The Dark Marriage. Review on Dark Room, The - R K Narayan

There is something about every single book of RK Narayan that captivates its reader. He has shown all facets of life and has dealt with all emotions in as delicate and soft manner as can be desired from an author. Each of his books is different in its own way. While in Swami and Friends, RK Narayan captivates his readers with the youthful exuberance of Swami, in Bachelor of Arts, he tries to show the anxieties of a young man stepping into the world as a graduate. But The Dark Room is different in all aspects, for its depiction of a woman as she is dealing with a straying husband.

The story of a man straying away from a dutiful wife has become part of many a movie but none can do the justice to it that this literary piece by RK Narayan has done. The story as usual, is set in the fictional town of Malgudi and is about the marital discord between Ramani, a pompous and full of himself man and Savitri, his dutiful wife. In essence, the story revolves around the main protagonist of the story Savitri. She has to look after not only her husband and her three children but also has to take care of the household, which expectedly will turn into a mess without her presence. She has little else to do than to take care of her home.

Ramani is a senior officer with the Engladia Insurance Company and keeps himself absorbed in his work all day and night. Savitri as a dutiful wife is able to manage the household rather well while there is an undercurrent of discomfort brewing between her and her husband. And the children know it all too well not to interfere between them. The kids are scared of their father while they look towards their mother for all the affection they want. Ramani is shown to be a person who has little concern for his children as long as their mother is there to comfort them.

Trouble starts when Shanta Bai enters the scenario. She has been recruited by Ramani as part of his company’s hunt for female insurance agents. A fresh new face in the office, that too a female, it sets off all kinds of rumours which eventually get to Savitri. She starts suspecting Ramani and her suspicions are soon proved right. Tired of being ignored by a careless husband she decides to leave her home. She soon realizes that it was a sin to leave her home and children in the cold and decides to end her life.

She is saved by Mari, a part-time thief but a locksmith by profession. He takes her to his home where she is well looked after by his wife Ponni. Savitri refuses to take any of their help but soon gets to work in a local temple for a meagre earning. When she earns her quarter anna and half measure of rice she becomes overjoyed with the feeling of getting liberated from being at the mercies of all the people who have controlled her all her life. She finally believes that she has the strength to live all by herself and make some sense for her life. But she is soon overcome by her desire for her children and husband. She ultimately decides to return home.

Ramani is shown to be a man who has little else to do than to visit his club, roam around Malgudi in his Chevy, and is shown to be having little concern for his children. The little kids are too scared of him and prefer not to come in his way. He believes that the man of the house is always right and has the liberty to do just about anything. He believes that having a status as big as he had in his society it was okay to have a few flings outside his marriage.

Savitri is shown to be the typical housewife who will do just about anything to keep her husband happy. She doesn’t mind taking as many pains as possible just to keep her husband happy. With the underlying discomfort brewing between her and Ramani, she always retreats to the dark room to sulk. This is the room where all the old and junk of the household is kept away from clear view of all and the way Savitri retreats to the room makes her feel like she is similar to the junk of the house.

For a modern day reader, it does turn out to be surprising the way Savitri is shown to be a dutiful wife. The author has nearly given the impression that she is the perfect prized wife that every man must have given the fact that the wife accords such high regard for her husband. Yet at the same time, the underlying message for women’s emancipation becomes evident as the story progresses. The self-pity of Savitri is all too obvious as she decides to leave her home without her belongings. Yet, the thrill she gets by earning her quarter anna and rice makes her realize her worth in this world.

At the same time, it has been shown that Ramani doesn’t care to be bothered by the fact that his wife has left the home abruptly in the middle of the night. The author has created his character in such a way that the reader ends the book in contempt of Ramani.

Coming back to Savitri, there is a blend in her character towards the end. The reader at first sees a dutiful wife and a caring mother in Savitri who later rebels against her husband’s actions. These traits are blended well as she returns home and realizes that life is meaningless without a husband and children. The way this is shown in the book may surprise some readers but it is all true even in this day and age that our society and outlook has not changed much since the time this book was written.

The book will leave you with some thought provoking questions. What is more important for a married woman: her identity or welfare of her family? Can Savitri’s return to her home be regarded as her rebirth given the fact that she had strong bonds with her old life through her children? Is it impossible for a woman to attain her freedom? Is she really helpless?