Sociopathic Personality As Seen in the Main Character of Aravind Adiga's

SOCIOPATHIC PERSONALITY AS SEEN IN THE MAIN CHARACTER OF ARAVIND ADIGA’S THE WHITE TIGER

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

EKA SHANTI BUDI ASIH

Student Number: 044214047

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2011

SOCIOPATHIC PERSONALITY AS SEEN IN THE MAIN CHARACTER OF ARAVIND ADIGA’S THE WHITE TIGER

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

EKA SHANTI BUDI ASIH

Student Number: 044214047

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2011

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:

Nama : Eka Shanti Budi Asih

Nomor mahasiswa : 044214047

Demi perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

SOCIOPATHIC PERSONALITY AS SEEN IN THE MAIN CHARACTER OF ARAVIND ADIGA’S THE WHITE TIGER beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.

Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.

Dibuat di Yogyakarta

Pada tanggal: 15 Oktober 2011

Yang menyatakan

(Eka Shanti Budi Asih)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank and express my greatest gratitude to Jesus Christ for

His blessing, love, and guidance to finish this undergraduate thesis. I would like to give my deepest gratitude to my father Eddy Santoso, my mother Isnaningsih, my brother Yanuar and my sister Ajeng. Their love and support gave me the strength to finish this thesis.

I would like to thank my advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum. for her time, guidance, help and supports in correcting my thesis. I also would like to thank my co-advisor Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum. for the advice and correction to this work. I also thank for all the lecturers and the staff (especially

Mbak Nik) in the English Letters Department for all their guidance and help during my study.

I would like to thank all my friends, Bernard, Irine, Troy, Deva, Echi, Deon and Meme for the togetherness in finishing our thesis. I also thank forall my college friends, Fian, Astrid, Toni, Diah, Dhinar, Galon for the fun time in class and thanks to all my friends in the English Letters Department whom I have not mentioned yet. I also thank my family, especially my cousins, Arie, Tyas, Hoho,

Ita and Adit for encouraging me all the time in working on my thesis and for the laugh we have shared. I greatly thank Hanes for his support and all the things that he has done along the process of writing this thesis.

Eka Shanti Budi Asih

TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE...... i APPROVAL PAGE...... ii ACCEPTANCE...... iii LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI...... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... v TABLE OF CONTENT...... vi ABSTRACT...... vii ABSTRAK...... viii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION...... 1 A. Background of the Study...... 1 B. Problem Formulation...... 5 C. Objectives of the Study...... 5 D. Definition of Terms...... 6 CHAPTER II: THEORITICAL REVIEW...... 7 A. Review of Related Studies...... 7 B. Review of Related Theories...... 9 1. Theories of Character and Characterization...... 9 2. Theories of Setting...... 10 3. Theories of Social Psychology...... 11 4. Theories of Antisocial Personality Disorder...... 12 C. Theoritical Framework...... 17 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY...... 18 A. Object of the Study...... 18 B. Approach of the Study...... 19 C. Method of the Study...... 20 CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS...... 22 A. The Characteristics of Balram Halwai...... 22 B. The Social Condition in India in The White Tiger...... 34 C. The Social Condition Influences Balram’s Sociopathy...... 39 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION...... 52 BIBLIOGRAPHY...... 57 APPENDIX...... 59 Summary of The White Tiger...... 59

ABSTRACT

EKA SHANTI BUDI ASIH. Sociopathic Personality as Seen in the Main Character of Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011

The novel The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga depicts the portrait of social disparity between the rich and the poor in India. The gap that occurs causes the poor to be marginalized. They never get the chance to escape from poverty. The main character, Balram Halwai, tells how he comes from the lower caste and he can become a successful person in India. Balram tells all the way what he does to achieve his goal and escape from poverty. There are three problems in this thesis. The first problem is aimed at finding out the description of Balram Halwai as the main character. The second problem is aimed to depict at depicting social condition in India that is described in the novel. The third problem is aimed to find at finding the influence of the social condition that causes Balram become a sociopath. The writer applied the library research method to analyze the novel of The White Tiger. The additional sources are taken from books and other sources related to the study. This study uses the psychological approach because it discusses the psychological aspects of the main character. The theories applied are concerned with the theory of character, the theory of antisocial personality disorder, the theory of social psychology. Balram Halwai is portrayed as an intelligent person, selfish, cunning, irresponsible, dishonest, and lack of remorse. Social condition in India is influenced by caste which causes some problems. Those problems are poverty and unemployment, corrupt system of education, poor health service, as well as the dowry system and master-servant relationship. The social condition influences Balram’s psychological condition, in which he becomes a sociopath. It can be seen from the characteristics of Balram who is selfish, dishonest, lacks of remorse, always tries to show a good impression, and displays little affection or feelings. He has no real appreciation and affective response to other people. He also has a deviant sexual behaviour. All of his characteristics are shaped or influenced by the social condition in which he lives.

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ABSTRAK

EKA SHANTI BUDI ASIH. Sociopathic Personality as Seen in the Main Character of Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011

Novel Aravind Adiga yang berjudul The White Tiger menggambarkan potret kesenjangan sosial antara orang kaya dan orang miskin di India. Kesenjangan yang terjadi menyebabkan orang miskin tersingkir, mereka tidak pernah mendapatkan kesempatan untuk lepas dari kemiskinan. Tokoh utama, Balram Halwai menceritakan bagaimana dirinya yang berasal dari kasta rendah dapat menjadi salah satu orang yang sukses di India. Balram menceritakan segala cara yang dia tempuh untuk meraih cita-citanya, lepas dari jerat kemiskinan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk membahas lebih jauh tentang Balram Halwai. Terdapat tiga permasalahan yang dibahas dalam skripsi ini. Permasalahan pertama adalah bertujuan mencari gambaran Balram sebagai tokoh utama. Permasalahan kedua adalah bertujuan untuk menggambarkan kondisi sosial di India yang dideskripsikan dalam novel. Permasalahan ketiga bertujuan untuk menemukan pengaruh kondisi sosial yang menyebabkan Balram menjadi sosiopat. Penulis menggunakan studi pustaka untuk menganalisis novel The White Tiger. Sumber tambahan lainnya diambil dari buku-buku dan yang berhubungan dengan penelitian. Studi ini mengunakan pendekatan psikologis karena membahas aspek psikologis tokoh utamanya. Teori-teori yang diterapkan adalah teori karakter, teori gangguan kepribadian yang anti sosial dan teori psikologi sosial. Balram Halwai digambarkan sebagai sosok yang pintar, egois, licik, tidak bertanggung jawab, tidak jujur, dan tidak menyesali tindakannya. Kondisi sosial di India sangat dipengaruhi oleh kasta dan menyebabkan masalah. Masalah yang disebabkan oleh sistem kasta adalah kemiskinan dan pengangguran, sistem pendidikan yang korup, pelayanan kesehatan yang buruk, sistem mahar dan hubungan antara majikan dan pembantunya. Semua masalah tersebut berdampak pada Balram Halwai. Kondisi sosial berpengaruh terhadap kondisi psikologis Balram, dia menjadi seorang sosiopat. Hal itu dapat terlihat dari karakteristik Balram yang sangat egois, selalu berusaha memperlihatkan sisi yang baik, tidak jujur, tidak pernah menyesali tindakannya, tidak bisa menunjukkan perasaannya dengan baik, tidak bisa menujukkan respon terhadap orang- orang di sekitarnya, dan memiliki kelainan seks yang menyimpang.

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

The White Tiger is the debut novel by Aravind Adiga. The novel became the winner of the Man Booker Prize 2008, after defeating another candidate like

Sebastian Barry and Amitav Gosh. It was first published in 2008 and in the same year won the Man Booker Prize. His debut novel The White Tiger received attention from thousands of Indian readers because of the realistic picture of some facts about India. It presents the crude, dark and naked facts of India. Adiga portrayed different images of India, India of Light and India of Darkness. The inspiration comes from the fact about India that struck into the author forcefully: there is a gulf between the poor and the rich and there is a voice from the middle class that is never recorded. This novel got into a debate about whether or not it would become the winner of the biggest literary prize in the world. Although the winner was announced by the judging panel, not everyone can accept the decision.

This novel got many criticisms. One of the criticisms comes from Sam Jordison in his article How did The White Tiger Capture the Booker?

“I'm annoyed and embarrassed to admit that I hadn't really considered the White Tiger as a contender. Although I enjoyed the book, I had discounted it as too rough and too much of an over-enthusiastic debut to really make the running.” (http://www.guardian.co.uk, 2008)

Many Indian critics have expressed disagreement with the judge’s decision, many feels that The White Tiger presents their country in a poor illustration. One

of the criticisms comes from Amardeep Singh in his article Why I Didn’t like the

White Tiger.

“I haven’t been able to shake the sense that The White Tiger, despite its topicality and its readability, is somehow fundamentally fake. I almost hesitate to bother saying it, because it's quite common for Indian authors to be accused of composing narratives about India's poor primarily for non- poor, non-Indian reader.” (http://www.lehigh.edu/~amsp/2008/09/why-i- didnt-like-white-tiger.html)

Michael Portillo, a member of the judging panel of the Man Booker Prize

2008, provides a reason why The White Tiger became the winner. Portillo in Out of the Darkness Adiga's White Tiger Rides to Booker Victory Against the Odds, states:

The White Tiger takes a sharp and unblinking look at the reality of India's economic miracle and the work's attention to "important social issues: the division between rich and poor, and issues on a global scale. And it is extremely readable”. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/oct/14/booker- prize-adiga-white-tiger)

Another comment comes from Michael Portillo in another article:

“The novel undertakes the extraordinarily difficult task of gaining and holding the reader's sympathy for a thoroughgoing villain. The book gains from dealing with pressing social issues and significant global developments with astonishing humour.” (http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/stories/1146)

Although this novel has received many criticisms about the winning the

Man Booker Prize 2008, the writer thinks that it is still worth studying, it still offers more complex issues that can be debated. Having read the novel The White

Tiger, the writer found many interesting aspects. It tells about poverty, poor health services, corrupt education system, and the huge disparity between the rich and the poor in the country. The White Tiger is a satire novel about the inequality of the poor and the rich in India as a consequence of the economic growth. This

novel is a fiction but based on Indian’s reality. A literary work is the representation of life as Graham Little states in Approach of Literature, that the literature functions “as a representation of the situation and the thoughts happening in a certain setting time and place” (1963: 1).

