall styles of life have an
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unmistakable stamp of his creative art. With regard to Anand‟s notion
of characters in Untouchable and Coolie, he gives preface to social,
political and personal aspects of the human beings in his writing. He
underlines certain salient features of characters in his novels; the
characters are prototypes and moulds. The human race is cast in the
mould, which has a permanent existence. The personality alone
remains unchanged. The social aspects are reflected with the help of
characters. Having a good knowledge of the society and class
struggle, Anand himself had experienced evils of the untouchability
and social reality in his life. The method of characterization in his
novels provokes readers to think about the social, political and
religious approaches while studying his characters. It is the general
critical consensus that Anand is a remarkable socialist and a gifted
caricaturist of the downtrodden. It also registers a vivid note of dissent
on account of his unchanging, un-growing, and underdeveloped
characters, particularly the protagonists in his novels. Forster‟s term
„flat‟ seems to have become a stick for many to beat Anand‟s
characters.