Destructive Capitalism and Reinventing Identity in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger

Abstract

Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger presents a critical examination of capitalism, class inequality, poverty, and the struggle for individual identity in contemporary India. Centred on Balram Halwai, a young man from a poor rural background who rises to become a successful entrepreneur, the novel portrays his transformation through his encounters with poverty, servitude, exploitation and economic ambition. Adiga uses Balram’s journey to reveal how destructive capitalist structures shape individual choices and social relationships. The novel also explores the tension between freedom and morality as Balram seeks to escape the social conditions that restrict his identity. This paper examines how Balram rejects his inherited identity and constructs a new self through ambition, rebellion and participation in the capitalist system. Furthermore, it explores how social inequality and economic power influence his understanding of success, freedom and selfhood. The analysis highlights The White Tiger as a critique of a society in which the pursuit of economic advancement can lead to exploitation, moral conflict and the reinvention of identity.