Grace is the most unfortunate character out of all in the novel, 'The Vendor of Sweets' by R.K. Narayan. Critically comment on this statement.

The novel, 'The Vendor of Sweets' deals with three major characters and one supporting character. The whole story is woven around a conventional businessman called Jagan. R.K. Narayan is tactful enough to bring out the factors of Indian society just after the liberation. Foolishness, pretense, hypocrisy and many other human infirmities are discussed in Narayan’s writings. He takes an imaginary city called Malgudi to set all his stories. It is a sample of the whole world that we meet characters familiar to us as well. 

Grace is met to the reader for the first time at the railway station when Mali brings her from America. To the great astonishment of Jagan, Mali introduces her as his wife. She anticipates a rough and unfriendly response from Jagan. Though he burns inwardly, Jagan is able to manage the circumstance. Grace is a Korean-American girl. She has studied Domestic Science at the university. First, Jagan thinks that she is a Chinese girl. He is afraid as a crisis between India and China has been occurred at that time. Jagan’s approach towards Grace is friendly and respectful. She seems to be misled in a strange and quaint culture.

Grace tries her best to be adopted according to the traditional Hindu culture. She does all the household work as a conventional Hindu housewife. She cleans the premises, cooks and draws the adornments using rice flour on the floor. However, she cannot be uprooted from her original culture. She goes out at night and enjoys her freedom. Jagan is unable to understand it as a married woman is not allowed to go out alone in India. It shows the position given to the women in the traditional Indian culture too. She respects and pays homage to her father-in-law. This traditional old man is a marvel for Grace. She admires his notions of natural diet and cure. This is the first time that someone admired Jagan’s quaint intentions. Hence, Grace becomes a great attraction to Jagan. 

Though she is introduced as the wife of Mali, it is revealed later on that they are not married yet. Mali has promised to marry her following the Hindu customs. It is quite ironic that a man, who refuses and ridicules his country and traditions, intends to follow them at the marriage. It suggests that Mali has no intention at all to marry her. Grace has been exploited in every step. She has been used as a trap. Mali knows the secret attraction of Jagan towards his wife and exploits it to demand money from his father. Once, he threatens again to send Grace back to America if his capital is not provided. Mali further says that Grace is not in a good mental situation and she should be psychologically treated. The situation of Grace is clearly depicted here. She is alone in a strange culture amongst the strange people and receives no love, care, attention or affection. Hence, she has fallen down mentally.

The fate of Grace depicts clearly the pathetic situation of women in traditional male-dominated Indian society. Mali suppresses her and ignores her sentimental requirements. For him, she is merely a business partner. When her money is finished, Mali has no use of her furthermore. The youth, education, money and the sentimental feelings of Grace have been exploited by Mali. 

Therefore, with the light of the above facts, we can conclude that Grace is the most unfortunate character in the novel 'The Vendor of Sweets'.

- Saumya Aloysius