Characters

The main characters of the short story “A Horse and Two Goats” by R. K. Narayan are the American and Muni. The American is a tourist in India, where he meets Muni, an old man who guards his goats at the entrance of the Kiritam village. The story centers around their failed attempts at communication and the different views they both have. Their interaction reflects the differences between their two cultures. While the American is focused on the horse statue and believes Muni should sell it to him, Muni comes to the mistaken conclusion that the American wants to buy his two goats. The misunderstanding between them is not solved at the end of the story.

You can read a full characterization of the American and Muni in the following pages.