The White Tiger is written in the form of letter by Balram Halwai, a young man from Bihar, to the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, who visits Bangalore on an official assignment. The letters are written in seven nights. His letters to the

Chinese Premier are a confession of Balram’s life story. He tells about the poverty of rural Bihar and the evil of the feudal landlords. In the letters, Balram describes his rise from his origins to his current position as an entrepreneur in Bangalore.

After he becomes a driver in Delhi, he becomes aware of the wealth and opportunity all around him, while knowing that he will never be able to gain access to that world. He realizes that there is only one way he can become part of this glamorous new India. The only way to become a rich man is by murdering his employer.

One topic that is interesting for the writer is the main character, Balram

Halwai. Balram describes his rise from a son of rickshaw puller into an entrepreneur in Bangalore. It is interesting that a poor man from the low caste becomes a wealthy entrepreneur, and it becomes a question to the writer, how he overcomes the poverty in the countryside to be a success person in the new India.

Another reason why the writer is interested with the main character is the characteristic of Balram. His characteristics are truly unique and interesting. The way in which the story is told is so refreshing and real. He explains his past of

becoming an entrepreneur through manipulation, murder, and theft, but as a reader the writer have a question: can we blame him? It is very interesting to the writer how the author can create a unique character; he can make the reader angry, cringe, smile, worry and sympathize at the same time.

The study focuses on the protagonist, Balram Halwai. The writer will analyze the character of Balram Halwai, and in this case his process of his personality disorder. Personality disorders are sometimes considered less serious than other mental disorders, however these disorders can ruin lives as any mental disorders can. According to Millon, as cited in Baron (1987: 532), people are diagnosed of having a personality disorder if they have inflexible and maladaptive traits that cause significant social or occupational problems. The problems are usually more disturbing to the society than to the individual. There are several types of personality disorders. Antisocial personality disorder is one of the types; the popular term for this type of individual is sociopath or psychopath. Sociopathy in males has more serious implications than in females, and this disorder is found three times more often in men than in women.

A person with antisocial personality disorder shows a lack of concern toward the expectations and rules of the society. They fail to adapt to the social norms and disrespect the law. Sociopaths seem typically intelligent and charming in the first meeting. They are characterized by a deficit of the social emotions like love, shame, guilt, empathy, and remorse. Though they understand the wishes and concerns of others, but they simply do not care. They believe that they have the

right to do what they want and to take what they can. They manipulate others by deception or intimidation for their personal gain.

In this thesis, the writer wants to analyze the influence of social condition to the main character’s personality. This study will point out how social condition gives influences to his personality and how he becomes an individual with antisocial personality disorder.

B. Problems Formulation

1. How is the main character characterized in Aravind Adiga’s The White

Tiger?

2. How is the social condition in India described in Aravind Adiga’s The

White Tiger?

3. How does the social condition influence the main character to be a

sociopath?

C. Objectives of the Study

Based on the problem formulation, the first objective is to know the characterization of the main character in the story. The second objective is to identify the social condition in India that is described in the novel and to analyze how the social condition influences Balram’s personality and leads him to become a sociopath.

D. Definition of Terms

In order to help understand the thesis and provide clearer explanation to answer the problem formulation, it is necessary to give the definition of the term used in this study.

Sociopath is a popular term of antisocial personality disorder. According to

Greene, Nevid and Rathus (2005: 277), individuals with this disorder break the law frequently, fail to act responsibly with interpersonal relationship and work, violate others’ rights. They often use their charm and have above-average intelligence. Hare, as cited in Huffman (2000: 533), describes individuals with this disorder as completely lacking in conscience and empathy, they selfishly take and do what they want, violating social norms without a sense of guilt or regret.

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Reviewed of Related Studies

The White Tiger is known as a provocative novel about the social condition in India, the social disparity between the poor and the rich. Some view The White

Tiger as a criticism about social injustice in India. Sebastian A. J, Ph.D in Poor-

Rich Divide in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger states that social injustice between the poor and the rich will have a dangerous effect if the problem is unresolved. Adiga wants to expose the economic disparity that happens in India.

He shows different images of India, india of Light and Darkness. The poor has no representative and gets a marginal place in the society. Balram is the representative of the poor in India who want to break out of the rules because they do not have the chance to get a better life. Balram realizes that it is difficult for him to get the chance to get out of poverty until he decides to kill his master and take the money to start a new life (http:// www.japss.org/upload/6poorrichdivide.pdf).

Sebastian A. J, Ph.D and Nigamananda Das, Ph.D in Drawbacks of Indian

Democracy in Homen Borgohain’s Pita Putra And Aravind Adiga’s The White

Tiger and between the Assassinations: A Comparative Study states that they tried to analyze the Indian democracy in earlier years and the recent years. They want to compare the development of democracy over the years. They think that liberty and equality are two important aspects in democracy but corruption has destroyed

them.

That is why it is important to look into the drawbacks of Indian democracy.

In the article they seek to reflect on the drawback of India in the forms of maladministration, deprivation of liberty or equality, prevalence of injustice, and widespread corruption. The comparative analysis would like to focus on how over the years the state of governance in democracy has deteriorated. Pita Putra by

Homen Borgohain and The White Tiger and Between the Assasinations by Aravind

Adiga have been chosen to compare the analysis.

Pita Putra is a novel that depicts the Indian democracy during the earlier years. This novel notifies that from the beginning Indian democracy didn’t work properly. The story tells us that the character in the novel who should be the guardian of liberty and equality has given into corruption. The White Tiger and

Between the Assassinations give a portrayal about the bad practices in the Indian democracy in the recent years. Through the novel Adiga wants to show the gap between the poor and the rich. Both of the authors portray the drawbacks of

Indian democracy.

(http:// www.japss.org/upload/5.SebastianandNigamanandaarticle.pdf )

Other studies mentioned above focus on the social criticism. This study will try to develop something quite new and different from the studies above. This study will focus on the psychological subject. The writer will relate the influence of social condition to the main character’s personality that leads him to become a sociopath.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theory on Character and Characterization

Characters in the novel are presented through characterization. A character in literary works is usually defined as the creation of imaginary person that seem life-like and the characterization is all things that are related to the character.

Rohrberger and Woods state that characters have particular personalities and physical attributes that can make them different from one other. The personality can be analyzed as the part of psychological aspects that considers people entirely as an individual and complex human being. Their consistency with their nature makes the characters behave in particular way (1971: 20-21).

Characterization is important to create the character in a story. The way the author creates the characters is defined as characterization. According to M.J.

Murphy in Understanding Unseen (1972: 160-173), there are some ways that the authors use to make the characters understandable to the readers. a. Personal Description

The author described the personal appearances of the characters such as the face, body and even clothes. It will help the readers understand the characters. b. Character as Seen by Another

The author describes the characters using the eyes and opinions of other characters. c. Speech

The author gives the readers an insight into the characters through what they say.

d. Past Lives

The author can give out clues to the events that help shape a character through his or her past life in order to get some ideas about the his or her thoughts, behaviour, and action. e. Conversation of Others

The author can give the readers some clues to a character through the conversation between other people and what they say about him or her. f. Reaction

The author can give out clues to a character by letting the readers know how that person reacts to various situations and events. g. Direct comment

The author can directly describe or comment on a character. h. Thought

The author can give the readers direct knowledge of what a character is thinking about and what he or she feels. i. Mannerism

The author can describe a person’s ways of behaving, which may also tell the readers about specific characteristics of different people. The habits or behaviour are the clues in examining the character closely.

2. Theory of Setting

Yelland, Jones, and Easton in A Handbook of Literary Terms state that setting is the element that gives the readers an abstract impression of the

environment in which the characters move. The setting is usually provided by the prevailing conditions (1953: 84).

According to Abrams in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms, the setting in the literary works is the setting of narrative or dramatic work that is the general locale, historical time, and social circumstance in which its action occurs; the setting of an episode or scene within a work is the particular physical location in which it takes place (1981: 175). The background of the story that involves place, time, or social condition is definitely the setting of the story where and when the story takes place.

3. Theory on Social Psychology

According to Psychology in Action, social psychology is a branch of psychology that studies how an individual’s thought, feelings and action are influenced by other people. The society and culture directly influence us from the moment of our birth to our death. Our culture teaches us to believe certain things, feels certain ways, and act in accordance with these beliefs and feelings. These influences are so strong and become a part of who we are, that we find it difficult to recognize them (Huffman, 2000: 601). To social psychologists, social influence refers to “any actions performed by one or more persons to change the attitudes, behaviour, or feelings of one or more to others” (Baron and Byrne, 1987: 224).

4.Theory on Antisocial Personality Disorder

People are diagnosed as having a personality disorder if they have inflexible and maladaptive personality traits that cause significant social or occupational problems. There are several types of personality disorder. One of the best known types is antisocial personality disorder. The term antisocial personality disorder is used interchangeably with the terms “sociopath” and “psychopath. The differences between sociopath and psychopath have been revealed. According to Lykken, sociopaths have normal temperaments, and their personality disorder tends to affect their lives regarding parenting, peers, and their intelligence. They often believe they are doing something good for society or at least nothing that bad.

