Question

Discuss the customer's character in brief in'The Gold Frame'.

Answer 1

$<p</p><p>style="color:cyan;font-family:cursive;background:black;font size:40px;">In The Gold Frame by R.K. Laxman we have the theme of deception, dishonesty, independence, responsibility and fear. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Laxman may be exploring the theme of deception. Datta having destroyed the customer’s photograph begins to hatch a plan together in whereby he attempts to use another photograph to fool the customer. Not only is Datta being deceptive but he is being dishonest too and not taking full responsibility for his actions. The reader left feeling as though Datta fears the consequences should he tell the customer the truth about what has happened to his photograph. This may be significant as Laxman may be suggesting that the power to lie is overwhelming for Datta. Rather than owning up and taking responsibility for his actions Datta decides to lie to the customer. Which places him in an unfavourable light with the reader who may have previously had some sympathy for Datta due to his working conditions and the fact that he appears to be a hard worker. Though it might be important to bear in mind that Datta is aware that some customers do not return for their pictures even after Datta has framed them.</p><p>What is also interesting about the story is the independence that Datta shows after he destroys the customer’s photograph. He has an opportunity to pray to the Gods but he instead decides upon taking the action that he does. Though some critics might suggest that Datta should have been honest with the customer he does still nonetheless appear to show some ingenuity. Though again some readers might suggest that Datta is simply displaying an ability to deceive. It might also have been braver for Datta to have been honest with the customer and to tell them the truth about what happened their photograph. Even if the customer may have looked for compensation from Datta. At least then Datta’s integrity could not be questioned. Whereas the reader is left with no alternative but to question Datta due to his actions. It is not as though Datta is struggling financially and if he is Laxman makes no mention of this in the story. If anything Datta appears to have taken the easy way out and decided to deceive the customer by using another photograph to fool him.</p><p>With regard to the sympathy that the reader may feel for Datta prior to his deception. It may be a case that Laxman is deliberately setting the reader up to feel sympathy for Datta. He runs a small shop and one is left to assume that he struggles as well. Immediately the reader feels as though Datta must be a hard-working and honest man. When the reality is very much different. Datta may be hard-working but he is definitely not honest. He is thinking only of himself and the consequences of what he has done when it comes to destroying the customer’s photograph. At no stage is Datta thinking of how the customer may feel about having a treasured possession destroyed. If anything it is easier for Datta to be deceptive rather than having to face the consequences of his actions. Should Datta have taken responsibility for his actions he may still have suffered at the hands of the customer. However he would have gotten the respect of the reader. As it stand the reader ends up switching their allegiance from Datta to the customer. Hoping that the customer will not be fooled by what has happened to his photograph.</p><p>The customer himself may be an important character. He is full of enthusiasm at the start of the story but as the story progresses his enthusiasm wanes when he is not given what he is looking for. Though he has been fooled by the replacement photograph the square frame is not what he has ordered. Which may be the point that Laxman is attempting to make. He may be suggesting that Datta through his deception has actually still been caught out. Leaving the reader to suspect that Laxman may be highlighting the importance of honesty. An individual may deceive but they must also ensure that they do so correctly and completely. Something that Datta has not done. Through his panic Datta has forgotten about the customer’s requirements. An oval frame with a cut mount. Even if the error is easily fixed the fact that Laxman ends the story with the customer complaining is enough for the reader to realise the importance of honesty. If anything Datta has left himself with more work to do not only on the replacement photograph and frame but on his character too. Datta has shown himself to be an untrustworthy individual who thinks only of himself and has a total disregard for the feelings of his customers.</p><p></p>$

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Answer 2

Answer:

The Gold Frame THE GOLD FRAME

The Gold Frame is a short story written by the cartoonist, R.K.Laxman. In this story the writer tries to bring out the characteristics of Indian middle class. The hypocrisy and false prestige, typical to middle class are well exposed in this story. The style of the story is consistent with the theme of humour.

The Modern Frame Works is an extra-large wooden packing case placed in-between two other shops. Datta, the owner of the Modern Frame Works, is the central figure in the story. He was a lean man with silver-rimmed glasses and the colour of seasoned timber. He was a silent and hardworking man. He spoke very little and discouraged casual friends and idle gossip.

Once a customer approaches Datta to get an old photograph framed in the best possible frame. He respects, admires and praises the old man which makes one believe that the man in the photograph must have been an ideal human being. The customer is great for his ability to recognize and respect such humanity. The customer has no will of his own so Datta comes to his rescue to help him select a proper frame. With his help he selects cut mount for his photograph. The customer talks as if it were his life's mission to get the photograph framed but he does not even likes to pay the price quoted by Datta. After getting the price and date settled he goes away.

His customers came days in advance and went away disappointed or came months later. Some never turned up at all and their pictures lay unclaimed in a box. Thus Datta would not begin his work unless his customers came twice before the date of due. His tall and rustic looking customer appeared after ten days to see the progress in work. When Datta grasped the interest of his customer in the frame he took out the photograph to frame it. Datta accidentally spills enamel paint on the sacred photograph of the customer. He tries to rub it with a piece of cloth but the figure peels off. The respectable old man's face turned into thick black specks sticking to the enamel smeared on the piece of closth in his hand. Datta was afraid of the consequences. Every nerve in his head throbbed as if it would tear apart if he did not hold it down. Datta thought of alternate solutions like framing another photograph. Luckily he found one with which he could take a fair risk. In his confusion Datta frames square frame while the customer has ordered an oval frame. This in a way saves Datta. The customer questions the frame and not the photograph itself, thereby saving Datta. This results in humour.

This story reveals the cunning nature of Datta. R.K.Laxman depicts the cunning nature of Datta. R.K.Laxman depicts the customer as a fool. The customer agrees upon the price though he feels it to be high. After all the lavish praise, a bargain over the price would make him still foolish. So his veneration for the old man as well as his willingness to pay any price for the frame is both dubious. Data is saved by the foolishness of the customer rather than by his own experience or cleverness. Thus the story The Gold Frame has suspense, irony, and humour resulting from the theme, characterization, setting and style.