summary of R. K. Narayan's "An Astrologer’s Day"

Introduction

An Astrologer’s Day is a short story by R. K. Narayan.  It is in third person narration.  R. K. Narayan is a famous English novelist.  An Astrologer’s Day is about an astrologer, who overcomes a difficulty from a stranger.  The astrologer is a person with many characters.

The Astrologer as a cheat

The author opens the story by explaining the physical appearance of the astrologer.  He is a man with sacred ash and vermillion in his forehead.  He has a turban around his head.  This costume of the astrologer attracts people towards him.  He does not know anything about astrology.  He does not even know what would happen to him in the next 10 minutes, but he cheats his customers.  He acts as if he knows all about astrology.  He cheats many people by pleasing them and by saying astonishing things.

The criss-cross light around him helps him to cheat those people because they cannot see his face clearly, as he lies.  He is a liar even to his own wife.  He hides the secret of his past life.  Even at the end he says only a little of his past guilt of drinking, gambling and stabbing Guru Nayak.  This shocks his wife and the readers.

The Astrologer as a Stingy Person

The astrologer is a miser.  He does not have a light on his own.  He depends upon the light rays from the shops that are around him.   During nights, he uses the dim green light.  He closes his business when the nuts vendor moves.  This stingy nature is an advantage for him.  He feels happy with the criss-cross light.

The Astrologer as a Brilliant Person

The astrologer, though he is a cheat, is admired for his brilliance.  He faces his customers in an astonishing way.  He tackles all his customers and sends them satisfied.  This quality he has got from his experience.  He says things that 9 out of 10 people would agree.  In case of Guru Nayak, the astrologer is extremely brilliant.  He identifies him with a small light from the match and says all about him in a safe way.  He escapes from him vey easily.  He is very brilliant.

The Astrologer as Cheated

            When the story ends, we see the astrologer as a cheated person.  From the beginning, he cheats others but at the end, he stands cheated.  Guru Nayak instead of giving one rupee gives just 12 and half annas.  The astrologer worries about this.

summary of Anton Chekhov's "A work of Art"

Introduction

Anton Chekhov is a Russian writer.  He is a doctor.  He has written many short stories and dramas.  A work of Art, a short story, is about a statue, a work of art, which is disliked by many persons for its appearance.

Sasha Smirnov

Sasha Smirnov is a small boy.  He is the only son for his mother.  When the story opens runs in the streets with an object wrapped in a newspaper.  He goes to Dr. Koshelkov and unwrap the statue.  He presents the statue (candelabrum) to the doctor, as a thanking note for saving his life from a dangerous disease.  The doctor, at first, does not accept the idea of gifting by saying that he did his work and nothing extraordinary.

Dr. Koshelkov’s Reaction

Sasha compels the doctor to have the candelabrum with him.  The statue is made of bronze.  It has a couple of girls dressed like Eve.  The doctor admires the beauty of the candelabrum but he refuses to accept it.  He says that the candelabrum is not meant for public display.  The statue is obscene.  He also says that he is a family man and his children and many women visit him.  Sasha turns a deaf ear for all these reasons of the doctor.  Finally, the doctor is compelled to accept the gift.

The lawyer’s reaction

Sasha leaves the place happily by advising the doctor to see the statue just a work of art and not as a piece of obscenity.  He decides to give it to the lawyer, Ukhov, his friend, who never gets money for the legal services he does for the doctor.  He goes to lawyer and presents him thinking that he will not object the statue because he is a bachelor.  Ukhov says that his mother, his clients would come often and his servants may laugh at him.  Unmindful of his miserable cries the doctor leaves the candelabrum and goes off.

Shashkin’s reaction

The lawyer, in turn, bestows the candelabrum upon his friend Shashkin, a stage comedian. He gives the candelabrum when the comedian is in the sets. Everybody laughs at the comedian.  He closes the door and stays alone with the statue to avoid being ridiculed.  He is unwilling to talk with the visitors.  The wigmaker advises the comedian to sell the statue at an antique shop, run by an old woman.  Shashkin agrees to the advice and he sells the candelabrum at the shop.

Conclusion

Sasha and his mother run the antique shop.  The next day Sasha runs to the doctor carrying the candelabrum.  He goes to the doctor and presents it to him saying that the statue has a pair and thereby no one would think badly of the doctor.  The doctor’s jaw drops on hearing this.