Psychopaths were born with temperamental differences, their emotionlessness and fearlessness that lead them to being risk seekers, impulsive, and not being able to socialize normally.

(http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1013712/sociopath_vs_sociopath_there

_is_a_pg3.html?cat=72)

An individual with antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of regard for the moral or legal standard in society. There is inability to get along with others. An individual with this disorder is called a sociopath or psychopath.

Davison and Neale in Abnormal Psychology describe that an individual with antisocial personality disorder shows an almost total disregard for the rights of others. Rules and regulation are not for them. They are often irritable and aggressive, highly impulsive, seeming fearless in the face of danger and highly deceitful, they will lie for their personal gain. They typically show no remorse

after performing actions that harm others (1996: 271-272).

Huffman states that the causes of antisocial disorder are not completely understood, research supports both nature and nurture explanations. Evidence also exists from environmental or psychological causes (2000: 533). The causes of antisocial personality disorder could be the environment a person is brought up in or the current circumstances he or she is going through. This includes the family, neighborhood members and friends that a person grew up with and events that had occurred. Good or bad treatments that he or she had received from others could also affect. People with antisocial personality often come from homes characterized by emotional deprivation, absence of parental discipline, low socioeconomic status and antisocial behaviour on the part of the parents. The behaviour pattern that indicates antisocial personality disorder begins in childhood or adolescence and continues into adulthood. However, antisocial and criminal behaviour related to this disorder tends to decline with age, and may disappear when the individual reaches the age of 40. Nevertheless, this is not the case with personality traits that underlie antisocial disorder—traits such as egocentricity, manipulative, lack of empathy, lack of guilt or remorse, and cruelty towards others. Those traits are relatively stable with age (2005: 277).

People with antisocial personality disorder persistently violate the rights of others and, often, the laws. They ignore social norms, are impulsive, and fail to develop interpersonal and work commitments. They often show their charisma in outer appearance and have above average intelligence.

Harvey Cleckley provides a more detailed explanation about the

characteristics of the people with antisocial personality disorder in his book The

Mask of Sanity. He formulated a set of criteria to recognize the antisocial personality disorder (1976: 339-364):

1. Superficial charm and good “intelligence”

Sociopaths exude charm that gives a positive impression during the first encounter. They do not seem peculiar or fake; people will tend to regard them as normal and agreeable, intelligent people. Psychometric tests also very frequently attest to their superior intelligence. (ibid. 338)

2. Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking

Sociopaths do not have delusions, and also react they way normal people do. They have excellent logical reasoning, and when exposed to direct psychiatric examination do not show anything pathologic. Observers may view them as people of compassion and firm assurance. (ibid. 339)

3. Absence of “nervousness” and psychoneurotic manifestation

Sociopaths are devoid of reactions stemming from nervousness. They are always extraordinarily calm even under extreme circumstances. During captive or in psychiatric facility, they may indeed become tense but only from external influences, not from penitence or insecurity from within themselves. (ibid. 339)

4. Unreliability

Sociopaths are likely to perform an excellent amount of reliability, maybe even in a long period to achieve gain, before finally showing their true colour and disregarding obligations and responsibility. (ibid. 340)

5. Untruthfulness and insincerity

Sociopaths are not capable of truthfulness. They easily promise anything to declare their innocence. They will lie about anything in any condition but show no marked signs typical of liars in their speech. However, when confronted with their lies, they can admit them straightforwardly without flinching. (ibid. 341)

6. Lack of remorse or shame

Sociopaths will declare themselves innocent of any blame and responsibility, never showing major shame or remorse. (ibid. 343)

7. Inadequately motivated antisocial behaviour.

Sociopaths are unreliable and willing to commit any criminal behaviour, even that which holds a great risk. In addition, they do it seemingly without scruple or even purpose. (ibid. 343)

8. Poor judgment and failure to learn from experience

Despite their brilliance, sociopaths may go after their objectives while throwing away great chances for gaining. In addition, no amount of punishment is likely to bring them to change their tune. (ibid. 345)

9. Pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love

Sociopaths are always self-centred and detached from others. They have no capacity for sincere compassion, but are sometimes impressively adept in pretending to demonstrate such emotion. (ibid. 346)

10. General poverty in major affective reactions

Sociopaths display little affection or feelings. While normal people would show despair when locked up, they do not show the same tragic quality of

reaction. Moreover, despite often being humorous, they never have a true sense of humour. (ibid. 348)

11. Specific loss of insight

Sociopaths cannot view themselves from the perspective of others. They cannot imagine other people’s feelings when they put themselves in others’ shoes.

Instead of facing the situation and coming up with a realization of it, they put blame on others but with excellent reasoning despite maybe with a lame excuse.

(ibid. 350)

12. Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations

Sociopaths have no real appreciation and affective response to other people.

They may perform it only when gaining something from doing so. (ibid. 354)

13. Fantastic and uninviting behaviour with drink and sometimes without

Sociopaths are likely to indulge in alcohol at some point. However, alcohol does not bring out impulses that are not characteristics of them. It only serves as a catalyst that lowers their inhibition. What sets them apart from neurotic drinkers is that they realize what they have done when drinking but will likely to drink again knowing that. Neurotic drinkers, on the other hand, when sober, will regret what they have done during drinking. (ibid. 355)

14. Suicide rarely carried out

Sociopaths may pass up opportunities but will never commit suicide. They may show suicidal threats which are almost always empty. (ibid. 358)

15. Sex life impersonal, trivial and poorly integrated

Deviant sexual behaviours are common in sociopaths but they do not crave sex or are moved by it as much as normal people do. They also regard sex more casually than most people do. (ibid. 359)

16. Failure to follow any life plan

Sociopaths do not set a consistent life plan. Conversely, they may even sabotage their own life and attribute failures to foolishness. (ibid. 364)

C. Theoretical Framework

The writer tries to apply the theories above to answer the problems formulated in the problem formulation. First, the writer wants to understand the main character more closely so that the writer can see his personality by using the theories of characterization. By analyzing it, the writer hopes to find the position of the main character in the society.

The theory of setting is the main theory to answer the second. The writer uses the theory to show the social condition of India described in the novel.

The theories of antisocial personality disorder are the theories to answer the third question in problem formulation. In analyzing the third problem to show how the social condition gives influences toward the main character and leads him to be a sociopath, the writer uses the theory of antisocial personality. In the writer’s opinions, those theories are reliable to answer the third problem. By using this theory, the writer will be able to show certain symptoms of a sociopath.

The writer also uses the statements and sentences in the novel to convey the description of the main character in the novel, to know about the social condition in India described in the novel and to find out the influences toward the main character’s personality.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object of the study in this thesis is The White Tiger, a debut novel by an

Indian author, Aravind Adiga. It was first published in the United States of

America in 2008 by Simon and Schuster Inc and consists of 288 pages and seven chapters. The version used in this thesis was published by Free Press, a division of

Simon & Schuster, Inc. It is a paperback edition published in 2008. The novel became the winner of the Man Booker Prize 2008. This novel got into a debate about whether or not it would become the winner of the biggest literary in the world.

Adiga’s The White Tiger is a novel which presents a dark view of modern day life in India. The story in the novel is presented by a first person narrator. The narrator is telling the story from his point of view.

The novel describes the contrast between India’s rise as a modern global economy and the working class people who live in rural poverty. The novel takes the form of a series of letters written late at night by Balram Halwai, the main character, to Wen Jiabao, the Premier of China, who is scheduled to visit India soon. For seven nights Balram tells the story of his life. He tells his journey from darkness of village life to the light of entrepreneurial success. Balram describes his rise from a son of rickshaw puller become an enterpreneur in Bangalore. He is constantly looking for the opportunities that can release him from poverty. He

becomes aware of the wealth and opportunity all around him, while knowing that he will never be able to gain the access to that world. Balram realizes that a little dishonesty can bring him enough money for a secure future. He realizes that there is only one way he can achieve his dream, the only way to become a rich man is to murder his employer and to run away to Bangalore with his money loot and starts his own business there.

B. Approach of the Study

In this study, the writer analyzes the novel using the psychological approach.

This approach is the most suitable to answer the problem formulation. Although literature is different from psychology, there is a close relationship between the two which benefit one other. Literature is related to the world of fiction, drama, poetry, and essay, which are classified into the art, while psychology refers to the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. Although different, both have a commonality, in that both discuss human and life. According to

Wellek and Warren, psychology and literature are closely related, in which some of literary works talk about psychology cases. They say that people can learn about the theory of psychology that may be revealed in works of literature by analyzing the works (1956:81).

In analyzing a character in a novel, the psychological approach is related to the human behaviour, the attitude, and also the mind of the character. The psychological approach helps the writer to understand the personality of character.

According to Rohrberger and Woods, the psychological approach is to explain

human motivation, personality and behaviour patterns written in literary objects.

Both literature and psychology discuss people and human lives. Literature discusses humans and their lives; those are expressed through language as a works of literature. Meanwhile psychology is the study of man’s life along with their mind and behaviour. They also state that the psychological approach brings us to analyze the novel from the psychological point of view of human being (1971:12-

13).

Since the study is related to the personality disorder of the main character, which is part of psychology, psychological approach is appropriate to apply in the analysis of the study. The writer applies the theory of psychology to make a deeper analysis. It is important to know the personality of the main character and to point out the aspects that influence it.

C. Method of the Study

In this study, the writer used library research to answer the problems that are formulated in the previous chapter. In this thesis, two kinds of sources are used. They are primary and secondary sources. The primary source was taken from the novel itself, The White Tiger written by Aravind Adiga. The secondary sources are articles, essay, and criticisms, which were taken from books found in the library and from the internet. The secondary sources are used to support this thesis.

