Plot Analysis - Analysis, The Story Of My Experiments | The Story of My Experiments with Truth - Summary & Themes - Novels PDF Download

Exposition (Initial Situation)

Kid Gandhi

At the start, we're introduced to a baby Gandhi, a kid who's still learning who he is. He's under the good influence of his parents but also under the bad influence of the nameless friend who gets him to eat meat. Nobody would imagine him as a world leader at this point; he hasn't yet cultivated the practices of self-restraint, or met his mentor Gokahle, or…anything much really.

Rising Action (Conflict, Complication)

He's Just Getting Started

Welcome to England; welcome to South Africa.

Once Gandhi decides to break with his caste and go to England, he starts to form his own identity. He quickly decides that becoming an English gentleman isn't what he's going for, and his job is to study law.

He also makes serious study of religion and vegetarianism and learns to be frugal. This all prepares him well for the time when he gets to South Africa and is kicked off the train due to color prejudice (or what we call flat-out racism). That's what really gets him into "public work" (or what we'd call activism).

Climax (Crisis, Turning Point)

My Vows Are More Ascetic Than Yours

Since The Story of My Experiments with Truth doesn't really delve into Gandhi's political life, analysis of the plot should focus on his emotional journey…because it's one heck of a journey.

The climax can be seen as his choice to take the brahmacharya vow of celibacy in 1906. That vow is perhaps his most intense one, especially as it involves restraining all his senses and preventing all his passions from stirring. Taking the brahmacharya vow could be considered the pinnacle of his self-development.

Falling Action

You Got This, Gandhi

For the second half of the book, after the brahmacharya vow, we're convinced Gandhi has superb self-control. No one expects to turn the page and read him say, "I totally just binged on ice cream."

We get to see the results of his self-control and the way it empowers him in his (vaguely described) political actions. Throughout all his meetings with leaders and all his Satyagraha actions, we know he's gonna be true to himself and pursue truth as best as he can.

Resolution (Denouement)

Farewell

The Story of My Experiments with Truth concludes with Gandhi saying farewell after describing the Nagpur Congress, where one of the resolutions passed called for Hindu-Muslim unity. That's especially moving since Gandhi was assassinated by someone who thought he was too accommodating of Muslims.

But, of course, Gandhi doesn't know what's to come when he's saying farewell. He says he has more to learn about self-purification and wants the reader to pray for him to receive the boon of ahimsa in mind, word, and deed.