An Astrologer’s Day
-R. K. Narayan (1906-2001)
About the author
· Indian writer known for his works set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi.
· He was born in Madras, South India.
· He wrote many novels including Swami and Friends.
· He was among the best known and most widely read Indian novelists who wrote in English.
· He highlighted the social context and everyday life of his characters.
What is the text about?
Astrology is a form of fortune telling, originated in ancient Babylonia. It has been practiced in many cultures, including ancient Rome, Greece, India, and China. An astrologer’s Day is a thriller, suspense story describing a day in the life of an astrologer’s who makes his living by selling cosmos insights to gullible villagers, though he has no knowledge of the cosmos or actual insight.
Characters
The astrologer
The astrologer is very clever and cunning as he doesn’t know anything about astrology. He is so tactful that he can completely satisfy his customers’ need. He makes exact appearance that a perfect astrologer does. His forehead is resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion. He lets the customers speak at least ten minutes to gather ideas about their life and to know about their background. Having studied the customers, he gives so convincing advices and opinions that makes him a successful astrologer.
The astrologer happens to invite a stranger assuming him a possible customer at the end of day. Unfortunately, he is the man whom he left to death in his youth. The stranger is in search of him to take revenge. But the astrologer so cleverly deals with him that the stranger will never search him and he also takes unexpected amount from him. The visit of the stranger gives him a relief as he comes to know that he is no more a murderer.
The stranger
The stranger is the man whom the astrologer stabbed and left to death in the well nearby. His real name is Guru Nayak who used to drink, gamble and quarrel in his youth. He is in search of his enemy with the motive of taking his life as revenge. But he is completely fooled by the astrologer by telling his exact past misfortune. When he is falsely convinced by the astrologer, he returns home thinking that he will never return to the south. Instead, he will not leave home to avoid danger. Having failed to recognize his enemy, he is again cheated by the astrologer.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions
a. How does the astrologer’s appearance help him attract customers? How does he help the customers satisfy their needs?
His resplendent forehead with sacred ash and vermillion, his sparkling eyes, dark whiskers and a saffron -coloured turban around his head and his manner make him look like a genuine astrologer. His such perfect manner and professional appearance attract customers as the flowers attract bees. Making the customers speak at least ten minutes, he gives answers and advises that satisfy their needs. Thus, his sharp perception gained after long practice and shrewd guesswork help him satisfy his customers.
b. How do you characterize the astrologer’s attitude toward the stranger?
At first, the astrologer perceives him to be a possible customer. When he knows the stranger, he immediately tries to avoid dealing with him. But the stranger doesn’t let him go. Then the astrologer plays a trick to outwit him. He tricks in the way that the stranger will never search for him. Everything, whatever he does, is on his favour. The stranger is fooled.
c. What details does the astrologer give the stranger about his past?
The astrologer gives the stranger every detail of what has happened in his past. He tells the stranger that he was stabbed, then thrown into the well nearby and left to death. He is able to give exact details because he is the one who stabbed the stranger.
d. Why does he advise the stranger to go home immediately?
He advises the stranger to go home immediately to be safe from him. If he stays longer, he may know him and take revenge. He cleverly fools the stranger to avoid his own danger.
e. What is your reaction to the conversation between the astrologer and his wife?
The conversation between the astrologer and his wife makes the readers clear about the past life of the astrologer. By their talk, readers come to know why he has been pretending to be an astrologer and why he has left his home.
Reference to the context
a. Suspense is the feeling of anticipation you may have as you read. In this story, what details contributed to your feelings of suspense and surprise? Explain.
Suspension is the feeling of anticipation a reader may have as he/she reads. The details of the astrologer’s manner, his confidence to attract and fool the customers, and his technique of satisfying the stranger’s need contribute the readers’ feeling of suspense and surprise. Without any knowledge of astrology, he is earning good living by pretending to be an astrologer. To a great surprise, he hasn’t shared anything to his wife about his past life and his mental burden of being a murderer. Most surprisingly, the stranger believed whatever he says about his past. There are various indications of doubtful expressions in the astrologer’s opinions and advices, but the stranger blindly trusts him and doubly cheated.
b. Analyze the conflicts in “An astrologer’s Day”. Explain how the conflicts are resolved and what they reveal about the characters involved in the story.