There were three steps that the writer has done in analyzing the study. The first step was reading the novel in detail to get a deeper understanding about the

novel. In the second step, the writer collected the supporting data which describe the novel both in books and the internet. The writer looked for books suitable for this study; the examples of those books are Davison and Neale’s Abnormal

Psychology, Coleman’s Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life, Huffman and

Vernoy’s Psychology in Action. The final step wass to analyze the element of the novel, since the characteristics of the main character become the first problem formulation, the theory of character and characterization was used to acquire detailed information about the character. To answer the second question, the writer analyzed the social condition described in the novel. In order to answer the third question, the writer would like to analyze how the social condition influences his personality and leads him to become a sociopath.

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the problems formulated in the earlier chapter will be answered. Based on the problem formulation, this chapter will be divided into three parts. The first part covers the character and characterization of Balram

Halwai, the main object of this study. The second is the part the social condition where the main character lives will be elaborated. Last but not least, in the third part it will be explained how the social condition gives influences toward the main character and leads him to become a sociopath.

A. The Characteristics of Balram Halwai

A character is an essential element in the work of literature. The writer will analyze the main character, Balram Halwai, and his characterization to make a deeper analysis.

1. Smart

According on the Murphy’s theory, a character can be described from the conversation of other people in the story. In the novel, the teacher and the school inspector recognizes that Balram is a smart kid. Balram is considered as a bright child among his peers and classmates. He attends a school in his village. When the school inspector comes to the school to do an inspection, he gives the students a question that no one can answer. The teacher chooses Balram for being able to read and write when nobody else can. The school inspector tests Balram’s

cleverness by asking him to read the sentence on the blackboard, to write his own name, and to read the time from his watch.

“Try Balram, sir,” the teacher said. He’s the smartest of the lot. He reads well.” (2008:29) The inspector pointed his cane straight at me. “You, young man, are an intelligent, honest, vivacious fellow in this crowd of thugs and idiots. In any jungle, what is the rarest of animals- the creature that comes along only once in a generation?” “The white tiger” “That’s what you are the in this jungle” “I’ll write to Patna asking them to send you a scholarship. You need to go to a real school. You need to a real uniform and a real education.” (2008: 30).

On the dialogue above, Balram is recognized as a smart kid by his teacher and the school inspector. After knowing Balram’s cleverness, the school inspector gives him the nickname “the white tiger”. He also promises Balram a scholarship to attend a proper school.

Murphy theorized that a character can be described from the past life.

Balram considers himself “half-baked”. He is not allowed to finish school like most children of his age but he has broad general knowledge. He likes to eavesdrop on people in the tea shop to enrich his knowledge that he can not get due to dropping out.

I used my time at the tea shop in Laxmangarh to spy on every customer at every table, and overhear everything they said. I decided that this was how I would keep my education going forward-that’s thesay for one good thing I’ll say for myself. I’ve always been a big believer in education-especially my own (2008: 43).

Balram’s habit of listening to conversations of others to enrich his knowledge does not disappear when he works as driver. When he is working in

Dhanbad he learns a lot from eavesdropping his employer’s conversations about

India, America and he even learns a bit about English.

The more they talked, the faster I massaged. They talked about politics, coal and about your country- China. I absorbed everything-that’s the amazing thing about entrepreneurs. We are like sponges- we absorb and grow (2008:60).

From the dialogue above, Balram is always looking for a way to keep learning even tough he can not learn in school. However, the ways he uses to enrich his knowledge are not responsible because he is using his time to work. He does it by eavesdropping his employers or his consumers.

Balram never finishes school, but he has always thought a step further than his friends. When a fellow driver can do not anything about the prohibition of the poor to enter the shopping mall, he feels degraded as a human being. Balram looks for ideas to enter to the mall without being spotted by the security guard and evicted from that place.

I went to the gateway of the mall in my new white T-shirt. But there, the moment I saw the guard, I turned around- went back to the Honda City. Even as I was walking inside the mall, I was sure someone would say, Hey! That man is a paid driver! What’s he doing in here? There were guards in gray uniforms on every floor- all of them seemed to be watching me. It was my first taste of the fugitive’s life. (2008: 128). Getting out was as tricky as getting in, but again the guards didn’t say a word to me, and I walked back to the parking lot, got into the car, and changed back into my usual, richly colored T-shirt in a bundle near my feet (2008: 129). He feels the injustice when the poor are prohibited from entering the mall.

Balram’s friends can only keep silent and accept the mistreatment of the prohibition to enter to the mall but Balram can not simply accept it. He looks for ideas so he can get into the mall. He is diguised as a rich man, wearing a shirt like his master and wearing the shoes that are hidden in the car. First, he is doubtful enters the mall; he is afraid of being driven out by the guard. He finally enters the

mall and feels the atmosphere inside the mall. The guards do not realize that

Balram is a driver because of his appearance.

Balram always thinks several steps ahead. When he is a fugitive for killing his employer he does not think to hide like everyone else. He is looking for ways to make it survive in Bangalore. He knows that the police are corrupt and can be bought off with money easily by someone rich and powerful. When all fugitives try to avoid the police, he actually goes to the police and gives bribes to facilitate his plan to open his own car centre company.

I acted like an important man, and made sure the policemen saw the red bag by swinging it a lot. Then I insisted on seeing the big man there, the inspector. He counted the money- ten thousand rupees- heard what I wanted, and asked for double. I gave him bit more, and he was happy. I tell you, Mr. Premier. My poster was right there, the one that I had seen earlier, the whole time I was negotiating with him. THE WANTED POSTER, with the dirty little photo of me. (2008: 257) Balram, with his intelligence, tries to find a way so he can hide safely. The ways that he uses is to go to the police station, acting like an innocent man, and giving bribes to the police inspector. When other fugitives are hiding in the dark places, Balram chooses to hide in the light.

2. Selfish

Since Balram quits school, he follows his brother, Kishan, to work in the teashop. The owner of the shop fires him because Balram is not working properly.

No one wants to hire him in Laxmangarh. He does not think of his family when he loses his job.

I did my job with near total dishonesty, lack of dedication, and insincerity. Instead of wiping out spots from tables and crushing coals for the oven, I used my time at the tea shop in Laxmangarh to spy on every customer at every table, and overhear everything they said. Eventually I got sent home. No one else in Laxmangarh would hire me after that, even as a field hand. So it was mostly for my sake that Kishan and Dilip had come to Dhanbad—to give me a chance to start career as a human spider afresh (2008: 43-44)

Balram never finishes his work. He prefers to eavesdrop on the customers.

The employer is angry to see Balram being irresponsible for the job and chooses to fire him. Balram does not think about the consequences of his actions. Balram’s brother, Kishan, quits from his job because no one wants to hire Balram. They move into Dhanbad and look for a new job.

Balram hears some conversations that drivers get big salaries. He gets interested in driving lessons but does not have the money to pay, and eventually the grandmother agrees to pay the fee to drive, with a condition that Balram must give a receipt of his salary every month. Balram forgets his promise; he refuses to send money home to his struggling family.

Great news! Granny had agreed to let them invest in my driving classes. “There’s only one thing,” Kishan said.” Granny says you’re a greedy pig. She wants you to swear by all the Gods in heaven that you won’t forget her once you rich.” “Pinch your neck and swear- you’ll send every rupee you make every month back to Granny.” (2008: 47) “You’ve not sent any money for months. You forgot our arrangement.” (2008:71-72)

Balram accepts the term given by his grandmother, and he promises to send the money to his family in the village. Because of his selfishness, Balram forgets his promise. He does not send the salary that he receives to his family. His grandmother sends a letter to Balram through his employer. She wants Balram to

marry, but Balram considers the letter as a threat. He does not want his grandmother to tell his master the fact that he never sends his salary to his family.

I did not want to obey Kusum. She was blackmailing me; I understood why she had sent that letter through the Mongoose. If I refused, she would blow the whistle on me- tell Mr. Ashok I hadn’t been sending money home (2008: 165)

Balram knows it will be difficult to achieve success because he comes from a low caste and is only a driver. He recognizes there is only one way to achieve his dream: killing his employer and carrying off his money. Balram knows that his employer’s family will take revenge on him. His brother and their children may be slaughtered, the women of the family may be raped, but he does not care.

One day, I know, Dharam, this boy who is drinking my milk and eating my ice cream in big bowls, will ask me, Couldn’t you have spared my mother? Couldn’t you have written to her telling her to escape in time? (2008: 272)

Balram knows all the consequences he will receive if he kills his master. He was knows that his employer’s family will take revenge against his family in the village. Although he knows the risks, he keeps his plan without thinking of his family. His family will receive the consequences of his deeds. Balram flees with his nephew, knowing that one day his nephew will demand the responsibility from him. His nephew will ask why he did not save his family when in fact he had a chance to save them; he could send a letter to the house before killing his master so they could flee to a safe place.

3. Cunning

Balram knows that being a driver in New Delhi will get him more money.

He looks for a way to get selected to be the driver invited to the city but it is not easy because he is the driver number two in the house of his employer. He should give some money to the guard. That makes him cancel his desire to be a driver in

Delhi. Balram accidentaly knows that the number one driver has been lying to his master. He claims of being a Hindu in front of his master and the guard covers his lies. Balram uses this excuse to get special treatment from the guard who has always treated him cruelly. Balram uses this opportunity to threaten both of them.

“Now, this Mohammad Mohammad was a poor, honest, handworking Muslim, but he wanted a job at the home of an evil, prejudiced landlord who didn’t like Muslims- so, just to get a job and feed his starving family, he claimed to be a Hindu! And took the name of Ram Persad.” “And you know how he managed to pull this off? Because the Nepali guard at check up on Ram Persad’s background, was in on the scam!”(2008:92) …The Nepali came to me with a grin on his face. He told me that, since Ram Persad had left their service without a word, I would be driving Mr. Ashok and Pinky Madam to Delhi. He had personally-and forcefully- recommended my name to the Stork (2008: 93)

The guard is afraid that if Balram tells his lies to his employer, he will lose his jobs. Balram who knows of the guard’s fear uses this opportunity to threaten him. The guard, who is frightened, recommends Balram to be a driver in Delhi.

