The Painter of Signs Essay Questions

How does Raman view his work?

Raman views his work as the most important part of his life. He takes great care with each sign that he paints and believes that exactly the right paint and sign material must be chosen. He frequently clashes with his customers over these matters, as he thinks they have bad taste and unreasonable expectations. When he falls for Daisy he immediately becomes concerned that his work will fall off as a result of his newfound feelings. The novel is titled The Painter of Signs because his work is a core tenet of Raman’s identity.

What revelation complicates Narayan’s portrayal of Raman’s aunt?

Towards the end of the novel, Raman’s aunt tells him about all of the things that go into making the house run smoothly. Raman is overwhelmed as he was previously unaware of all of the work she put into keeping him fed and the house clean. This complicates the initial impression the reader has of her as self-important and somewhat irritating, as they come to learn she actually cares a great deal for Raman and has realistic worries about someone else being able to care for him. The reader comes to recognize that she cares about him a great deal.

What is Daisy’s relationship to family planning?

Like Raman, Daisy is very passionate about her work. She repeatedly tells him that it is the most important thing to her and that, as much as she loves him, she will not give it up for a married life. She ultimately ends up being unable to move in with him as she is worried that it will prevent her from doing her advocacy work. She shares Raman’s sense of passion for her work as she believes it is essential for curbing overpopulation and also for supporting women’s rights. She does not want to give it up because she believes she is providing an essential service to the people of India and that it is urgently necessary.

What best describes the tone of the narrator?

As with many of Narayan’s works, the tone of the story is lighthearted but rarely harsh. He mocks the absurdity of his characters but does not caricature them, instead subtly revealing their multidimensionality. For all of Raman’s self-seriousness about his work, he is also shown to be a dreamy romantic. Similarly, many of the people from the village are not mocked by the narrator but instead are portrayed with the same level of humanity as Raman and Daisy, despite their sometimes misguided beliefs. Narayan writes with a human perspective, making his characters complex and round.

Why does Raman’s relationship with Daisy ultimately fail?

Raman’s relationship with Daisy ultimately fails because he has unreasonable expectations of what she is supposed to do for him. He says that he is fine with her focusing on her work, but later clearly wants her to be a housewife. She says that she cannot give up her work for him, and thus can’t move in with him. While they have a great deal of romantic love for one another, this feeling alone cannot sustain them without a mutual understanding about their roles and responsibilities.