Literary Insights: R.K. Narayan’s The Guide & Orwell’s Animal Farm

Posted on May 21, 2025 in Language

“The Guide” is a 1958 novel written in English by the legendary R.K. Narayan, earning him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960. Adapted into a movie in 1965, “The Guide” has remained an all-time favorite among Narayan’s fans.

The title of a novel, short story, or any other piece of literary composition is like the signboard of a shop. Just as a signboard indicates the contents of a shop, so too must the title refer to the subject matter of the work concerned. The title “The Guide” is quite apt and suggestive, for it deals with the life and career of Raju, popularly known as “Railway Raju,” who is a tourist guide. The novel also portrays him as a guide in a number of other matters.

Raju’s Character and Transformations

Raju begins his career as an errand boy. Soon, he acquires bits of knowledge by going through old journals, magazines, and other sources. He is intelligent, observant, and a shrewd judge of human character, possessing an inborn gift of eloquence. He has sound common sense and is tactful in his dealings. Those who come to his stall are pleased with his manners as well as the information he provides regarding Malgudi and its scenes and sights. He is always ready to help and arranges for their board, lodging, taxis, etc. His fame spreads, and tourists coming to Malgudi immediately inquire for Railway Raju. Raju learns as he earns, acquiring detailed knowledge about Malgudi and its whereabouts by talking with tourists, using this knowledge to great advantage. He has a rare knack for sizing up his customers.

His understanding of human psychology is profound. He never says “no” and makes vague, ambiguous statements so that he is never ‘caught’ even when talking about things he does not know. He engages a boy to look after his stall and himself sets up as a full-fledged tourist guide. Raju is a model guide, and those who intend to take up the vocation of a tourist guide can learn much from his example.

Soon, there is a slight change in Raju’s role. From a general tourist guide, he becomes a guide to one single family. This change takes place as soon as Marco and Rosie come to Malgudi. Marco is immensely pleased with him and engages him as a caretaker for Rosie. Raju, by his cleverness, is able to win her heart and seduce her within no time. He shows himself to be an adept lady-killer, capable of wreaking havoc with the female heart with his bold compliments, smooth talk, and flattery.

Raju’s next role is that of a theatre manager or impresario. As the guide and manager of a dancer, he manages her affairs so ably that soon fame spreads and contracts pour in. They earn a lot of money and begin to live in a lavish style. His tactful handling of Rosie’s affairs and his shrewdness in business dealings are beacon lights for those who intend to play this role. They can learn much from Raju. They can also learn from him that, whether out of jealousy or a feeling of insecurity, a man should not commit forgery, for it is sure to land him in jail! One should also be aware of mysterious, enigmatic people like Marco, for they may be plotting and laying traps.

In jail, Raju proves to be a model prisoner. He is well-mannered, hard-working, and helpful. As a result, he is quite happy and comfortable in jail, and is surprised that people are afraid of prison. Indeed, he is so comfortable that when his release comes, he goes out with fear and regret in his heart. Raju’s example, therefore, should be followed by all prisoners. Raju also is a guide in this respect.

Next, Raju takes up the role of a Mahatma, or to be more exact, the role is thrust upon him. After coming out of jail, he becomes a spiritual guide, a Mahatma, and plays this role with rare success. He makes mystifying statements and tries to appear important. People are impressed, and his fame spreads, bringing him gifts and offerings. His example shows that the same qualities can make a man successful as both a tourist guide and a spiritual guide.

Lessons from Raju’s Journey

In short, the title “The Guide” is apt and suggestive, for its central figure plays the role of a guide during the successive stages of his career. The novel is also a guide to life, for it tells us both how to achieve success and how to avoid the various pitfalls that lead to undoing. It serves as a guide to conduct, teaching us what to do and what not to do.

Key Facts: R.K. Narayan & The Guide

  • Written & Published: 1958
  • Full Name of R.K. Narayan: Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami
  • An Indian writer known for his work set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi.
  • Awards: Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, & Benson Medal
  • Famous Works: Swami and Friends, The Guide, The Man-Eater of Malgudi, The Reluctant Guru
  • Characters: Marco’s wife is Rosie.