When Balram becomes a driver in New Delhi, he is increasingly aware of the enormous wealth and opportunity around him. He decides to break out of his fate of the poor in India. Balram decides to be an eater, someone with a big belly.

He will do anything to make that happen. The only way he knows is by killing his employer and carrying off his money.

I really didn’t want him to think, even in the two or three minutes he had to live, that I was that kind of driver- the one that resorts to blackmailing his master-but he had left me no option: “It’s been giving problems ever since that night we went to the hotel in Jangpura.” “The one with the big T sign on it. You remember it, don’t you, sir? Ever since that night, sir, nothing has been the same with this car.” (2008: 243) I rammed the bottle down. The glass ate his bone. I rammed it three times into the crown of his skull, smashing through to his brains. It’s a good, strong bottle, Johnnie Walker Black- well worth its resale value.(2008:244- 245)

As stated by Murphy, a character can be observed by seeing the person’s speech. Balram, who tries to kill his master, asks his master to get off from his car but his master refuses to go down. Feeling that this is the only chance he has to kill his master, he finally uses his master’s mistakes from the past to ask him to get out of the car and threaten him. He finally uses this opportunity to kill his master.

Balram is familiar with bribery when he becomes a driver. Whenever he encounters a problem, he will resort to it. He will use money and his power to solve his problems. He uses his money to bribe the police to solve the cases of accident by his employees.

The policeman played along with me.” It’s a good idea, son. We need to register the case at the station.” The assistant commissioner who sat in the station was a man whom I lubricated often. (2008:264) He sighed.” See, at the time of the accident, your brother bicycle has no lights. That is illegal you know. There are other things that will come out. I promised you things will come out.” The brother understood at last why I had brought him to the station- he understood at last that the trap had shut on him. (2008:265)

Balram uses his money to bribe the police. The police also act to cover up the mistakes of an employee for the accident that killed a child. They try to

remove the evidence left by the employee. Even the police distort the facts, saying that the victim committed an illegal act by not using the light during the night.

The brother of the victim finally realizes that Balram has prepared everything to avoid his claims.

4. Irresponsible

While working as human spider in the teashop, Balram never works wholeheartedly. Balram works in his own way; he even uses his working time to eavesdrop on the conversations of the customers. He never thinks about the consequences of his actions. He loses his job because he is not responsible with his job.

I did my job with near total dishonesty, lack of dedication, and sincerity. Instead of wiping out spots from tables and crushing coals for the oven, I used my time at the teashop in Laxmangargh to spy on every customer at every table, and overhear everything they said. The owner of the shop sat up at the front..He knew what I was up to! Whenever he saw me loafing around a table or pretending to be doing a spot of wiping just so I could hear more of a conversation, he would shout, “ You thug!” Eventually I got sent home. No one else in Laxmangarh would hire me after that, even as a field hand. (2008:43-44)

Balram is supposed to wipe the tables and crush the coals, but in fact he eavesdrops on the conversation on every customer. The owner of the shop, who is angry with Balram’s behaviour, finally fires him. No one in his village wants to hire him after knowing his reputation.

Balram’s responsible habits at work continue when he works in Delhi. The employer always orders him to work wholeheartedly and he must obey his orders.

Balram is told never to switch on the AC or play music when he is alone.

However, when the employer is not at his side, he breaks all his commands.

I drove the car out of the apartment block…. No idea where I was going- I just drive around the malls. I played his music. I ran his A/C at full blast. I drove back to the building. I spat over the seats of the Honda City, and wiped them clean (2008:178) I put up with his usual threats and warnings- no A/X, no music, no wasting fuel, blah blah blah. When the train left, I danced around the platform and clapped my hands. (2008:207)

Although he is supposed to obey the employer, he does not. The employer, who is always giving orders, makes Balram feel uncomfortable, leading to him intentionally violate any order. He should turn off the air conditioner but he turn it on. He even plays the music when the employer is not with him.

Balram does not have enough money to fulfil his desire of hiring a prostitute. Finally able to collect money, he violates his employer’s orders, as he wishes, without even feeling guilty doing so.

Over the next two weeks, I did things I am still ashamed to admit. I cheated my employer; I took his car to a corrupt mechanic who billed him for work that was not necessary; and three times, while driving back to Buckingham B, I pick up a paying customer. The strangest thing was each time at the cash I had made by cheating him, instead of guilt, what did I feel? Rage The more I stole from him, the more I realized how much he had stolen from me. (2008:195-196)

5. Dishonest

Balram breaks his promise to send his salary to his family in the village. He does not remember the requirements given by his grandmother who has given him money for driving lessons that Balram will send every penny he receives to his family. He only thinks about his own pleasure without having concern for his family. He is only thinking how to escape from the responsibilities toward his family.

Kishan and Cousin Dilip lifted me up from the ground, big smiles on their faces. Great news! Granny had agreed to let them invest in my driving classes. “There’s only one thing,” Kishan said.” Granny says you’re a greedy pig. She wants you to swear by all the Gods in heaven that you won’t forget her once you rich.” (2008:47) I hadn’t seen him since he left Dhanbad and come back to work in the fields- that was three months ago. I hadn’t sent any money home for the past two months. “You’ve not sent any money for months. You forgot our arrangement.” (2008:71-72)

From the dialogue above, the writer sees that Balram easily forgets his promise to send his wages to his family in the village. Balram is very easy to make a promise but also to deny it.

Balram tries to make a good impression on the master so that his employer believes him. Balram wants to impress him with the good attitude that he always shows. Balram gives the impression of a very religious person, contrary to his atheistic belief. Balram will do everything possible, including lying so that the employer trust him more.

“So Balram here touched his eye as a mark of respect. The villagers are so religious in the darkness.” That seemed to impress the two of them, so I put my finger to my eye a moment later again. (2008:77) The two of them kept an eye open for every tree or temple we passed by, and turned around to me for a reaction of piety- which I gave them, of course, and with growing elaborateness: first just touching my eye, the my neck, then my clavicle, and even my nipples. They were convinced I was the most religious servant on earth. (Take that, Ram Persad!) (2008:78)

Balram tries to look good in front of his master by any means including lying. The employer knows that Balram will send his salary to his family in the village. Balram uses this opportunity to give the impression that he is very concerned about his family, when the reality is far different. Balram never sends

money to his family. He uses all his salary for the sake of pleasuring himself.

Balram will use every way to make a good name even though it is a lie.

“Sir... my wages.” “You’re sending some of it home, aren’t you?” “All of it, sir. Just what I need to eat and drink here- the rest goes home.” At ten o’clock that night I walked down to the market just around the corner from Buckingham Towers B Block. (2008: 121) It took me fifteen minutes to get a bottle. I stuffed it down my trousers, for there was nowhere else to hide it, and went back to Buckingham. (2008:122)

6. Unscrupulous

Although Balram makes a mistake he never wants to admit it or even feeling guilty. He is always looking for justification for all the mistakes he does. When the grandmother asks him to marry, he roughly refuses. He refuses to apologize because he feels that he has a good reason to refuse his grandmother.

She said. “We’ll fix up the wedding for later this year, okay?...” “Granny,” I said,” give me some more time. I’m not ready to be married.” I pushed the plate so hard it went flying to a corner and hit the wall and spilled the red curry on the floor. “I said, I’m not marrying!” Kishan got up and tried to stop me as I left, but I pushed him to the side- he fell down hard-and I just walked out of the house.(2008:74-75) Kusum, Luttu Auntie, and all the other women were gathered by the side of the road as we drove out. They gaped at me-stunned that I wasn’t coming to apologize: I saw Kusum clench her gnarled fist at me. (2008:760)

Balram does not even feel guilty when he commits to disobey the orders from his employer. He even feels better after doing it. The employer is always giving orders and makes Balram feel uncomfortable, so he intentionally violates any orders.

The strangest thing was each time at the cash I had made by cheating him, instead of guilt, what did I feel? Rage The more I stole from him, the more I realized how much he had stolen from me. (2008:195-196)

Balram does not feel guilty when he kills his employer. He does not see the murder as a mistake. He feels that he will make a mistake if he does not kill the man.

I think the Rooster Coop needs people like me to break out of it. It needs master like Mr. Ashok- who, for all his numerous virtues, was not much of a master-to be weeded out, and exceptional servants like me to replace them.... I have switched sides: I am now one of those who cannot be caught in India... I’ve made it! I’ve broken out of the coop! (2008:275) I’ll never say I made mistake that night in Delhi when I slit my master’s throat. (2008:276)

B. The Social Condition in India in The White Tiger

As Yelland, Jone, and Easton stated in A Handbook of Literary Terms that setting is an element that gives the readers an abstract impression of the environment in which the characters move (1953; 84). The setting in the novel

The White Tiger is Laxmangarh, Dhanbad, Delhi, and Bangalore. Adiga portrays different images of India, India of Light and the Darkness. The Darkness is term for the rural India where people suffer in poverty and injustice, controlled by the greedy landlords and corrupt politician. India of Light has access to education, health care, electricity, running water, hope, and justice. The social condition in the Darkness is the portrait of injustice and inequality in India. The poor do not have the right to speak in the society they live in. There is a discrimination between the “Big Bellies and the Small Bellies”. There are many practices that

harm the poor. Poverty and unemployment, corrupt education system, poor health services, the dowry system and master-servant relationship are part of the problem that caused by the caste system.

