subject: Dr. Rakesh Ravi's Evaluation of Premchand's Characterization in 'Godan' [print this page] Premchand's art of characterization is remarkable. He draws characters from rural India. His Godan is a novel of epical magnitude. It consists of a number of strong characters. No doubt, the central figure is Hori who suffers throughout his life, but does not lose his self-respect. Premchand brings to light the irony of character. Rai Sahib pretends to be highly sympathetic to poor farmers and talks of great ideals while in practice, his hypocrisy is exposed. He is the biggest exploiter of the poor. Perhaps the most ironic personality is owned by Dr. Malti who looks like a butterfly, but is in fact, beelike frugal and diligent. Gobar represents the young generation. In a way, all characters reflect the mind of their creator that is the novelist. But the characters of Hori and Dr. Mehta are regarded as autobiographical creations by critics. It is said Hori represents the physical and Dr. Mehta the mental aspect of Premchand's personality. Dhania represents all Indian women. She opposes her husband's simplicity, yet devotes her whole life to serve him.
Individual as well as Representative CharactersPremchand's characters are individual as well as representatives. For example, in Godan, Hori is an individual as well as a representative. His individuality makes him an effective character while his representation of all farmers makes him a universal character. Hori enjoys himself as an immortal character. His life is a bundle of failures in struggle to fulfill his desires. Hori is an image of humanity. He may be suffering bitterly, but does not wish to reduce it by inflicting pain to others. Whatever he suffers is the suffering of all Indian farmers in general. Premchand has developed his character to show what a poor farmer in India can endure.
Auto-biographical CharactersPremchand was a realistic novelist. For some of his characters he draws inspiration from his own life. Critics like Dr. Ram Vilas Sharma express a view that Hori reflects an aspect of Premchand's personality and if the characters of Hori and Mehta could be combined somehow, the outcome would, to a great extent, be much like Premchand. In other words, Hori represents the novelist's physical faculties of working hard while Mehta represents Premchand's mental and intellectual faculties for he stands for the novelist's thought element and his viewpoint regarding basic problems of human life passing through great miseries.
Rural Characters: Representatives of Poor Hard-working FarmersPremchand's rural characters are representatives of poor hard working farmers. For example, in Godan, Hori is a poor farmer. He has only five bighas of land. His income is limited, yet he has a large family to look after. He is not forty, yet poverty has shaken him so hard that he looks like a man of sixty. Dhania, his wife rebukes him for neglecting his health. Hori lives from hand to mouth. He can't think of milk or ghee when even dry bread looks costly. He has no means to pay off the borrowed money. His whole life is wasted in making efforts for the repayment. He is never afraid of labour. So often he offers his labour for no payment only to please the landlord. Just to arrange milk for children, he aspires for a cow. To fulfil the long cherished desire of having a cow at the door, he breaks stones and dies under pressure of this heart rending labour.
Presentation of Innocent Simple-hearted PeoplePremchand takes interest in presenting innocent simple hearted people. For example, Hori is an innocent simple-hearted man who is very far from the crooked ways of worldly wise people. There is no difference in his thinking, saying, and doing. But he is a creation of Premchand, the most realistic writer of our country. He does not wish to introduce ideals to be worshipped, but real human beings of flesh and blood who are human in real sense of the term and preserve imperfections with perfection and a few weaknesses with virtues.
Realistic Characters: Mixture of Qualities and WeaknessesPremchand's characters are not idealistic idols. They represent common human beings who are mixture of qualities and weaknesses. For example, in Godan, Hori is utterly honest but at a time he too resorts to a bit of dishonesty like salt in a dish. He does not mind underhand deal of five rupees while selling bamboos. His vision is confined to his home, family, and the village. He has a mind to take Bhola's cow, but he has no money. His simple mind makes a plan to keep Bhola under illusion that he would arrange for Bhola's marriage. When he has to accept two hundred rupees, for that he regards the money as a debt and suffers in mind for that.
Characters: Foil to Each otherPremchand's characters become foil to each other. For example, this is a basic difference between Hori and Dhania that Hori takes pride in being exploited, but Dhania protests against exploitation. Hori sells bamboos and try to earn some money underhand, but fails. When the cow is brought, all come to see that. Hori marks that his brothers have not come. He goes to Heera, but overhears that he is being accused there. With a heavy heart, he comes back. When Dhania comes to know it, she visits Heera to teach a lesson by showing her valour of tongue. The exchange of abusive language provides an entertainment to neighbours. Hori seems to take pride in being exploited, but Gobar is a revolutionary character who stands as a foil to Hori. Hori believes in old customs and flatters Rai Sahib. Gobar does not like it. Gobar is young and against rotten traditions. He does not see any harm in loving a widow. His love is true, therefore, he does not give up her when she is pregnant. In fact, in the character of Gobar, Premchand suggests the possibilities of a young rural boy in free India. Premchand hopes that the young generation will give up rotten traditions and visit big cities for self--improvement as Gobar does. Gobar revolts against injustice. Hori praises Rai Sahib in his family. His son Gobar does not approve it. He claims that Rai Sahib is a cunning fellow. His merciful simplicity is merely a mask to cover his ugly face. In hope of getting the cow, Hori gives straw to Bhola. Dhania and Gobar accuse him for acting foolishly. But it pleases them that a cow may come in their home. Hori asks Gobar to help in carrying straw to Bhola's house. Gobar meets there Bhola's widow-daughter Jhunia. Both are attracted to each other.
Dr. Rakesh Ravi's Evaluation of Premchand's Characterization in 'Godan'