The conflicts in “Astrologer’s Day” are more internal than between the two. Both of them are suffering inner conflicts, i.e., conflicts within themselves. The astrologer himself was living in his mental and spiritual conflicts. His conflict was that he thought he was a murder. He has two types of conflicts within him; first he was hiding not to be arrested and the second he was afraid of the sin of being a cold-blooded killer. The stranger was also living in self conflict. He was burning in the flame of taking revenge. He couldn’t live in peace. This fact is evident in his visit to the south where he met the astrologer in disguise and his expression while dealing with the astrologer.
The conflicts within both characters are resolved by the astrologer using avoidance strategy. The astrologer feels relief of being a sinner and also being punished for his crime. Similarly, the stranger will not wander for searching his enemy with the motive of taking revenge. His anger will gradually over and start living a peaceful life.
The astrologer seems to be clever, cunning, tactful and skilled at cheating people. On the contrary, the stranger is revengeful but can easily be fooled. He is straightforward but rather aggressive. He is superstitious man who blindly trust a fortune teller.
c. “All right. I will speak. But will you give me a rupee if what I say is convincing? Otherwise, I will not open my mouth, and you may do what you like.”
i. Who is the speaker?
The speaker is the astrologer.
ii. Who is he speaking to?
He is speaking to the stranger.
iii. What does the expression ‘open my mouth’ mean?
The expression ‘open my mouth’ means to speak or to tell the stranger’s fortune.
d. Description helps readers visualize what is happening in a story. What details and techniques does the author use to describe the astrologer?
The author uses the ‘story visualization’ technique to describe the astrologer. He evokes emotion from the audience and sharps the experience by visualizing exactly what has happened in the astrologer’s life. He artfully pictures his appearance as an astrologer, what special event makes him choose this cunning profession and how he outwits the stranger who wants to take his life. The description helps the readers visualize what is happening in the astrologer’s life and how he faces the obstacles to manage his life. Various visual images are used to evoke the emotions on the part of the readers.
e. Irony is a contrast between appearances and reality. What is ironic about Guru Nayak’s meeting with the astrologer?
Irony is a contrast between appearances and reality. Guru Nayak’s meeting with the astrologer satires those who fails to recognize their enemy. Those who are tricky always beat the foolish ones. Guru Nayak is doubly cheated in their last meeting since he spends twelve and half annas to be fooled himself. The astrologer’s appearance covers his real identity. He recognizes the stranger and comes to know about his purpose of visit, but Guru Nayak sinks into the sea of illusion created by the astrologer to avoid his danger forever.
f. How does the astrologer’s manner of dress suit his character?
The astrologer’s manner of dress says that he is clever, tactful and somehow cunning. Though he is entirely unknown about the astrology, he is a successful astrologer as he earns his good living by telling fortune of his customers. His forehead is resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion, his eyes are sparkling, he wears saffron coloured turban around his head and he grows dark whiskers. His manner of dressing suits his cunning character. It is because those who live on by telling fortune is tactful, so they can convince the clients. He is so silly that even his wife is unknown about his real life. As his dress covers his knowledge and experience, his manner conceals his real identity. His appearance has deceived all those who believe him. He disguises and earns his living and finally outwits the one who is searching for him to take revenge.
Reference beyond the text
a. The astrologer attracts many customers in the street who are pleased and astonished by what he tells them. What does this tell you about the people of the town walking in the street?
The astrologer attracts many customers in the street who are pleased and astonished by what he tells them. This tells the readers that the people of town walking in the street are superstitious, conservative and simple minded. They blindly support what the astrologers tell about their fortune. They never suspect him. His technique of satisfying the customers’ need fully enchanted them. People walking in that street are more emotional than rational. They never bother to discuss the reason and relation between cause and effect. For them, an astrologer is omniscient. They seem to be living under the dark shadow of illiteracy.