Although many experts say that caste has been abolished, it does not reflect reality. The social condition in India that differentiates between the poor and the rich derives from the caste system. The caste system can be described as an elaborately stratified social hierarchy. The caste system is a rigid system of inequality, which gives a great influence on the society. The caste system is based on birth, in that people inherit caste from their parents and pass it on to their children. The caste is associated with an occupation; there is connection between the level of caste and economic prosperity. People from the higher caste are more prosperous than those from the lower caste. People from the lower caste live in conditions of great poverty and social disadvantage. They can not send their children to get a good education, unlike the landlords who can send their children to schools or even to universities abroad. Because they can not get a good education they can hardly find a good job. They end up doing some menial jobs like pulling a rickshaw or cart, or working in the farm of their landlords. People are restricted in their choice of occupation, in which each caste has a specific change the occupation.

The old driver asked,” What caste are you?” “Halwai.” “Sweet-makers,” the old driver said, “That’s what you people do. You make sweets. How can you learn to drive?” “That’s like getting coals to make ice for you” “It’s like taming a wild stallion-only a boy from the warrior castes can manage that. Muslims, Rajputs, Sihks-they’re fighters, they can become drivers. You think sweet-makers can last long in fourth gear. (2008:47)

From the quotation above, someone’s occupation is based on their level of caste. People from “Halwai” caste can not be a driver because they are sweet makers. The caste system does not permit the change of caste. Poverty, unemployment, and landlords are interrelated problems in Laxmangarh. They usually ask for a job to the landlords and these are used by landlords to exploit their labours with low wages. Some of those who do not have jobs in the village try to find a job in the city.

So the rest of the village waited in a big group waited in a big group outside the shop. When the buses came, they got on and went to Gaya; there they went to the station and rushed into the train-and went to Delhi, Calcutta and Dhanbad to find work. (2008:22) My uncles also did backbreaking work, but they did what everyone else did. Each year, as soon as it began raining, they would go out to the fields with blackened sickles, begging one landlord or the other for some work. (2008:23)

Life in the darkness is getting worse by the poor education system. The teacher does not give a good example to his students. He does things that violate rules, such as corrupting lunch money; he even takes the school uniform that belongs to his student. He sells the uniform in a neighbouring village, but no one in the village dares to blame him.

There was supposed to be free food at my school- a government program gave every boy three rotis, yellow daal, and pickles at lunchtime. But we never saw rotis or yellow daal, or pickles, and everyone knew why. The schoolteacher had stolen our lunch money. Once, a truck came into the school with uniforms that the government had sent for us; we never saw them, but a week later they turned up for sale in the neighbouring village. No one blamed the schoolteacher for doing this. Every man in the village knew that he would have done the same in his position. Some were even proud of him, for having got away it so cleanly. (2008:28)

Poor health services add to the list of bad social condition in the Darkness.

There is no hospital in Laxmangarh so there is no good service to people who are sick. Many people do not get treatment because of the lack of hospital and medical facilities. They even have to cross the river in order to go to the hospital, but there is no doctor in the hospital; the doctor seldom visits the hospital. Even the position of a doctor becomes an item that can be auctioned because there is good money in the public service.

There is no hospital in Laxmangarh, although there are three different foundation stones for a hospital, laid by three different politicians before three different elections. (2008:39) “Why isn’t there a doctor here, uncle?” I asked. “This is the only hospital on either side of the river.” “Now, each time this post falls vacant, the Great Socialist lest all the big doctors know that he’s having an open auction for that post. The going rate for this post is about four hundred thousand rupees these days.”(2008: 41)

Another picture of the social conditions in Laxamangarh that burden the poor is the dowry system. This dowry system is often utilized by the groom to ask the bride for a large dowry. This leads the bride who is unable to prepare the dowry to borrow money from the landlord. This causes people to be trapped in debt with the landlords.

Because we were the girl’s family, we were screwed. We had to give the boy a new bicycle, and cash, and a silver bracelet, and arrange for a big wedding. (2008:30-31) The family had taken a big loan from the Stork so they could have a lavish wedding and a lavish dowry for my cousin-sister. He wanted all the members of the family working for him and he had seen me in school. So they had to hand me over too. (2008:31) It was one of the good marriages. We had the boy, and we screwed the girl’s family hard. I remember exactly what we got in dowry from the girl’s side: five thousand rupees cash, all crisp new unsoiled notes fresh from the bank, plus a Hero bicycle, plus a thick gold necklace for Kishan. (2008:42)

The marriage of Balram’s cousin sister, Reena, puts the family in debts.

This leads Balram to drop out of the school and work with his older brother,

Kishan. Different things happen when his older brother gets married; his grandmother takes the opportunity to gain a large dowry from the bride.

The caste system also affects the relationship between master and servant.

Religion and caste are important to Balram’s masters. They just want to have employees who are Hindu and from upper castes.

“Are you from a top caste or bottom caste, boy?” “Bottom, sir.” The old man said, “All our employees are top caste. It won’t hurt to have one or two bottom castes working for us.”(2008:54-55) Balram even has to suffer humiliation from his master; the ill-treatment from his master is shown through his order. His master orders Balram to look for a rupee coin that has fallen in the car. His master is so bothered about a rupee coin after bribing someone with a million rupees.

“Get down on your knees. Look for it on the floor of the car” I got down on my knees. I sniffed in between the mats like a dog, all in search of that one rupee. “We’ve just paid half a million rupees in a bribe, Mukesh, and now we’re screwing this man over for a single rupee” Finally, I took a rupee coin out of my shirt pocket, picked it up and gave it to the Mongoose. There was a childish delight on his dark master’s face.(2008: 117)

Other ill-treatments of the master continue when Balram is blackmailed because Ashok’s wife, Pinky, kills a child in a car accident. He is framed for an accident that his master committed and is forced to take the mistakes made by his employer.

To whomsoever it may concern, I, Balram Halwai, son of Vikram Halwai, of Laxmangarh village in the district of Gaya, do make the following statement of my own free will and intention: That I drove the car that hit an unidentified person, or persons, or person and objects, on the night of January 23rd of this year.... I swear by almighty God that I make this statement under no duress and under instruction from no one. (2008:143)

Balram is forced to sign a statement accepting full responsibility for the accident that he never did.

C. The Influences of Social Condition on Balram’s Sociopathy

Based on Huffman’s theory of in Psychology in Action, the society and culture directly influence people; these influences are so strong and become a part of who we are, that we find it difficult to recognize them (2000: 601). Social condition plays an important role as one of the factors that shape the main character. Huffman also states that the causes of antisocial disorder are not completely understood; research supports both nature and nurture explanations.

Evidence also exists from environmental or psychological causes (2000: 533).

The causes of antisocial personality disorder could be the environment a person is brought up in or the current circumstances he or she is going through. This includes the family, neighbourhood members and friends that a person grew up with and events that had occurred. Good or bad treatment that he or she had received from others could also affect.

1. Selfish Based on The Mask of Sanity, one of the characteristics of sociopaths is pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love. Sociopaths are always self- centred and detached from others. They have no capacity for sincere compassion,

but are sometimes impressively adept in pretending to demonstrate such emotion

(1976: 346).

Balram who was born in the Darkness always gets bad treatment from those around him. He does not get attention from his family; even his parents did not give him a name.

“Munna? That’s not a real name.” “That’s all I’ve got, sir,” I said. “Didn’t your mother name you?” “She’s very ill, sir. She lies in bed and spews blood. She’s got no time to name me.” “And your father?” “He’s a rickshaw puller, sir. He’s got no time to name me.” I came home that day and told my father that the school teacher had given me a new name. He shrugged. “If it’s what he wants, then we’ll call you that.

Balram’s family’s poverty causes him not to get attention from his family.

The marriage of Balram’s cousin sister, Reena, throws the family in debts. Reena is asked to give a large dowry to the groom, and because the family does not have enough money they borrow money from the landlord. This leads Balram to dropping out of the school and working with his older brother, Kishan. Balram is disappointed because he has to quit the school for pay the family’s loan when the school inspector promises him a scholarship.

The family had taken a big loan from the Stork. Now the Stork had called in his loan. He wanted all the members of the family working for him and he had seen me in school. So they had to hand me over too. (2008:31)

“You’re angry with me for taking you out of school, aren’t you?” I said nothing. “You hate the idea of having to break coals, don’t you?” I said nothing He took the largest piece of coal in his hand and squeezed it. “Imagine that each coal is my skull: they will get much easier to break.” He’d been taken out of school too. That happened after my cousin-sister wedding. (2008:32).

Balram is disappointed because he has to quit school and work at the teashop to pay the family’s debts but he never works with responsibility. Instead of crushing coals as he is required to do, he uses his time in the tea shop to spy on every customer. The owner of the shop fires him because he is not working responsibly. No one wants to hire him in Laxmangarh. He does not think of his family when he loses his job.

From the explanation above it can be seen that Balram does not get attention from his parents and continuously get bad treatment from people around him.

Then, feels disappointed and becomes a selfish person. He works in the teashop and he has never been responsible for his job. Because of this, the employer chooses to fire him. He is not thinking about the consequences of his actions. He does not think of his responsibility to pay family debts. Balram’s brother, Kishan, also quits from his job, because no one wants to hire Balram. They move into

Dhanbad and look for a new job.

Balram who does not have a job is interested to become a driver with big salaries; he wants to learn to drive. His grandmother has agreed to pay the fee for driving lessons, with a condition that he must give his salary every month.

Because of the bad treatment given by his grandmother when he was a child and

his wanting to get away from his family, he forgets his promise. He refuses to send money home to his struggling family.

I hadn’t sent any money home for the past two months. “You’ve not sent any money for months. You forgot our arrangement.” (2008:72) I did not want to obey Kusum. She was blackmailing me; I understood why she had sent that letter through the Mongoose. If I refused, she would blow the whistle on me- tell Mr. Ashok I hadn’t been sending money home (2008: 165)

From the quotation above, Balram’s selfishness is more visible. Balram who has promised to send his salary to the village after becoming a driver breaks his own promises.