George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Background and Allegory

Animal Farm is an allegorical and dystopian novel by George Orwell, published in England on August 17, 1945. According to Orwell, the book reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then into the Stalin era in the Soviet Union. Orwell, a democratic socialist, was a critic of Joseph Stalin and hostile to Moscow-directed Stalinism, an attitude critically shaped by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. The Soviet Union, he believed, had become a brutal dictatorship, built upon a cult of personality and enforced by a reign of terror. In his essay “Why I Write” (1946), he wrote that Animal Farm was the first book in which he had tried, with full consciousness of what he was doing, “to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole.”

The original title was Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, though the subtitle was dropped by U.S. publishers for its 1946 publication, and subsequently all but one of the translations during Orwell’s lifetime omitted it. Orwell wrote the book from November 1943 to February 1944, when the wartime alliance with the Soviet Union was at its height and Stalin was highly regarded by the British people and intelligentsia—a circumstance that Orwell hated. It was initially rejected by a number of British and American publishers, including one of Orwell’s own, Victor Gollancz. Its publication was thus delayed, though it became a great commercial success when it finally appeared, partly because the Cold War so quickly followed World War II.

Plot Summary

Old Major, the old boar on Manor Farm, summons the animals for a meeting. He refers to humans as parasites and teaches them a revolutionary song called “Beasts of England.” When Major dies, two young pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, assume command and consider it a duty to prepare for the Rebellion. The animals revolt and drive the drunken and irresponsible farmer Mr. Jones from the farm, renaming it “Animal Farm.” They adopt Seven Commandments of Animalism, the most important of which is, “All animals are equal.”

Snowball teaches the animals to read and write, while Napoleon educates young puppies on the principles of Animalism. Food is plentiful, and the farm runs smoothly. The pigs elevate themselves to positions of leadership and set aside special food items, ostensibly for their personal health. Napoleon and Snowball struggle for preeminence. When Snowball announces his plans to build a windmill, Napoleon has his dogs chase Snowball away, subsequently declaring himself leader of Animal Farm.

Napoleon enacts changes to the governance structure of the farm, replacing meetings with a committee of pigs who will run the farm. Through a young pig named Squealer, Napoleon claims credit for the windmill idea. The animals work harder with the promise of easier lives with the windmill. When the animals find the windmill collapsed after a violent storm, Napoleon and Squealer convince them that Snowball is trying to sabotage their project. Once Snowball becomes a scapegoat, Napoleon begins to purge the farm with his dogs, killing animals he accuses of consorting with his old rival. “Beasts of England” is replaced by an anthem glorifying Napoleon, who appears to be adopting the lifestyle of a man. The animals remain convinced that they are better off than they were under Mr. Jones.

Mr. Frederick, one of the neighboring farmers, attacks the farm, using blasting powder to blow up the restored windmill. Though the animals win the battle, they do so at great cost, as many, including Boxer, the workhorse, are wounded. Despite his injuries, Boxer continues working harder and harder until he collapses while working on the windmill. Napoleon sends for a van to take Boxer to the veterinary surgeon, explaining that better care can be given there. Benjamin, the cynical donkey who ‘could read as well as any pig,’ notices that the van belongs to a knacker and attempts a futile rescue. Squealer reports that the van was purchased by the hospital and that the writing from the previous owner had not been repainted. But in reality, Napoleon has sold his most loyal and long-suffering worker for money to buy himself whisky.

Years pass, and the pigs start to resemble humans, as they walk upright, carry whips, and wear clothes. The Seven Commandments are abridged to a single phrase: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Napoleon holds a dinner party for the pigs and local farmers, with whom he celebrates a new alliance. He abolishes the revolutionary traditions and restores the name “The Manor Farm.” As the animals look from pigs to humans, they realize they can no longer distinguish between the two.

