|
|
|
|
Articles: Literature | A Man of No Consequence
- Dr. Rajeshwar Mittapalli
| |
It is not surprising that Subbaiah has no idea of his worthiness. He does not hope to attain it. Moreover, the fertility of his imagination (which enables him to weave interesting stories about the people passing by his house) does not impart him social interest or the strength of mind to take on the world and face its challenges boldly. It only drags him into the abysmal depths of self-doubt. Ra.Vi.Sastri himself passes the final judgement on Subbaiah.
Cowardice and virtue are incompatible. Cowards cannot be virtuous people; they cannot stand up and be good. There is much guarantee for it. To be virtuous one needs a mighty heart.9
Subbaiah obviously does not have a ‘mighty’ heart. He does not even feel motivated to overcome his sense of inferiority, leave alone strive for actualizing higher aims, which he has not set for himself in any case. He is doomed to live the life of a coward, in utter ignominy, Manorama or no Manorama.
Of all the Ra.Vi.Sastri novels, finished or unfinished, A Man of No Consequence is easily the best in artistic terms as well as in terms of depicting psychological and social reality. There is a perfect integration of the theme, characters and narrative technique in it. The application of Adler’s theory of inferiority complex is certainly one of its strengths but Ra.Vi.Sastri has taken liberties with the theory. He used it only after his purpose and did not attempt a textbook demonstration of it. One might say that it is an ‘Indian’ or nativized version of the theory of inferiority complex which Ra.Vi.Sastri employs in this novel in order to enhance its artistic appeal.
In the final analysis it would be better not to accord undue importance to this theory and its operation in the novel. Much of aesthetic value would emerge if the novel is studied on its own terms, as a work of art, and without elaborate reference to Adler and his theories.
| Be first to comment on this Article!
| |
|
|
|
 |
| Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
| Advertisements |
|
