Discuss the elements of satire, irony and humour in A Tiger for Malgudi, quoting examples from the text.

Satire, Irony and Humour: Satire, irony and humour are interrelated. Walter Allen says Narayan’s works are seemingly all-embracing, compassionate acceptance of the absurdities, pathos, frustrations of everyday life.

Narayan translates human qualities into his writing with the help of satire, irony and humour. 

Satire: It is a literary device used diminishing a subject by making it appear ridiculous. In this novel, A Tiger for Malgudi, the writer has used satire in different contexts.

For example, Raja, the tiger, passes satirical comments on human nature: “Human beings have their own theories. and it is always amusing to hear them think about us. Such ignorance and self-assurance!”

“For one used to the grand silence of the jungle, the noisy nature of humanity was distressing.”

“Tigers attack only when they feel hungry unlike human beings who slaughter one another without purpose or hunger.”

The Master also makes some satirical comments:

“Never use the words beast or brute. They are ugly words coined by man in his arrogance. Human beings think all other creatures are brutes’, awful word.”

“He is no brute…no more than any of you here.”

At the Collector’s office, Narayan satirises the behaviour of the officials who do not take prompt action on the tiger but insist on official formalities.

“The Collector observed them for a moment and said, ‘Have you brought your petition in writing?’ They looked terrified, having no notion of the world of letters.

The Collector felt compassionate and said, ‘I can’t take action unless there is a written petition. 

Go to a petition writer…. Get the petition on a stamp paper of one rupee and fifty paise and leave it with my clerk at the office. Then I’ll fix a date for inspection and take action.”

In the school scene also, there are satirical remarks on the overemphasis on official formalities.

While discussing the ways to get rid of the tiger, some teachers remark: “We can’t buy even a cane except through the D.P.I’s sanction.”

On the rampant corruption in government bifices and on cortupt officials, Narayanmakes his characters offer satirical comments as follows: “Every time we come, we bring him some offering: cucumbers or sugarcane, pumpkin, melon, or anything else.

Never see him bare-banded, and yet he is unhelpful.”

In the school scene. the Chairman of the local chapter of the Save Tiger Project who first does not allow Mr. Alphonse to shoot the tiger – declares the tiger a man-eater and gives written permission to Mr. Alphonse after accepting a substantial bribe from the latter.

These instances show that Narayan’s satire is mild, and not bitter.

Trony: It is a device in which the writer uses a word or statement to say the opposite of what the literal meaning of the word is. In dramatic irony, the character is ignorant of a situation the author shares with the audience.

In this novel, when Captain proposes a trapeze act through a ring of fire, his wife Rita opposes it and says: “I’m not prepared to spare any of my girls or set fire to myself just to please your fancy. I’m not an orthodox wife preparing for sati.”

Ironically, Rita commits suicide (Sati) after her husband’s death.

Another ironic situation happens on the film set. Captain first refuses to use the whip or electric metal gadget on the tiger whom he loves but he uses the electric gadget on the tiger after he overcomes by greed for money.

Humour: It is a device in which incongruities of life are used to create a humorous situation.

The conversation between Captain and his wife is an example: “All our animals…are in excellent condition”, he boasted at breakfast.

“Yes” said his wife, they are tended better than your family”.

“You must say something unpleasant – otherwise you are never happy.” “Your beloved animals may also have something to say if they could speak.”

“While your wit and eloquence are reserved only for the tiger and the rest, I suppose.”

“Yes, they need introduction not you: why are you always talking like this? Something wrong with our horoscopes….” “Your horoscope and the tigers seem to be better matched,” She would say.

Satire, irony, and humor are interrelated. Sometimes irony is present in satire and humor is present in satirical comments and ironical situations.

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