Character Analysis

Pigs

  • Old Major: An aged prize Middle White boar who inspires the Rebellion. He is an allegorical combination of Karl Marx and Lenin, drawing up the principles of the revolution. His skull being put on public display recalls Lenin’s embalmed body.
  • Napoleon: “A large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way.” An allegory of Joseph Stalin, Napoleon is the main villain of Animal Farm. In the first French version, he is called César, though another translation uses Napoléon.
  • Snowball: Napoleon’s rival and original head of the farm after Jones’ overthrow. He is mainly based on Leon Trotsky, but also combines elements from Lenin.
  • Squealer: A small, white, fat porker who serves as Napoleon’s right-trotter and minister of propaganda, holding a position similar to Molotov.
  • Minimus: A poetic pig who writes the second and third national anthems of Animal Farm after “Beasts of England” is banned.
  • The Piglets: Hinted to be Napoleon’s children, they are the first generation of animals subjugated to his idea of animal inequality.
  • The Young Pigs: Four pigs who complain about Napoleon’s takeover but are quickly silenced and later executed.
  • Pinkeye: A minor pig mentioned only once; he tastes Napoleon’s food to ensure it’s not poisoned, in response to assassination rumors.

Humans

  • Mr. Jones: The former owner of the farm, a heavy drinker. The animals revolt after he neglects to feed or care for them. He is an allegory of Russian Tsar Nicholas II, who abdicated and was executed.
  • Mr. Frederick: The tough owner of Pinchfield, a small but well-kept neighboring farm. He briefly allies with Napoleon, allegorically representing Adolf Hitler’s alliance with Stalin, which was later broken.
  • Mr. Pilkington: The easy-going but crafty and well-to-do owner of Foxwood, a large neighboring farm overgrown with weeds.
  • Mr. Whymper: A man hired by Napoleon as a liaison between Animal Farm and human society. Initially, he acquires goods like dog biscuits and paraffin, but later procures luxuries like alcohol for the pigs.

Horses

  • Boxer: A loyal, kind, dedicated, and respectable cart-horse, though quite naive and gullible.
  • Clover: Boxer’s companion, constantly caring for him. She also acts as a matriarch for the other horses and animals.
  • Mollie: A self-centered, self-indulgent, and vain young white mare who quickly leaves for another farm after the revolution.
  • Benjamin: A donkey, one of the oldest and wisest animals on the farm, and one of the few who can read properly. He is skeptical and pessimistic; his most frequent remark is, “Life will go on as it has always gone on—that is, badly.” Morris Dickstein suggests “a touch of Orwell himself in this creature’s timeless skepticism,” as friends called Orwell “Donkey George” after Benjamin.

Other Animals

  • Muriel: A wise old goat, friends with all animals on the farm. Like Benjamin and Snowball, she is one of the few who can read.
  • The Puppies: Offspring of Jessie and Bluebell, taken by Napoleon at birth and reared to be his security force.
  • Moses: An old raven who visits the farm, telling tales of Sugarcandy Mountain, a wondrous place where animals go after death if they work hard. Orwell portrays religion as “the black raven of priestcraft—promising pie in the sky when you die, and faithfully serving whoever happens to be in power.” The raven “was Mr. Jones’s especial pet, was a spy and a tale-bearer, but he was also a clever talker.” Napoleon brings him back (Ch. IX), mirroring Stalin’s reintroduction of the Russian Orthodox Church.
  • The Sheep: They show limited understanding but blindly support Napoleon’s ideals with vocal jingles during his speeches and meetings.
  • The Hens: Among the first to rebel against Napoleon.
  • The Cows: Their milk is stolen by the pigs, who learn to milk them. The milk is stirred into the pigs’ mash daily, while other animals are denied such luxuries.
  • The Cat: Never seen working, the cat is often absent but forgiven due to convincing excuses and affectionate purring. She has no interest in farm politics; the only time she participated in an election, she was found to have “voted on both sides.”