Metaphysical and Mystical Dimensions in R. K. Narayan’s The English Teacher: A Critical Study

Rukhsar; Rajan Lal (Research Supervisor)

Authors

Rukhsar Research Scholar, Department of English Studies and Research, Jagdish Saran Hindu Postgraduate College, Amroha, affiliated to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3162-8009
Rajan Lal (Research Supervisor) Assistant Professor, Department of English Studies and Research, Jagdish Saran Hindu Postgraduate College, Amroha

Keywords:

Narayan, The English Teacher, metaphysical, mystical, grief, spiritualenlightenment, colonial India, human condition

Abstract

Aim: This paper critically examines the metaphysical and mystical dimensions of R. K. Narayan’s The English Teacher, set in colonial India. It traces Krishna’s transformation following the death of his wife, Susila, charting a journey from personal grief to spiritual awakening. The narrative blends the ordinary with the transcendental, exploring love, loss, and communication with the spirit world. Themes of existence, consciousness, and the afterlife are interwoven, presenting the novel as a timeless work of Indian English literature that unites emotional healing with philosophical inquiry.

Methodology: The study employs textual analysis of The English Teacher to examine its thematic, philosophical, and stylistic elements, highlighting its metaphysical and mystical layers. Secondary sources—critical essays, scholarly articles, reviews, and philosophical writings—are incorporated to provide a well-rounded interpretation grounded in literary and spiritual contexts.

Outcome: Findings reveal that the novel transcends personal tragedy to depict an odyssey of the soul, engaging with concepts of immortality and transcendence through Krishna’s evolution. Mystical communication with Susila becomes a means for emotional and philosophical resolution, positioning the work as both a reflection of Indian spirituality and a narrative of universal significance.

Conclusion: Blending psychological realism with metaphysical depth, The English Teacher affirms the human capacity for inner peace and transcendence, enriching Indian English literature with enduring spiritual and philosophical resonance.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Rukhsar, Research Scholar, Department of English Studies and Research, Jagdish Saran Hindu Postgraduate College, Amroha, affiliated to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India

Rukhsar is a researcher in the Department of English Studies and Research at Jagdish Saran Hindu Postgraduate College, Amroha, affiliated with Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. She has contributed a book chapter titled “A Study of Narrative Technique in R. K. Narayan’s The Guide” in the edited volume Indian English Fiction: Recent Critical Dimensions (Doaba House, 10 January 2023).

Rajan Lal (Research Supervisor), Assistant Professor, Department of English Studies and Research, Jagdish Saran Hindu Postgraduate College, Amroha

Dr. Rajan Lal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English Studies and Research, J. S. Hindu P. G. College, Amroha (U.P.), India. He has participated in workshops, presented research papers in national and international seminars, and published in peer-reviewed national and international journals as well as edited volumes. A freelance poet, editor, and literary critic, he has served on the editorial board of Pahal Horizon: An International Research Journal in Social Sciences, Humanities and Management. He is also an active member of the English Literary Society of Agra (ELSA) and a life-long subscriber to Re-Markings: A Biannual Referred International Journal of English Letters. He has attended numerous online webinars on diverse literary and educational topics.