The document discusses several themes from the novel "The White Tiger" by Arvind Adiga, including identity, family, and the caste system in India. It notes how the protagonist Balram constructs his own identity and is dubbed the "White Tiger." It also explores how globalization plays a role in India and Balram's journey to find freedom from the caste system he was born into.

1. Various themes in “ The White Tiger” by
Arvind Adiga
Prepared by: Sejal Chauhan
Department of English,
M.K.Bhavnagar University

2.  The opening chapter establishes the theme of identity
 The novel explores how identity is malleable enough that one
can construct one’s own selfhood
 Balram prides himself on being a “self taught” entrepreneur
 At first he is nameless known simply as Munna
 Later he passively accepts the name Balram
 Inspector dubs him the “White Tiger”
 He accepts this name because it allows him to define himself.

3.  Play a very vital role in Indian Society as well as the novel.
 Dowry
 Save reputation and marriage
 Balram’s cousin’s wedding is not the only marriage that
disrupts Balram’s life.
 Pinky Madam and Mr.Ashok.

4.  In an interview with The Guardian, Adiga emphasizes the
importance of family in Indian Society.
 “ If you’re rude to your mother in India. It’s a crime as bad
as stealing would be here”.
 He explain, for Balram to abandon his family.
 His crime. “ This is a shameful and dislocating thing for an
Indian to do”.
 Adiga remarks his protagonist.

5.  Beginning of the novel
 Balram mention that China is the only nation he admires
besides Afghanistan and Abyssinia.
 Why?
 Because g he read a book called ‘Exciting Tales of the Exotic
East’.
 These are the only three countries never to be ruled by
outsiders.

6.  He dubs China the “ freedom loving nation”.
 A place that has never been subject to a master slave
relationship with the west.
 He observes that China does not have entrepreneurs.
 Hence the premier’s visit to Bangalore.
 China , then becomes a foil to India.
 Which he describe as a nation with “ no drinking water,
electricity sewage, public transportation………….” for chock
full of entrepreneurs.
 For this reason Balram tell the premier his story,

7.  believing that China and India are destined to become the
next great superpowers.
 “ In 20 years time it will just be us brown and yellow men
at the top of the pyramid, and we’ll rule the whole world”.

8.  Duality of light and dark.
 Light then becomes a multifaceted symbol of time, wealth,
location and obligation.
 While Darkness represent the past, poverty, rural India and
most importantly loyality to family and master.

9.  The white Tiger takes place in a time in which increased
technology has led to world globalization and India is no
exception.
 In India has played its role in the plot
 Since it provides an outlet for Balram to alter his caste
 To satisfy Pinky’s want for American culture
 Globalization has assisted in the creation of an American
atmosphere in India

10.  Balram’s taxi service is not an international businesss
 He plans to keep up with the pace of globalization and
changed his trade when need be
 “ I’m always a man who sees tomorrow’ when others see
‘today’ “
 Balram’s recognition of the increasing competition
resulting from globalization contributes to his corruption

11.  Throughout the book there are references to how Balram is
very different from those back in his home environment
 He is referred to as the ‘white tiger’
 A white tiger symbolizes power in East Asian Cultures, such
as in Vietnam
 It is also a symbol for freedom and individuality

12.  ‘ The white Tiger’ was a book about a man’s quest for
freedom
 Balram protagonist of the novel
 Worked his way out of his low social caste
 In the book, Balram talks about how he was in a rooster
coop and how he broke free from his coop
 His journey to finding his freedom in India’s modern day
capitalist society

13.  Beginning of the novel
 Balram cites a poem from the Muslim poet Iqbal
 Where he talks about slaves and says
 “ They remain slaves because they can’t see what is
beautiful in this world.”
 Finding his freedom

14.  Balram was born to the low caste in India
 He was exposed into a lot of corruption and immoral
behavior
 For example
 The shopkeeper selling his employees votes to the Great
Socialist during election time

15.  The White Tiger is the discussion of the India Caste System
 Higher and lower social classes
 The caste system still remains in rural India
 A person is born into a caste and the caste one belongs in
determines his or her occupation
 Balram gives his own breakdown of the caste system in
India, describing that it was a
 “……… clean, well kept orderly zoo.”

16.  Balram was born into the Halwai caste meaning “ sweet
maker”
 Adiga brings awareness to the corrupt India caste system
by having Balram work
 Balram’s quest to becoming an entrepreneur shows the
oppression of the lower caste system and the superiority of
the upper caste
 He tells the story of how India still has a caste system and
political and economic corruption is still present

17.  A struggle between good and evil
 Human beings have this choice
 They can live their life in a good and noble way or in a evil
and ignoble way
 Balram Halwai also hangs between good and evil
 His family overcome by the devil
 Balram Halwai’s “ Macbethian “ ambition to live like a king

18.  Master leads him to be a cold blooded murderer
 His father’s ambition
 These themes battle each other throughout the novel