Balram knows that his employer will go to Delhi. They need a driver and he hopes that his employer will invite him to become a driver in Delhi. Balram knows that being a driver in New Delhi will get him more money, but it is difficult for Balram to go to Delhi because his employer will take the old driver.

Balram accidentally find out that the old driver has been lying to his master. The old driver who knows his lies are uncovered decides to leave the house while the guard who is afraid of losing his job recommends Balram to be a driver in Delhi.

I thought, What a miserable life he’s had, having to hide his religion, his name, just to get a job as a driver- and he is a good driver, no question of it, a far better than I will ever be. Part of me wanted to get up and apologize to him right there and say, You go and be a driver in Delhi, You never did anything to hurt me. Forgive me, brother. I turned to the other side, farted, and went back to sleep. (2008:92-93)

Balram becomes a selfish person; he does not care about the reason the old driver should lie. He lies about his name and his religion to get a job from the employer who does not like muslims. He does that because he must support his

family, but Balram does not care about everything because he can get what he want. Balram does not even regret with what he has done.

2. Charming Another characteristic of sociopaths is superficial charm and intelligence.

Sociopaths exude charm that gives off a positive impression during the first encounter. They do not seem peculiar or fake; people will tend to regard them as normal and agreeable, intelligent people (1976:339).

After finishing his driving lessons, Balram tries to find a job. Everyone refuses to hire him. At least he ought to know someone in the house rather than knock doors and ask for a job. When he gets a chance to get a job he does everything to gain sympathy from his potential employer; he try to give a good impression on his employer.

You should have seen me that day- what a performance of wails and kisses and tears! While clutching the Stork’s feet, I was starring at his huge, dirty, uncut toenails, and thinking, What is he doing in Dhanbad? Why isn’t he back home, screwing poor fishermen of their money and humping their daughter? (2008:51)

He closed his eyes. “Do people there still remember me? It’s been three years since I was there.” “Of course, sir-people say, “Our father is gone, Thakur Ramdev is gone, the best of landlords is gone, who will protect us know?” (2008:52)

From the conversation above it can be seen that Balram is trying to create a good impression to his potential employer, although he has to lie, so he can get a job as a driver. He does everything to impress them. Balram’s employers are ones who really care about the caste system; they only want to employ workers from the upper caste.

Balram gets bad treatments from his environment because he comes from the lower caste. He tries to get out of poverty, so he keeps trying to give a good impression to his employers so they will trust him more than they do the old driver.

Balram gives the impression of a very religious person, contrary to his atheistic belief. Balram will do everything possible, including lying so that the employer trusts him more.

3. Dishonest Another characteristic of sociopaths is untruthfulness and insincerity; sociopaths are not capable of telling truth. They easily promise anything to declare their innocence. They will lie about anything in any condition but show no marked signs typical of liars in their speech (1976:341).

Balram who does not get attention from his family never thinks about them.

Balram breaks his promise to send his salary to his family in the village. He does not remember the requirement given by his grandmother who has given him

money for the driving lessons that Balram will send every penny he receives to his family. He only thinks about his own pleasure without concern of his family. He is only thinking of how to escape from the responsibilities toward his family.

Balram tries to make a good impression on the master so that his employer believes him. Balram wants to impress him with the good attitude that he always shows. Balram will do everything possible, including lying so that the employer will trust him more.

“Did you see what the driver did?” My heart skipped a beat. I had no idea what I had just done. Mr Ashok leaned forward and said,” Driver, you just touched your finger to your eye, didn’t you?” That seemed to have impressed the two of them, so I put my finger to my eye a moment later, again (2008: 77)

“Sir... my wages.” “You’re sending some of it home, aren’t you?” “All of it, sir. Just what I need to eat and drink here- the rest goes home.”

At ten o’clock that night I walked down to the market just around the corner from Buckingham Towers B Block. (2008: 121) It took me fifteen minutes to get a bottle. I stuffed it down my trousers, for there was nowhere else to hide it, and went back to Buckingham. (2008:122)

4. Unscrupulous Another characteristic of sociopaths is lack of remorse or shame. Sociopaths will declare themselves innocent of any blame and responsibility, never showing major shame or remorse (1976: 343).

Balram continuously receive bad treatment from his employer. One of the examples is when he orders Balram to look for a rupee coin that has fallen in the car. His master does it for his own pleasure; he was so bothered about a rupee coin after bribing someone with a million rupees.

Balram receives another bad treatment when he is blamed for the accident.

He is framed for an accident that his master committed and is forced to take the blame for the mistake.

Balram who works in Delhi is increasingly aware of the wealth that he may get, but he knows the fact that it is not easy for a driver to achieve their dreams.

“I mean what will happen to me a few years from now? Do I make enough money to buy a house and then set up a business of my own?” “If you save from today, you’ll make enough to buy a small home in some slum. If you’ve been a bit smarter and made a little extra on the side, then you’ll have enough to put your son in good school. That’s the best-case scenario (2008:171)

The employer who continuously gives bad treatment is one of the cause why

Balram wants to escape from the “rooster coop” and he realizes that there is only one thing he can do to achieve his dream, that is, murdering his employer and taking his money. Finally, Balram decides to kill his employer in order to escape from the “rooster coop”. Balram does not feel guilty when he kills his employer.

He does not see the murder as a mistake. He feels that he will make a mistake if he does not kill the man.

Although Balram makes a mistake he never wants to admit it or even feels guilty. He is always looking for justification for all the mistakes he does. When the grandmother asks him to marry, he roughly refuses. He refuses to apologize because he feels that he has a good reason to refuse his grandmother.

She said. “We’ll fix up the wedding for later this year, okay?...” “Granny,” I said,” give me some more time. I’m not ready to be married.”

I pushed the plate so hard it went flying to a corner and hit the wall and spilled the red curry on the floor. “I said, I’m not marrying!” Kishan got up and tried to stop me as I left, but I pushed him to the side- he fell down hard-and I just walked out of the house.(2008:74-75) Kusum,Luttu Auntie, and all the other women were gathered by the side of the road as we drove out. They gaped at me-stunned that I wasn’t coming to apologize: I saw Kusum clench her gnarled fist at me. (2008:760)

Even Balram does not feel guilty when he disobeys the orders from his employer. He even feels better after doing it. The employer who is always giving orders makes Balram feel uncomfortable, so he intentionally violates any orders.

5. Unreliable Another characteristic of the sociopath is unreliability; Sociopaths are likely to perform an excellent amount of reliability, maybe even in a long period to achieve gain, before finally showing their true colour and disregarding obligations and responsibility (1976: 340).

Balram tries to find a job but everyone refuses to hire him. When he gets a chance to get a potential job he does everything to gain sympathy from his potential employer, Balram is always trying to create a good impression although he has to lie, so that he can get a job as a driver. He does everything to impress him. The employer knows that Balram will send his salary to his family in the village. Balram uses this opportunity to give the impression that he is very concerned about his family, when the reality is far different. Balram never sends any money to his family.

The employer continuously gives bad treatment and Balram who works in

Delhi is increasingly aware of the wealth that he can get. He knows for a fact that it is not easy for a driver to achieve their dreams. He realizes that there is only one thing he can do to achieve his dream, that is murdering his employer and taking his money. Finally, Balram decides to kill his employer in order to escape from the “rooster coop”.

I rammed the bottle down. The glass ate his bone. I rammed it three times into the crown of his skull, smashing through to his brains. It’s a good, strong bottle, Johnnie Walker Black- well worth its resale value.(2008:244- 245)

6. Apathetic Another characteristic of sociopaths is the display of little affection or feelings. While normal people would show despair when locked up, they do not show the same tragic quality of reaction (1976: 348). In addition, they have no real appreciation and affective response to other people. They may perform it only when gaining something from doing so (1976: 354).

Balram feels that his family never give attention to him. They only think about themselves. Balram is not close to his family and when he decides to kill his employer he never thinks of the risk that will be faced by his family. He knows that his employer’s family will take revenge on his family, but he does not care.

Either the Stork had them killed, or had some of them killed, and the others beaten. Now, even if by some miracle he, or the police didn’t do that. So the villagers would have forced them out-and they’d have to go to Delhi.., to live under concrete bridge, begging for their food, and without a hope for the future. That’s not much better than being dead (2008: 270) One day, I know, Dharam, this boy who is drinking my milk and eating my ice cream in big bowls, will ask me, Couldn’t you have spared my mother? Couldn’t you have written to her telling her to escape in time? (2008: 272)

Balram knows all the consequences he will receive if he kills his master. He was knows that his employer’s family will take revenge against his family in the village. Although he knows the risks, he keeps his plan without thinking of his family. His family will receive the consequences of his deeds. He did not save his family when in fact he had a chance to save them. He could send a letter to the house before killing his master so they could flee to a safe place.

Balram’s employer always says that Balram is part of the family, but in reality the family always treat him badly. When Pinky, the employer’s wide, hit a child, they blame Balram. They force him to admit to hitting the child. Therefore, when he succeeds to open his own car centre company and has many employees.

Balram does not want to deal with his employees. Their relationship is limited to employer and employees. He keeps distance with his employees.

Now I am a master of drivers. I don’t treat them like servants. I don’t insult any of them by calling them my “family”. They’re my employees, I’m their boss, that’s all. I make them sign a contract and I sign it too, and both of must honour that contract. When the work is done I kick them out of the office; no chitchat, no cups of coffee. A white tiger keeps no friends. It’s too dangerous (2008: 259)

7. Sexually deviant Deviant sexual behaviours are common in sociopaths but they do not crave sex or are moved by it as much as normal people do. They also regard sex more casually than most people do (1976: 359).

