Iswaran-The Story Teller Summary

Introduction

This chapter's title, "Iswaran-The Storyteller," written by R.K. Narayan, makes it clear that Iswaran is the person who tells a story. He is referred to as the storyteller as he is skilled in the art of storytelling. Iswaran makes the story believable using special effects, voice modulation, and body language so that Mahendra, the listener, are drawn to and interested in his story. The author wishes to draw attention to Iswaran's storytelling talent, making his stories seem authentic. His stories entertained Mahendra.

Summary

The protagonists of the story are Mahendra, a junior supervisor, and Iswaran, his cook. Mahendra owns a boarding home in a tiny village in India. He is presented as a middle-aged man who is always concerned and tense. He often complains about different illnesses and physical problems since he is a hypochondriac. Mahendra is also seen as having conventional and conservative views and having difficulty accepting new ideas. Mahendra's job required him to shift from one location to another. He was a straightforward individual, and his requirements were as well.

Mahendra was also accompanied by Iswaran, a great cook and storyteller. Iswaran accompanies him everywhere he goes. Along with giving his master excellent care, he also entertains him with captivating stories. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading exciting Tamil novels. Iswaran was affected by the Tamil thrillers because he would tell Mahendra the story while using facial expressions and physical gestures for the smallest incidents.

He once told the story to his master about controlling a wild elephant that had gone insane. He said that he was from a region known for its timber. Elephants there carried the logs to the vehicles. The beats were enormous and well-fed. But even the most seasoned mahout could not control them when they went rogue. One day, the elephant broke through a brick wall to reach the schoolyard where kids were playing. Teachers and students fled in fear to a secure location. Iswaran wasn't frightened, though. He moved toward the mad elephant with a cane in his hand and struck its third toe on the quick. The beast fell after shivering from head to foot. After hearing the story, Mahendra was amazed at his cook's bravery.

On a different occasion, Iswaran cooked a special feast for supper on an important day. He revealed to Mahendra that he had made a number of treats to appease the ghosts of their ancestors. Mahendra praised his cook's talents and expressed his enjoyment of the dinner. Iswaran opened by narrating a story, as usual. However, he discussed supernatural aspects this time. He said he was not scared of spirits because he had the courage to deal with them.

Iswaran revealed to Mahendra that the lodging they were staying at had originally been a graveyard and that he had also encountered spirits there. He made special notice of a horrifying ghostly woman who would intermittently emerge at midnight on full moon nights. She carried a fetus in her arms and wailed in a loud voice. When Mahendra heard this, he shivered in fear and rebuked Iswaran, saying that ghosts don't exist. He eventually went to bed but could not sleep because of his discussion about the ghost woman with the cook.

Mahendra began to feel uneasy going to sleep after that day because of his thoughts of the female ghost. Mahendra was asleep one night when he was abruptly startled out of it by a low groaning sound emanating from his window. He stared out the window to see the moonlight-filled night sky and a black structure in the form of a cloud that was holding a bundle out of curiosity. When Mahendra saw this, he immediately began to sweat heavily and fell onto his pillow while gasping. Iswaran began questioning Mahendra about the scene he had witnessed the night before the next morning. Mahendra was so terrified that he interrupted Iswaran before he could finish. He hastened to his workplace with the intention of resigning his job the next day and leaving a haunted place.

The Conclusion

In conclusion, this is a heartwarming story about the relationship between a servant and his master. Iswaran, a poor but innovative servant, attempts to convince his master Mahendra to stay in town by entertaining him with amazing stories. Iswaran's love and devotion for Mahendra are clear throughout the entire story, and it is pretty amazing how well he is able to enthrall and amuse his master with his fantastic stories. The story emphasizes the value of interpersonal relationships as well as the ability of good storytelling to enthrall and inspire its audience.