Draw a character sketch of Rosie.

Ans.

Rosie is one of the greatest characters of R.K. Narayan. She plays an important part in the novel. But her character is too difficult to be understood. Rosie is a puzzle, not must concerned with her body but with the soul. She acts with spiritual freedom. Hence her inward life is more interesting than her out ward life. Romance is just a holiday in her spiritual pursuit. She is fond of cobra-dance, but she is not snake woman. Society is a greater snake. A sex appeal is there which covers Raju with her aroma. Rosie has an attractive childlike habit. She is bold and somewhere between a housewife and a harlot Her view towards life is anything except cold, old stone walls’. She does not take marriage seriously. She is more romantic than realistic in life. Character of Rosie is intricate, ‘I found it difficult to understand the girl’. Her character is redeemed by her guilty feeling on the later stage.

Her Attractive Personality

Rosie possesses a charming personality. At Malgudi Railway station Raju falls in love with her at the very first sight. Her praises her, ‘She was not very glamorous, if that is what you expect, but she did have a figure, a slight and slender one, beautifully fashioned, eyes that sparkled, a complexion, not white, but dusky. Beauty rests in her personality and not in her physically features. She does not take marriage seriously, probably circumstances made her view changed. She behaved like a baby ex cited, thrilled and appreciative of everything.

A Domestic Woman or a Harlot

Rosie is somewhere between a domestic woman and a harlot. She cooks food and looks after the family members. But she is not a slave and cannot be used as goods. After all she has a soul and has a firm faith in Karma. Character of Rosie may be compared with that of Maugham’s s i. e., Too generous even in lavishing sexual pleasure to others’. Marco says to her, ‘You are a woman who will go to bed with anyone that flatters your antics’ But Marco is the only responsible person to create circumstances that deviate Rosie from the right path.

Her Married Life

Marco is fond of ancient art and culture. he lays more importance to his books and wondering in the ancient temples and caves than his pretty wife. Rosie is neglected by Marco on many occasion. Consequently she begins to take interest in Raju. She is ever in search for adjustment which is denied to her. Marriage is a failure and remains still a dream for her. Rosie seems to be disloyal towards her husband but she is not so by nature. Strong temptation and circumstances made her deviate from the right path. When she was enquired of her relations with Raju, She was honest enough to tell Marco the truth. When Marco came to know about her sexual relationship with Raju, he returned to Madras, leaving Rosie at Malgudi.

Difficult Girl to understand

When Raju fell in love with her, she allowed Raju for love-making. During the love-making she would, all of a sudden, think of her husband and wished to go to the Mempi Hills. Rosie would become thoughtful and would remark. ‘After all, he is my husband. I have to respect him. I cannot leave him there’. Now and then she blamed herself to be disloyal for her husband. In this way Rosie is too difficult to understand.