A reading of the literal, metaphorical and third spaces in The White Tiger.

Abstract

Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger is a modern epistolary novel that focuses on the narrator’s transcendence of his lower class status. Balram Halwai escapes from his lower class fate as a nameless and ‘birth date-less’ member of society, and rises to become a rich businessman. His entrepreneurial story however, is not one of hard work or luck. Instead, Balram has had to sacrifice his family and commit a crime to achieve his success. The novel charts Balram’s progress up the social hierarchy, as he transforms from crawling under the tables to clean the teashop, to working as a driver, and finally becoming a successful businessman. Balram’s changing position in society is reflected through the different spaces that he occupies.