HUMAN EXPLOITATION IN ARAVIND ADIGA’S NOVEL THE WHITE TIGER

Abstract

ABSTRACT 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 a lower caste and can become a successful person in India. Balram explains all the ways he does what he does to achieve his goal and escape poverty. There are two problems with this thesis. The first problem is the exploitation experienced by the main character, i.e., Balram Halwai. The second problem is how the main character negotiates or fights against his exploits and how he achieves freedom from the oppression in his life. The writer applied the library research method to analyze the novel The White Tiger. The additional sources are taken from books and other sources related to the study. This study used the psychological approach because it discusses the psychological aspects of the main character. The theories applied are concerned with the theories of character, trustworthiness of the data, theoretical triangulation, credibility, and dependability. Balram Halwai is portrayed as an intelligent person who is also selfish, cunning, irresponsible, dishonest, and lacks remorse. The social condition in India is influenced by caste, which causes some problems. Those problems are poverty and unemployment, corrupt systems of education, poor health services, exploitation, and discrimination, as well as the dowry system and master-servant relationship. He has no real appreciation for or affective response to other people. He also has deviant sexual behavior. All of his characteristics are shaped or influenced by the social condition in which he lives. Keywords: Human, Exploitation, Caste System