R.K. Narayan's Astrologer's Day: A Trickster Figure Analysis - Blog

This assignment analyzes the trickster figure in R.K. Narayan's short story, 'An Astrologer's Day'. The solution highlights the astrologer's deceptive practices and his ability to manipulate situations. The assignment begins by identifying the trickster figure as the astrologer and then delves into the details of his profession. The astrologer uses his knowledge of human psychology and his ability to create an illusion of insight to earn a living. The assignment then describes a crucial encounter where the astrologer's past catches up with him. The astrologer cleverly uses his wits and tricks to convince his former victim to leave the town. The assignment further reveals the astrologer's relief and satisfaction after successfully deceiving his customer. The author emphasizes the astrologer's ability to persuade others and his mastery of deception, which is central to his character. The assignment incorporates references to support the analysis.

Running Head: ENGLISH LITERATURE
: ENGLISH LITERATURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Name

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: ENGLISH LITERATURE
1. The trickster figure chosen for the case analysis is the astrologer from R.K Narayan’s
short story An Astrologer’s Day. The story is quite intriguingly woven with striking a
proper balance with deception, revenge and ironies of life. The astrologer has been
crafted with brilliant detailing and his immensely well talent of reading people is what
makes him excel in his profession. The dingy lights, his saffron attire and crimson
colored forehead along with his Ancient Syrian writing and enigmatic cloth charts
altogether sets the mysterious tone of the
story (Gale, Cengage).
2. The astrologer who is also the narrator of
the short story walks down his memory
lane as he encounters a customer to give an
account of how he would easily trick
people to believe his words and persuade
their minds accordingly. This customer is
none other than the man whom he had
attempted to kill back when he used to live
in the village as both got into a nasty fight
after gambling and drinking. However the astrologer been a master of his tricks made his
way through the conversation to know the actual reason for his visit and when he
understood that the man just wanted to know the fate of the culprit who had left him to
die, the astrologer used his expertise and could easily persuade his customer never to

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: ENGLISH LITERATURE
travel back to his village land as his fortunes lie in the city (Patel, Ramesh). Moreover for
utter satisfaction of his customer he also ensured that the man who once tried to kill him
died a bitter death and was crushed under a bus. Therefore Guru Nayak, that is his
customer being elated offered him a bag full of coins and went his way where as the
astrologer sighed a breath of relief knowing that Nayak did not die that night and he
could finally sleep with all his peace.
The astrologer is definitely a trickster because form his appearance, to his words and his
appeal he could easily persuade minds and have his way .It is exactly how he is earning his
livelihood years after years.

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: ENGLISH LITERATURE
References:
Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for RK Narayan's" An Astrologer's Day". Gale, Cengage
Learning, 2016.
Patel, Ramesh B. "THE DICHOTOMY OF INDIAN ASTROLOGY IN LIGHT OF RK
NARAYAN’S ‘AN ASTROLOGER’S DAY’."