Balram, who see his employer hiring a prostitute that has golden and glossy hair, becomes obsessed to do the same thing. He even looks in the car and finds a strand of golden hair, and keeps it. He does everything that he can do to collect the money to hire a prostitute with golden hair.

I opened the passenger’s door, and went inside, and passed my hand along the leather. I passed my hands from one side of the leather seats to the other three times, and then I found what I was looking for. I held it up to the light. A strand of golden hair. I’ve got it in my desk this day (2008: 188)

Since Balram has a lot of money he never again goes to the “red light districts”. He goes to five star hotels and assumes that white women are not as good as Indian women.

I go from my own experience now, from the time I spend in five- star hotels. (That’s right, Mr. Jiabao: I don’t go to the “red light districts” anymore. It’s not right to buy and sell women who live in birdcages and get treated like animals. I only buy girls I find in five-star hotels.) Based on my experience, Indian girls are the best (2008:261)

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

In this chapter, the writer will sum up the conclusions derived from the previous chapter. There are three problem formulations to infer detailed information in analyzing the main character in the story, Balram Halwai. First is how the main character, Balram Halwai, is described in the story. The novel describes Balram Halwai as an intelligent person, even since he was a child. He was promised a scholarship to attend a proper school by his teacher and the school inspector. However, due to familial circumstances, he had to drop out of school.

But he manages to pick up on things from the street and become a man of broad knowledge. In addition, he is cunning. He manages to find a loophole in his employment to boost his career, using both his fellow driver and security guard with a secret of theirs that he withholds for exchange of recommendation for a job in Delhi.

He is also a selfish and irresponsible person. He never works wholeheartedly, leading to his dismissal by the owner of the teashop he is working in. Balram never cares about how his action will affect his family—how he will not be able to help pay off their debts if he is unemployed. He brings his bad work attitude all the way to Delhi, where he remains disobedient when his employer is away. In addition to being incapable of selfless and responsible acts, he is not capable of truthfulness. Dishonesty and deceit have become a way of life and a way for him to achieve his goals. He is not capable of keeping promises; he might

make them to attain what he wants but as soon as he gets it he forgets the promises.

Guilt and remorse do not have place in Balram’s repertoire. He always searches for excuses to justify his actions. His lack of remorse may have a hand in leading him to commit all kinds of illicit actions that he needs for achieving his dreams.

The second problem formulation explains that the social condition that happens in India is influenced by caste. The social condition in India that differentiates between the poor and the rich derives from the caste system. The caste system in the environment gives a great influence on the society. The caste is associated with an occupation; there is connection between the level of caste and economic prosperity. Poverty and unemployment, corrupt education system, poor health services, the dowry system and master-servant relationship are part of the problems that caused by the caste system.

The answer from the third problem formulation shows that the social condition gives influence to Balram’s personality. He possesses the characteristics typical of sociopaths. The first characteristic is selfishness. Lack of attention from his parents, coupled with ill-treatment from people around him, lead him into becoming a selfish individual. Consistent to sociopathic egocentricity and incapacity for love, Balram has always been self-centred and detached from others. After being forced to quit school and to work to pay off family debts, he has become an irresponsible employee that he is often dismissed from his job. It is not dawned on him that this behaviour will put his family into trouble, as they rely

on him to help pay the debts. After becoming a driver, Balram also breaks his promise to his grandmother to send his salary home.

The second characteristic typical of sociopaths is superficial charm and intelligence. Sociopaths give off a good impression at first sight. People will regard them as genuinely pleasant and intelligent people. Balram also possesses this nature even since he was young. A clever and cunning person, he always thinks several steps ahead. His ideas are often out-of-the-box. This is illustrated by his non-attempt at escape when he is a fugitive. Knowing that he is searched by the police for killing his employer, he dares to instead go to them and pay bribes to facilitate his plan to open his own car centre company. Balram’s charm does not escape from his employer’s attention. Since the interview, he pretends that he is a religious man because that is the kind of employee that his potential employer is looking for.

The third characteristic typical of sociopaths is incapability of truthfulness.

In order to declare their innocence they will lie and deceive but show no marked signs typical of liars in their speech. Balram consistently lies in order to achieve what he wants. He pretends good attitude in front of his employer in order to gain trust; he breaks his promise to send his salary to his family in the village after he receives the driving lessons his grandmother pays for him. He is only thinking of how to escape from the responsibilities toward his family.

The fourth characteristic typical of sociopaths shown in Balram’s personality is lack of remorse or shame. Sociopaths will declare themselves innocent of any blame and responsibility, never showing major shame or remorse.

Balram never regrets disobeying his employer and even murdering him. He does not feel shame for turning his back on his family who desperately need his help.

The fifth characteristic typical of sociopaths evident in Balram’s personality is unreliability. Sociopaths are likely to perform an excellent amount of reliability, maybe even in a long period to achieve gain, before finally showing their true colour and disregarding obligations and responsibility. Although at first trying to create a good impression to attract a potential employer, he shows his true colour after he succeeds in getting the job—he starts to abandon responsibility.

The sixth characteristic typical of sociopaths apparent in Balram’s personality is little affection or feelings and no real appreciation and affective response to other people. To sum those up in one adjective, sociopaths are apathetic towards people and things around them. Knowing the risk of killing his employer, i.e. the family taking revenge upon Balram’s family, he still does it anyway. This shows that he has little affection for his family. He also limits his interaction with his employees. He shows distance with them, and does not display any affection to them.

The seventh characteristic typical of sociopaths apparent in Balram’s personality is sexual deviation. After seeing his employer hiring a golden-haired prostitute, he starts imitating the action and becomes obsessed that he once goes out of his way to collect a golden strand of hair that belongs to a prostitute. Since then he often goes to the red districts and find that, along the way, his taste has shifted from blonde whites to Indian women.

The answers above give an idea that the causes of antisocial personality disorder could be the environment where a person is brought up in or the current circumstances he or she is going through. This includes the family, neighbourhood members, and friends that a person grew up with and events that had occurred. Good or bad treatment that he or she had received from others could also affect. Social condition influences the psychological condition of Balram; bad treatment that he has received from others affects his personality and leads him into becoming a sociopath.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1981 Adiga, Aravind. The White Tiger. New York: Free Press, 2008. Baron, Robert A and Donn Byrne. Social Psychology: Understanding Human Interaction. 5th ed. Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon, 1987 Davison, Gerald C and John M. Neale. Abnormal Psychology. New York: John Wiley & Suns Inc., 1996 Jordison, Sam. “How did The White Tiger Capture the Booker”. (05 October 2010) Huffman, Karen, Mark Vernoy and Judith Vernoy. Psychology in Action, 5th ed. New York: John Wiley & Suns Inc., 2000 Higgins, Charlotte. “Out of the Darkness Adiga's White Tiger Rides to Booker Victory Against the Odds”. (05 October 2010) Little, Graham. An Approach to Literature: An Introduction of Critical Study Content and Method in Writing. Marksville: Science Press, 1963 Lykken, David T. The Antisocial Personalities. New York: Lawrence Erlbawn Associates Inc., 1995 Murphy, M. J. Understanding Unseen. London: George Allen & Unwin.1972 Nevid, Jeffrey S, Spencer A. Rathus and Beverley Greene. Psikologi Abnormal Jilid 1. 5th ed. Jakarta: Penerbit Erlangga, 2005 Rohrberger, Mary and Samuel H. Wood. Reading and Writing about Literature. New York: Random House. 1971 Sebastian, A.J. “Poor- Rich Divide in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger”. Journal of alternative Perspective in the Social Sciences. Vol. 5 No. 3(2009), pp. 229-245. (16 June 2010) Sebastian, A.J. and Nigamananda Das. “Drawbacks of Indian Democracy in Homen Borgohain’s Pita Putra And Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger And between the Assassinations: a Comparative Study”. Journal of Alternative Perspective in the Social Sciences. Vol. 1 No. 3(2009), pp. 635-644 (18 March 2011) Singh, Amardeep. “Why I Didn’t Like The White Tiger”. (07 March 2011)

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. New York: Harcount Brace and World Inc., 1956 Yelland, H. L., S. C. Jones and K. S. W Easton. A Handbook of Literary Terms. London: Angus and Robertson, 1953. Book Page ( 05 October 2010)

APPENDIX

A. Summary of Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger

The White Tiger is framed as a narrative letter written over seven nights from Balram Halwai to the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. His letter to the Chinese

Premier are a confession of Balram’s life story. In the letter, Balram descrobes his rise from his origins to his current position as an entrepreneur in Bangalore.

Balram, the son of a rickshaw- puller lived in the village of Laxmangarh. His family is too poor for him to be able to finish school. The marriage of Balram’s cousin puts the family in debts, Balram instead is forced to break coals and wipe tables in a Dhanbad vind teashop. The owner of the teashop fires him because he is not working properly. No one wants to hire him in Laxmangarh, they move into

Dhanbad and look for a new job. In Dhanbad, Balram hears some conversations that drivers get big salaries, he learns to drive. After learning how to drive, Balram gets his break when a rich man from his village hires him as a chauffeur for his son, Ashok. As he drives his master and his wife to shopping malls and call centers, Balram becomes increasingly aware of immense wealth and opportunity all around him, and the contrast between the master and servant classes. Through these experiences, Balram becomes increasingly worldly and ambitious. Balram realizes that there is only one thing he can do to become part of this glamorous new India, murder his employer, and escape from servitude. One day as Ashok is carrying seven hundred thousand rupees in cash as money bribes for politicians in

New Delhi, Balram murders him and flees to Bangalore with his nephew Dharam.

Balram uses the loot to bribe a police commissioner and create his own taxi company. He changes his name to Ashok Sharma, and becomes a wealthy

"entrepreneur" in India's new technological society thus completing his emergence from the Darkness into the Light.