Important quotes from The Guide by R K Narayan

Chapters 1-5

1. “I should have grown up like a thousand other normal persons, without worries in life.”(Narayan 4)
• Raju begins his long look back at life beginning with his childhood. He believes that his father ruined it by making him get an education. He hated everything about school but he hated Math the most.
2. “I have better things to do of a morning than make a genius out of a clay-head.”(7)
• Raju’s father gave up trying to homeschool him, thus beginning his downward spiral into trouble.
3. “What must happen must happen; no power on earth or in heaven can change its course, just as no one can change the course of that river.”(15)
• Raju has very morbid thoughts and really doesn't like how he turned out. however, he believes this is because it was meant to be. He was chosen to be like this from the very beginning.
4. “There is nothing extraordinary in my guess…”(21)
• Raju is careful what to say, anything could give him away as being a fraud or unworthy. This is something Raju plans to control.
5. “Boys must read, first. They must, of course, help their parents, but they must also find the time to study.”(32)
• Contrary to what Raju believes he claims to welcome the children's education. He either tries to convince the townspeople he is true. Or Raju believes that his education really did help hehe just doesn’t want to believe it.
6. “What can a crocodile do to you if your mind is clear and your conscience is untroubled?”(34)
• The crocodile is a metaphor for the jury, and your conscience and mind are your actions. Just as he wasn’t innocent the crocodile ate him, and he tries to convince the children to behave
7. “I have to play the part expected of me; there is no escape.”(37)
• Raju finally realizes the truth behind what he has gotten into, he is unsure of what will happen and isn’t looking forward to the future.
8. “If I had the inclination to say ‘I don’t know what you are talking about,’ my life would have taken a different turn.”(41)
• Throughout the book Raju has internal conflicts with himself, regretting what he did and loving his life. The source of this conflict is his lying and bending the truth.
9. “‘Either give him a defiant commission or do it yourself instead of all this wandering in the country...’ ‘I don’t know, Mother…’”(44)
• Raju mentions that he has no idea what to do in his life. He loves traveling the country but knows it won't last forever.
10. “It’s no good; nobody should fight.”(76)
• Raju begins to accept the truth of his god-like status and wants to protect the people of the village. Mainly, for food reasons but he does care about them.

Chapters 6-8

1. "No, no. Go away," she said. But on an impulse, I gently pushed her out of the way, and stepped in and locked the door to the world. pg 68
• Analysis: At this point in the book, Raju summons the courage to pursue Rosie. This is a critical point because of what it imposes onto Raju. This can be either seen as foolish on his part or romantic in the sense that he can lose everything.
2. "I am a poor man and you are poor men; why do you give me all this?" pg 69
• Analysis: Raju's popularity grows at an exponential rate. Those who seek his guidance bring him overwhelming amounts of gifts and food. Being the "holy man" he is, Raju decides to return the food and gifts to the women and children of the town.
3. "A thousand Banana seedlings are dead," said another, "if it continues, who knows?" They looked anxious. pg 70
• Analysis: as the villagers go through a rough time in growing crops because of a recent drought, they look towards Raju to make everything better. Although Raju tries to calm the people, he has no real power or influence on the rain. The people of the town expect him to make everything right with the gods, and all Raju can do is use his silver tongue to inspire his followers.
4. Velan and his men also picked up knives and started out for battle. pg 74
• Analysis: Throughout the story, the relationship of the townspeople to one another seemed friendly and calm. At this point, we realize that although their community is close-knit, things can get out of hand very quickly. This is also a sign of how fast tension is rising in the village.
5. "Thin as a broomstick, but talks like a giant," thought Raju, and advised, "Tell your brother to apply turmeric to his wounds." pg 75
• Analysis: Velan is one of the few people who Raju cares for at this point in his life. That is clearly visible when he now cares about the dispute once he hears Velan is involved.
6. "Say that I will not eat. Don't ask what. Ill not eat till they are good" pg 77
• Analysis: Raju begins using his power among the people to manipulate them into getting what he wants. Although he thinks his intentions are clear, they will backfire. Raju should have thought through what he was doing before getting involved.
7. "Because, because -- it doesn't rain" he added also, suddenly recollecting the fight, "no fight he says" pg 78
• Analysis: What the messenger boy said will condemn Raju. Instead of telling the town that Raju will fast only until they stop fighting, he told them that he will fast until the rain comes. Since the town believes that the rain WILL come if he fasts they believe it.
8. "No, sir. Keeping awake is no big sacrifice, considering what you are doing for us." pg 83
• Analysis: All the townspeople have gathered around Raju to give him their thanks for undertaking such an ordeal on their behalf. Unknowingly Raju gracefully accepts all their gifts and praise under the pretenses that it was for preventing them fighting.
  
9. “After all... after all is this right what I am doing? After all, he has been so good to me giving me comfort and freedom. ...” pg 93
• Analysis: this is the point at which Rosie begins to regret doing what she has done as any self-respecting wife would. She feels sorry for her husband and wishes he would be a man like Raju who accepts all of her and is passionate about something other than his work.

Chapters 9-11

1. “While watching Rosie do her practiced I seemed to get a clearer notion of what I should be doing.”
• Raju expresses the clarity that Rosie brings to him and his life.
2. “He shook his head lightly. The story of the “saitan inside” had evidently reached him”
• Raju sees that everyone has heard of the married women living with him.
3. “ “week!” I laughed at the joke. He looked hurt. Everyone seemed hurt by me.”
• Raju notices how Rosie being in the house has changed him.
4. “The world outside Rosie seemed so unreal that it was possible for me to live on such an assumption.”
• He feels that Rosie has changed Raju’s whole life. He thinks everything around him isn’t really compared to Rosie
5. “ The thought of her warmed me up. “She is a gold-mine,” I cried.”
• He begins to think about how Rosie’s dancing can propel them to prosperity.
6. “Are you now satisfied with your handiwork, you she-devil, you demon.”
• Raju’s mother releases all her anger at Rosie when her brother comes to try to change Raju’s attitude. She believes Rosie has caused all the wrong in Their Lives.
7. “Her name became public property now. It was not necessary for me to elaborate or introduce her to the public now.”
• Raju has helped propel Rosie, now Nalini, to stardom
8. “Yes; she was busy. But how can you call that forgery?”
• Raju is scared because he is about to be arrested for forging Rosie’s signature. He knows the magistrate, but he knows he’ll still go to jail.
9. “Every respectful word that this man employed Raju like a shaft.”
• Raju has just told Velan his life story and is flabberghasted that Velan still addresses him as “swami”
10. “Velan, it's raining in the hill. I can feel it coming up under my feet, up my legs- he sagged down.”
• Raju has been fasting for two weeks for the rains to come and while praying in the river he says he can feel the rains, but he sags down. We are left thinking whether he died or has passed out.

Chapters 1-5 By: Diana Kemmer, Chapters 6-8 By: Joseph Young, Chapter 9-11 By: Bruno Salhuana

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