A PORTRAYAL OF SOCIAL CLASS AS REPRESENTED IN ARAVIND ADIGA’S THE WHITE TIGER

Abstract

This paper discusses issue on social class, oppression and movements against the oppression reflected in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger. The aim of this research is to find how social class in India, how the oppression on the poor and how their movements against the oppression. This research uses the theory of Marxism. For Karl Marx, base controls and engenders superstructure. The method used for this research is descriptive method. It is used by describing the readers the characters of base and superstructure class, oppression on superstructure and their struggle against the oppression through statements and speeches represented in The White tiger. In The White Tiger, there are two classifications of people; the rich and the poor which the rich are powerful because they have economy, and the poor are weak and controlled by the rich because they have no money and depend on the rich economically. Both of the rich and the poor are called as base and superstructure class. Base consists of master and landlord, while superstructure consists of servant, coal breaker and rickshaw puller. In addition, the writer has also found the oppression of superstructure class consisting of economic exploration, working by force, educational limitation and access to health limitation. Finally, he has found superstructure’s movements consisting of socialist party movement and political movement in government.

 
Key words: social class, base, superstructure, oppression, movements.